I’m sad today. Being that I work in custom residential architecture, the projects are slower-paced and stretch out over quite a length of time. This gives the designer plenty of time to get to the know the client. Sometimes this is a good thing...sometimes not so much. :)
Back in 2005 I started design work on the dream house of a super nice man who worked hard his entire life and had found the place where he wanted to retire. He was such a joy to work with! The design process took about a year (we had to get it perfect, since this was the end-all-be-all for him!) and then construction took about a year. It was the first major project that I was a part of from start to finish and everywhere in between. I learned a lot, I grew a lot. But more than that, the client was SO HAPPY with his piece of heaven when it was finished. He actually invited everyone who worked on the house –from the architects to the painters- over for a party so we could enjoy the fruits of our labor with a drink in hand, while watching the sunset. This never happens! Normally us peons are forgotten as soon as the locks are put in the doors. It was an amazing night and his 95 year old mother even flew in from the mainland to be a part of it.
Flash forward just ONE YEAR and he tells me he has to sell the house. Stupid freaking economy! I can’t imagine what it must be like for those with more to lose, since I have nothing. However, I am sad that such nice people are being affected by it.
