office building

It funny to me that i am even writing this now because i am a ghost writer. Even though no one really reads this stuff there is something to be said for putting your thoughts in one place on cyberspace and leaving them for myself or others later. I always tried to write a journal when i was growing up but i never got past the second page. Anyway enough of this...

I met with my architect, Davin Fillpot, with Page Southerland Page Austin. Davin is a gift from above. I mean this when I say it. I met Davin years ago when we built the Regents Private School in Austin. He worked for Jackson Galloway at the time. I called Davin several months ago to let him know about the grand opening for the Travis Camp ribbon cutting for the Austin Sunshine Camps. Davin donated his architectural services for our new travis camp located on Lake Travis. Red McCombs donated almost a million dollars to build us a new camp. Anyway, when i called davin i told him i've been working on building a new office building. Thats not entirely accurate. I purchased the land two years ago, its located just off mopac in Austin.

While talking to Davin i realized he would be the right person and architect to take my drawings, a hundred or so sketchs on paper, make sense of them, get the proportions right and build the building in autocad. Davin is really talented, more he understands the vision I have for the office building. In the past I've driven to selected small towns in Texas, like martindale, hico, hamilton, gatesville, taking pictures of things i see that speak to me. I sometimes draw the things I most wish to incorporate into the office building. I dont do Davin justice when i say that he is putting the project into autocad. He has patiently listened to my vision. We met for lunch at Lamberts downtown so he could show me his progress. He showed me an impressive study of old building and then two concepts. Both were excellent. We decided elements of both with make up the next set of elevation. I will post the preliminary concept elevation we settle on.

Weekend House at the Farm

Lately, my thoughts are held on building a small house on a couple hundred acres on the back part of our farm in pendleton texas. This 200 acres is less agrarian and more secluded than the whole of the farm. Our farmhouse on the original place was built in the 20's or 30's and has aged. While I enjoy the old farm house I am in the slow but steady process of designing a small weekend house on the back of the place about a mile from the original house. This house needs to be a small cabin, like the ones built by Tiny Texas houses (a part of discovery antiques) but slightly larger and more usable. Here are some of my initial thoughts: It needs to have a steep gable roof, probably wood clading (likely shiplap), a simple deck. (Pause) now this is key, it needs to have a steep ladder up to a sleeping loft. I expect to have a iron stove for warmth, and no AC. Hunter original Hotel series fan will do fine with triple windows down each of the sides of the cabin. Paint color to be determined, but i really like the paint colors from Farrow & ball. Go this from Urban Grace blog and I ordered a color wheel. Floor boards will be reclaimed pitch pine planks (penstripe pine). wainscot at the walls will be bead board from discovery. They have a beadboard that is planned leaving the paint in the route joint. I think this is a great looking wainscot. Rustic but not texas rustic - the rusty star hanging on the wall kind of rustic. Did that make any sense? I am playing with the idea of having an exterior staircase up to the second floor at the front of the house. Steep set of stairs to an hole in the second floor, maybe a trap door. To avoid some plumbing and given our warm texas climate I think an outdoor shower is in order. To screen the shower users I perscribe straight 1.5" dia cedar posts with bark lashed together. The house will be supported by 10 drystack stone footings. Unrelated, I found this table at pieces of the past in johnson city, texas. It is an old home economics table, dates to the 30's or 40's is my guess. I love it, but cant bring myself to spend the 1,000 dollars Kathy is asking.

Around the office

I built the suspended picture frames to show off the Acton MBA School project that we completed in August of 2008.

Black pipe is a reoccuring theme in my office. The conference table, plan tables, plan rack, butcher and tracing paper dispensor, book shelves and hanging frames were all built with black pipe.

Here are some photos from the Acton School Project after its completion.

CNBC Video of Jeff Sanderfer and Dick Armey

The CNBC video above is and interview with Dick Armey (US house majority leader 1995-2003) and Jeff Sandefer one of the founders of Acton School and the owner of Sandefer Capitol Partners in Austin. We built this school for Jeff and it is far and away the project I am most proud of to date.

Regarding Dick Armey, while reading about him on Wikipedia I came across this excerpt:

In 1998, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, a reporter asked him what he would do if he were in President Bill Clinton's position. He replied "If I were in the President's place I would not have gotten a chance to resign. I would be lying in a pool of my own blood, hearing Mrs. Armey standing over me saying, 'How do I reload this damn thing?'"

I know I am ramlbing but it will be over soon. Sometimes the story keeps growing and I have little control of where it goes.

I found these lyon lockers at a used office furniture store on burnet road in austin. It was my best find in 2008. Knowing that I am a fan of Theodore Rosevelt my wife gave me the TR quote and picture on the right for my 35th Birthday last September. It was a great day. Kristin planned everything complete with two ipod playlists, one for cocktails and one for dinner. 14 of our closest friends met at Jeffrey's (my favorite restaurant in Austin). Kristin rented the Josephine House at Jeffreys and we had a great evening. Friends, especially our closest Austin friends, made for a perfect birthday. I cant think of many things I enjoy more than having drinks and dinner with family and friends.

Mellow Johnny's Austin

I don't ride but I appreciate good work when i see it. Mellow Johnny's bike shop is Lance Armstrongs new shop in austin. The Architect, Michael Hsu, transformed this old building into an industrial work of art.










notice the freight elevator behind the service desk.










This is the coffee shop in the bike shop. The coffee served here is good but way to hot.

Pencils

This is a great website, penciltalk.org.

Pads, shapeners and pencils. My choice for work is the Staedtler .7mm mechanical, comes in blue.

At home I use the greatest pencil, Dixon Ticonderoga.

The pencil shapner is Boston Ranger 55












And last, i built this pencil box to hold the pencils and ranger 55

Meet our dog's, Annie & Gus