An Architect's Inspiration

I asked Suzanne and Ron where their inspiration for this project came from. They had a hard time articulating it and I didn't want to accept "creative instinct" or "gut feel"." Below is what eventually was teased from them. I thought this would be interesting to you especially in context of how we tend to over plan and over schedule our and our kid's lives::

In response to your seemingly simple request ...

WHERE DOES INSPIRATION COME FROM ???

This is a quintessential question to any creative person ... choreographer, poet, composer, sculptor, painter, writer, architect.

You have pressed my memory and mental capabilities well beyond their limits. How can one respond to why a sunset inspires ... a child's smile infatuates ... an idea is born ... a love affair blossoms ... a swirling snowstorm exhilarates ... a symphonic song soothes ... the smell of a Spring rain enchants ... or a delicate flower beguiles?

During our two years on the coveted Prix De Rome fellowship in architecture at the American Academy in Rome, and subsequent 33,000 miles of travels across Europe in a VW camping bus with our two small children, we had intently studied everything from the great public spaces, like the Acropolis and Plaka in Athens, to more intimate places and spaces that profoundly touched and forever impacted our spirits. For while such monumental buildings and public spaces as Notre Dame and St. Peter’s Square, among others, overwhelmed us with their grandeur and majesty, it was Corbusier’s chapel in Ronchamp, France that most stirred our souls. This little building in a remote coal mining community in rural southeastern France prodded the senses by its very simplicity, which reflected the rigorous life of the surrounding community.

By immersing ourselves in the design treasures of Europe, we had developed what art historian Paul J. Sachs termed an “Eye-Q.” We began to understand more and more how architecture and environmental design are most successful and satisfying when they address the inner, spiritual needs of the individual person while also celebrating the natural world. This inspired us to create a motto that reflects both our design philosophy and our approach to family life: “In environments that uniquely merge the needs of nature and man, the human spirit thrives.”

In the initial years of practice we were blessed with finding a few marvelous and visionary clients who allowed us to create and build some distinctive and unusual architectural/sculptural environments for them. These commissions included gardens, fountains, and waterfalls, which were part of our designs for private residences, artists' studios, three small apartment complexes on the near North side of Chicago and some small specialty shops including one in the elegant Palmer House hotel. Another important commission was for the North Shore Unitarian Church, in Deerfield, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. Ruth Moore, architecture critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, described her first visit to the church as akin to “walking through a Henry Moore sculpture." Thanks to working on such projects, our practice evolved into one that of necessity incorporated or reflected many aspects of the arts ---music, dance, sculpture and even poetry.

Because Suzanne and Ron have such similar vocabulary from their particular yet creatively diverse training and early formative educational experiences, it has always been "easy" (albeit sometimes fraught with controversial angst and strain) for the 2 of us to communicate ideas and concepts back and forth. Space, form, light, movement, line, color, texture and time are common, comprehended words to a dancer, architect, sculptor or even a gifted dedicated soccer sensation. So over the passing of time we have developed a number of "Observations" that tend to describe and define what we do and how we think.

This was probably honed and refined during our 2 year American Academy in Rome experience, especially while traveling the 33,000 miles in our VW camping bus with Colleen and Tim, beginning when they were 4 months and 3 years old respectively

at the onset. We camped in and among the various European countries' campsites ... experiencing their various cultures, foods, people, architecture, legends and lore ... shopped in their street markets ... visited their grand spaces and intimate places ... soaked up whatever we could in their wondrous museums, town halls and public spaces ... almost as little traveling sponges absorbing as many drops of water we could along the way. Some times there were no campsite to be found on the journey so we camped along the road in our bus and hung the diapers from the door handle to a nearby tree.

From the Northern fjords of Norway down to the islands in the Greek Archipelago, across 33,000 miles and 2 years of independent study, winding our way up and down the back-roads and various village streets we were always aware of our precious little ones and the parental responsibilities placed upon our little Gypsy-like family.

We had to travel slowly to accomplish all of the normal daily tasks. We tended to be the last ones to find and arrive at a new campsite to set up our home away from home, and the last ones to leave the following morning after the daily chores.

Then there were interesting challenges we confronted in strange speaking lands that required all kinds of creative solutions to resolve.

Often it was the gentle, loving, unfettered childhood and unbridled exuberance of Colleen and Tim that allowed us to prevail. In fact, it was the delight of our little children that we found somewhat mesmerized the citizens of the various countries we visited that opened many doors for us along the way and spawned learnings about how various other people lived in other lands and cultures.

We rigged our VW camping bus to accommodate all kinds of daily activities which also intrigued other campers, shop keepers, street vendors, cooks and waiters, policemen, pedestrians, parking lot attendants and politicians to just stop us to talk. All our earthly belongings were with us.

Life goals, love for family, education of children, individual freedom, fairness, a simple opportunity to succeed at whatever they might try, good food, conversation, music, dance, art and a deep desire to simply live peacefully together were common among all we encountered. What a joy; Tim and Colleen provided the medium and the message.

There were joyous days and not so joyous days ..

... ...rainy days ... .. time for reading ... ....and necessary times

We traveled simply to see new lands and meet new people .
We met new friends of all kinds, shapes and sizes ...

Our children were ALWAYS welcome everywhere, especially in campsites, in the street markets, little restaurants, museums,

or just wandering in the piazzas, parks and palaces; roving ambassadors of good will.

What joy awaits the child to come to it each day?

We learned to slowly see things through the eyes and hearts of our children ... and to expect miracles
and magic to be a normal potential part of human existence.

WATER ... has always been a part of the NSUC design concept.

Our original developed site plan for the North Shore Unitarian Church envisioned a welcoming fountain nestled into the curving masonry at the main entry. Visitors could walk to the fountain from a winding stone path ... or experience the fountain from the covered arcade through the two brick arches. Sculptured copper scuppers would spill rain water down from all three Sanctuary, Fellowship and Arcade Roofs into a reflecting pool basin. The plan is still valid and the crushed Pea Gravel bed is the actual outline of the proposed fountain basin. Drains, plumbing, piping and electrical conduits for the equipment were roughed in and installed for future generations.

Did you know this secret ?

... And then there were all of the wondrous architectural, sculptural, intimate, grand, inspirational historic places and spaces that profoundly pressed their images upon our minds and hearts, They are still within us and still singing their songs of delight to inspire us. Here are only a few for you to ponder and digest in response to your challenging question.