I Declined a Client
For my entire architect career since finish college in 1987, I have never, ever declined a client, let alone halfway through the project. I declined one TODAY.
She was referred by a friend. She must have not viewed my Facebook project page or checked my profile on LinkedIn.
There was not a ranking system for architects, but I know my place on the scale. If I didn’t come to the States and stayed in Shanghai 30 years ago, I’d be single, but among the top players today. I missed the once-in-a-lifetime building boom in exchange for a life with children in a free world. No regrets. When others envy my self-employed flex time, I miss the rush of a mover and shaker.
She came in last October with a sheet of a plan and a few pictures she liked. I worked out a plan for her piece of land that has a steep slope, but with a spectacular view. I positioned the living, pool, courtyard, and master suite to take the advantage of the view, and massaged the square footage to her desire. After a few iterations, we reached a scheme that fulfills her vision, and my architectural principle. It could be on a magazine cover if it were built. Then came the boyfriend who claimed the staircase in the middle wasted space and should be moved to the side, and the columns needed to be 3′ wide, etc. I placed the open staircase in the middle as a focal point and to connect the vertical and horizontal traffic in the 6000 square feet house that is equally accessible from all spaces around and the stairwell flows from the 1st floor to the 2nd and beyond. Anyone who has been to the atrium in Atlanta Marriott Marquis knows what I am talking about. The 18″ wide columns work proportionally right on the facade. I know, it was not about the design, it was about their relationship.
After nine versions (not revisions), today, she came up with yet another new vision. Since I make plans to feed THE vision and all the logic goes in there, It will be a totally new plan for the tenth time.
There must be a better way of doing it, I told her.
Many artists would echo the situation. In my career, I have always been patient with my clients, commercial or residential. I listen to their needs and elevate the needs to architecture. I believe space can be both functional and esthetical. I can make anything work beautifully, at a cost. But this time, I’d rather lose a client, than bend over to unreasonable demands.
