Buzz the Architecture Dog

Since the flooding of our building, we have moved our offices into the home of our project architect. Working in a home is quite different from working at an office – on one hand, the atmosphere feels more lighthearted and casual, comfortable and fun. On the other hand, distractions more easily jump into our focus – cleaning the kitchen, keeping the wood stove warm, or taking care of the household pet.

As architects, we are creatures of space; we strive to create interesting functional spaces; we ponder on end regarding how space can be utilized and its details in all its glory. Therefore, we should think hard about our own workspace and how to maximize that utility to make us more productive, more inspired.

Today’s post features a temporary inhabitant of our temporary workspace, Buzz the architecture dog. Aptly named, he buzzes along to our office music, creating high-pitched noises in rhythm to wagging tail beats. While all these circumstances are quite temporary, this is just an example of why I would heartily urge you to think about your office culture, your office space. Try to strip away those that take away your focus from the job at hand and increase on components that help you stay on task. Maybe that bouncy Pilates ball as chair is too much of a distraction…

In summary: try to keep the Buzz out of the office but have it warm your heart and home instead.

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Joining the Tech World

If you were sitting at home and wondering, “Hmm, I wish I could be sitting in a home office… Maybe this kitchen could open up a bit so it’s more inviting to socialize and cook for a dinner party at the same time… This bathroom is about two decades old and I no longer fit between the two foot door…” what would be your first way to research potential architecture firms? Google to the rescue!

Today, nearly all queries can be answered via the wonderful worldwide web, modern tubes of glory. As such, small, medium, and large businesses alike are joining the online movement. Not only has Google and Wikipedia changed our Q&A processes, but Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, etc. have evolved a whole new way of networking and marketing. The old school method of paging through the phone book is almost moot – that book won’t tell you how to get from your current address to that new restaurant with a 5-star rating from Epicurious!

Watershed Studio Architecture, LLC is now joining the movement, one tiny step at a time. We began this blog to start fostering a better web presence and communicate to potential clients and anyone interested in architecture, design, landscaping, and construction. Now we are venturing further – we have created an Architizer profile. Architizer.Com, a site described as a “Facebook for Architects,” allows architecture firms large and small to post their projects, descriptions, awards, article mentions, etc. – essentially free advertising!

What will be next? As people start spending more and more time online, how many more services will be provided for marketing? What other amazing opportunities will be available out there? I can only imagine…

-ESY

Mojo Building in Flood!

What used to be our conference room... The night of the flood, Daniel was in this building trying to clear out the more valuable things until the police removed him for his own safety. Throughout the night as the water rose higher and higher, until it reached about a foot from the ceiling, furniture became floaty toys - much like the scene in Alice in Wonderland where chairs and pianos alike bobbed about.

As many know, during late August, Hurricane Irene caused a plethora of flooded buildings in Vermont and New Hampshire. Our studio is located along the banks of the White River, which reached a level of about 110,000 cubic feet per second – higher than the Grand Canyon’s levels this summer. Thus, the first floor of our building, the Mojo Building, flooded about 7.5 ft.

We have currently moved our studio to a temporary location in Norwich, VT but intend to get everything fixed up and moved back in by January 2012.

No, this has not depleted our spirits a bit – it is now the perfect chance to bring some brighter changes and renovations into the studio and building.

A workday this Sunday and today, as well as many others past, have helped clear out the foot of mud and silt that accrued from the flood. Many interior walls will have to be replaced due to water damage. We have recently cleared out most of the damaged furniture, etc. – many dumpster loads. There are many, many, many things to do in the upcoming months – we will be keeping busy.

Don’t worry – we’ll keep you posted!

 

Hello world, indeed!

Located in Dedham, MA. Construction finished in 2010.

As the tech world becomes evermore a part of our lives, we as businesses need to keep up and learn to incorporate technology into our marketing strategies, etc. And thus Watershed Studio Architecture, LLC begins its foray into the blogosphere.

As an introduction, Watershed Studio Architecture (formerly Design-Build Studio) was founded by Daniel Johnson in 1994 after receiving his Masters of Architecture degree from MIT. The founding mission of the studio is to provide sustainable architecture that is integrated with its context, celebrates the landscape, and makes materials, space, and light tangible. A founding principle of Watershed Studio is a commitment to improving the quality of the built environment through design excellence and community engagement. A rigorous approach to research, analysis and teaching is employed to achieve design recognized for excellence with awards from Vermont AIA.

Watershed works on a variety of scales and a variety of projects, including institutional, religious, educational, office and clinical, performing arts and waterfront. It is a Watershed priority to dedicate time in the process to be on-site with clients and contractors to elucidate components of the landscape, context, and construction process.

Our practice as well as our efforts on sustainable projects centers on reuse, recycling and use of durable, natural, local or low embodied energy materials.