Ideal CEO

Having never had a job, it's hard for me to say exactly what type of employer I truly desire. Furthermore, I do not know all the skills required for a career in architecture. However, having previously assembled a list of my personal identities and the lines of development I value most, I feel that I have a somewhat clearer idea of the kind of situation I want to work in. The CEO obviously plays a crucial role here as they set not only the goals and direction of the organization, but the overall tone and atmosphere as well. Overall, creating a comfortable and understanding atmostphere is the most important quality my CEO would possess, as comfort in social and professional situations is extremely important for me to be affective and efficient.
In order to better describe my "ideal" CEO, I should firstly identify those characteristics of myself that I find most important and relevant to my future professional career, specifically in the field of architecture. One thing I feel proud of is my ability to adapt to different situations, or at least understand them. To me, this translates onto a more cultural level in that I can understand cultural differences and identify norms. This sentiment comes from living in Washington, DC when I was young and then moving out to a suburb a few years later. Having travelled to many locations and experienced both urban and more rural life, I feel that I have a good understanding of how styles can change depending on context. Also, I have a love for design and style as well as for rationality and organization. I love to plan and create, but I often end up disorganized and having problems following through which makes me think I may thrive in a business centered on creating and planning.
The CEO that I work under, then, must understand these characteristics and preferably practice within the organization those things that I value. More specifically, they must value and support cultural and consumer understanding, knowledge of the industry, adaptability, motivation, creativity, and teamwork or collaboration, the lines of development I value and, frankly, feel that I display. I hope to work for someone who clearly knows what direction the company is headed and what they expect in an employee. Furthermore, they must understand the role of my career in my life and how it balances with those other aspects, such as personal relationships and obligations. These two qualities will earn my respect and make me want to perform well and, in return, earn their respect. I work best in comfortable atmospheres with mutual understanding between employees and employer, and I look, and hope, to work for someone who can create that situation.

Robert A. M. Stern

Robert Stern is one of the most famous and internationally acclaimed modern architects. His works stretch from Nashville to New York to Spain and Japan and are not limited in style or use. Not only has he designed planned communities, but he has also designed exquisite private residences, retail stores, offices, libraries, courthouses, hotels and resorts (including many Disney properties). Stern, undoubtedly, is an incredible leader; besides being an architect, teacher, and writer, he is also the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture as well as the founder and Senior Partner of Robert A. M. Stern Architects. The firms homepage (http://www.ramsa.com/) states "Our firm's practice is premised on the belief that the public is entitled to buildings that do not, by their very being, threaten the aesthetic and cultural values of the buildings around them." This, undoubtedly is mainly Stern's belief and shows his economic leadership archetype. Recognizing that each building has contextual significance and stating their desire not to alter the surrounding area implies his respect for individual efforts to procure as much success as possible while still ensuring his own economic success through the creation and sale of a product. His buildings do show his individual style and beliefs, but by not taking away from the cultural values in the surrounding area he recognizes the importance community and environment play in identity formation. Though not threatening in style, Stern is definitely a competitive force in the architecture market with an extensive and diverse resume and unbeatable reputation. His organization has evolved into a high functioning and effective team to produce incredible, unique designs that still contain "continuity of tradition" and attempt to "create order" which leads to their continued appeal and success. Overall, Stern has created a highly successful organization as well as achieved incredible personal success.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog on architecture!
My interest in architecture arose in middle school when I would go with my father to see his development projects followed by my first study of Greek and Roman structures. In high school, an Art History course further spurred my interest and made me more interested in art and art forms in general. Now, double majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Art History, I thought it would be interesting to examine both the artistic and stylistic qualities of architecture as well as the motivations and practical utilizations behind it and the implications certain structures represent in a larger context. For example, architecture can be used to distinguish one city from the next or serve as a symbol of a country. It can symbolize power, piety, and other political and religious meanings. Architecture has the ability to set a tone not only for the surrounding area but for the interior space as well. My interest in interior design, therefore, also serves as an incentive to look further into architecture, as it is dictated by the larger, overall plan. Lastly, the unbelievable variability in style and use make uncovering the underlying motivations and meaning incredibly interesting.