design build blog

A few months back, the partners here at Modative had lunch with a very well known international architect. The three of us admire his ability to have achieved success at a relatively young age. So given this opportunity, we had to ask him, "How were you as a young architect (such as ourselves) able to convince clients to go with you over older, more established names in the industry?"

His insightful answer was ripe for the taking. He said that there were two clear reasons for selecting a young energetic firm over a more established firm:

1. With older firms, there is a reputation that is already established. Whereas with younger firms, your project is critical to the building of our reputation. We have a vested interest in making sure your project is great in order to build our reputation.
2. Older firms typically have an established ego. This is not meant as a negative jab, but rather that they often have a set way of doing things. So, when you hire the established firm, you will often find yourself competing with this ego. With a younger firm, we keep your "client vision" as the priority. We are more flexible and open to new ideas.

Introducing Bella, the latest member of the Modative family. She is Christian's new puppy and as you can see, she has made herself quite comfortable in the office.

Rarely a week goes by here at the office without someone bringing up the topic of alternative transportation technology: electric cars, mag lev trains, etc. We have a bit of an obsession with the ideas of driving without oil/gas and two hour train rides to Las Vegas on a moments notice.

So there was a recent flurry of excitement when Christian found out about Aptera, a new hybrid/electric car company working on a very innovative new car to debut in the California market.

What makes this car so interesting is not only that it can get 300 mpg, but its beautifully designed from the ground up. The stunning design is not for just pure visual impact, but it is based on function; to reduce wind resistance and improve milage. It utilizes many of the principles of aircraft design to achieve this goal. Check out the car and the company here: www.aptera.com

Modative has recently teamed up with Brent Thompson Global Design Workshop (http://www.btgdw.com/) on the design of a large, 100,000 sq. ft. + retail and entertainment complex in the Los Angeles area. Many of the details including specific location can't be released at this time due to the often competitive nature of the retail development industry

The architecture team also includes DesignARC in Santa Barbara, CA and executive architect LCRA in Pasadena, CA.

So, last weekend I finally* started reading The Perfect $100,000 House by Karrie Jacobs, and already I discovered a great little blurb on "modernism" in the introduction. It's a definition that is very appropriate in explaining the type of modernism we strive for here at Modative. She also manages to define it such an eloquent way that I've never been able to. This, however, may have to do with the fact that she is she's a professional writer and I am, well... not. Anyways, here it is:

- "The modernism that I love, that I care about, isn't a historical movement that peaked in the  mid-twentieth century and is currently enjoying a major revival but is rather a frame of mind. It's a way of thinking that involves an ongoing investigation of methods and materials. It's a design philosophy that values comfort but doesn't confuse it with excess. It's a strategy that views the most important elements of design as space, daylight, and the surfaces with which we routinely come into contact."

- Although I'm a painfully slow reader, and it may take awhile, I'm hoping the rest of the book is this insightful.

- * I say finally because I talked about this book last April in our news section.

For all the hype of the Modern Prefab home these days, there still remains one clear problem: PRICE. The real promise behind prefab has yet to surface - "an affordable alternative to site built."

For all the positives that prefab claims to have: efficiency, speed, quality; the facts are clear, the price of prefab is often more than standard on-site construction. I'm not saying that this will always be the case, but for now, the cost savings are hard to see. This is especially the case in places like Los Angeles where the permitting process can be complex and labor costs are high. So, without naming names, here are some recent per square foot (construction only) prices of some prefab home makers:

Prefab Company A: $400/ sq. ft.
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Prefab Company B: $300/ sq. ft.
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Prefab Company C: $250/ sq. ft.
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Prefab Company D: $275/ sq. ft.
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Not exactly affordable numbers, especially considering that these homes are often full of compromises in order to be factory built - primarily size and room proportions. In the current Los Angeles construction market, a more affordable goal for modern building would be in the $150-$200 range.

At Modative, one of our primary goals is to reduce the cost of modern construction. This is a difficult and ongoing process that so far it has not lead us in the direction of prefab. So as some of our projects progress, we will see if this range can be accomplished.

Just got word today of an off-market listing for an ocean front property in Malibu, CA. The property is developable as a home or two-unit. Feel free to contact me if you have any interest. dleavitt@modative.com

"In the six years since the Twin Towers fell, a thousand skyscrapers have been rising on the Arabian Gulf."

-Metropolis Magazine, Nov. 2007

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The Burj Al Arab, A Dubai Icon

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The UAE (United Arab Emirates) is growing fast. Nowadays, Dubai is considered to be at the forefront of this building boom, developing at a breakneck speed that is hard to ignore. This enthusiasm for development is overwhelming and the barriers to "getting things done" seem minimal compared the lengthy processes that developers often endure here in the U.S.
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The next decade will be very telling as Dubai and other Emirates showcase their economic growth in this very tangible way - real estate development. Hopefully the freedom that Architects and Developers have in this region will lead to real innovation that goes beyond pure spectacle. Dubai is an opportunity to address multiple environmental, social, and urban issues with built examples - projects that are both beautiful and responsible.

Last month I had the pleasure of seeing Dov Seidman give a lecture related to his new book, "HOW: Why HOW We Do Anything Means Everything in Business (and in Life)". Dov's primary stance is that our current society has become so hyper-connected and transparent that HOW we do what we do has become more important than WHAT we do. In essence, business ethics matter.

One of his more interesting points was how true innovation comes about. When people think of how to innovate, they imagine a group of people getting together in a room to brainstorm. Innovation, however, is really only possible when you have trust and risk. You need a team that trusts each-other and is willing to take risks. I completely agree.

For more info on Dov, here is his company website.

This week Modative begins work on our fourth small lot subdivision project in Los Angeles. The details of this new project will be released in the next month or so. The following is a list of our small lot subdivision experience to date:
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1. Project Name: Dunsmuir Ave. Development
# of Units: 3-4
Status: Feasibility Study Only - complete 2006

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2. Project Name: Lemp Ave. Development
# of Units: 4
Status: Feasibility Study Only - complete 2006

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3. Project Name: Venice Blvd. Development
# of Units: 6
Status: In Design Development & Subdivision Process - Ongoing

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4. Project Name: New Small Lot Subdivision Project
(Can't release more info...yet)
# of Units: 7-9
Status: Just getting started...

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For those wondering what Small lot Subdivision is, I have reposted some info on this (relatively) new Los Angeles Ordinance below.