|
PHILOSOPHY
In
response to your request as to who we are. I feel
it necessary to take the time to expound a little
philosophy in your direction regarding the issue of
selecting an architect.
First of all I would like to state that getting references
and obtaining background information is a good idea.
I must however add that one must take into consideration
some issues that the typical person may not be aware
that currently exist. Architects, by nature, are a
strange lot. They are on one hand highly respected
by society and on the other hand blamed for all things
that go awry during construction. Architects are a
highly egotistic group and esoteric to the point that
the majority of offices are one-man offices. Society,
and even other architects, can't get along with them.
As a client once told me, "Architects are
a necessary evil!"
You may ask where is Torres Architects in this group
of nut baskets and I would have to venture to say
that I have always promoted myself and this firm as
a team that runs on service and chemistry. Service
is easy enough to describe but much harder to put
into action. We know and feel that our clients are
served through the respect and attitude we have towards
our clients. We have found that the best projects
are formed from the chemistry between the client and
the architect. The fact that it usually takes close
to a year to complete a typical construction project,
from initial design to occupancy, requires the relationship
between client and architect to be strong and have
the project's success in its heart. On my initial
meeting with clients and during the tour of their
current state, we size up the potential for a type
of relationship.
We are creative problem-solvers with a high level
of communication skills and ingrained in the belief
that the client is to be listened to and respected.
We turn down clients that represent themselves as
searching for bargain fees at the expense of the project's
success.
We do not believe in brochures of the firm and photos
of previous work. We do not keep biographies on file.
We have always been referred to potential clients
through personal references. We look for clients that
have architectonic issues that we can solve in a pragmatic
way, using the traits mentioned above. All projects
produced in this firm are a team effort between the
firm and the client. It is a work product that this
firm and I keep within us. It is a solution to the
specific client's issues and may not have meaning
to anyone else. As I'm sure you will agree
..we
are all different with different needs.
|