#AIACALIF #MDC 2 Interview with Michael Willis, FAIA
Ok, I know it's a little late in the game for this....
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| Michael Willis, FAIA |
I had a great time at the Monterey Design Conference and I think it is because of the wealth of information that I have been so overwhelmed with what to write about. So, I will post pics and have the outline here of the speakers and I will briefly write of them but I wanted to get this out before the end of the month.
All of these speakers can be listened to here:
AEC Knowledge Courses for AIA California MDC 2019
Alberto Kalach (TAX- Taller de Arquitectura X, Mexico City): Architecture, Landscape and Urbanization
Mark Cavagnero (Cavagnero and Associates): Simple Volumes, Unapologetic Forms
Greg Pasquarelli (SHoP): Thinkers and Makers
Yvonne Farrell (Grafton Architects): The EARTH as Client
Bob Harris (Lake Flato): RESONANCE: Nature, Place, Craft and Restraint
Bryan MacKay-Lyons (MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects): The Wind and the Moon
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu (Neri and Hu): Obsessions and Disappearing Villages
Paul Kephart and Marta Kephart (RANA): Lightened Footprints, Natural Landscapes
There was a great presentation morning on Accessibility for All, which should really be at a later time, so we can all get breakfast and be there on time for something that everyone needs to know about as it WILL impact your life at some time.
Those were the sessions:
"Putting out the Welcome Mat" with Karen Braitmayer, AIA
Architecture Magazine: Karen Braitmayer brings unique perspective....
And "The Trouble with Accessibility" with Peter Slatin
Forbes Magazine "The Trouble with Accessibility" by Peter Slatin
I had seen some of Yvonne Farrell's work with Grafton Architects published and I have always wanted to visit Ireland, so i was very intrigued with this architect and her presentation was phonomenal, her sections very beautiful and useful, I always had sections like this in school and was criticized for making them, as I was told, "they are becoming almost cartoon like portrayals) this was back before anime' you know!!! and any real sensitivity in architecture, right???
I especially liked this about public space, one of the most important spaces: The Library and How it is a Place for Everyone.
Video of Yvonne Farrell, of Grafton Architects on The Library and Books
And you can get your books signed here at the conference!!!
I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Michael Willis, FAIA at one of the many events that weekend and though there is some background noise because of the nature of the surroundings and and my emphasis that I do not edit.please listen through because Michael has some incredibly good info on his career and I was happy to have met him that weekend. His daughter is also an architect and works at one of my college friends firms of Dangermond Keane Architecture and I hope it interview her at some point also, and she could maybe provide some insight into what it is like to have an architect as a parent and still want to practice it yourself but on your own terms!
MICHAEL E. WILLIS, FAIA, NOMA
Mr. Willis founded MWA Architects Inc. in 1988 and served as a Principal until 2016. Since 2017 he has been an independent design consultant, and teaching at his alma mater Washington University [BA1973/M Arch 1976/MSW 1976]. MWA Architects has created master plans, and has designed several mixed income affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization projects in San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Detroit, St. Louis, Memphis, and post-Katrina New Orleans Faubourg Lafitte in New Orleans, the Cecil Williams Glide Community House, and the GEDC 125 Mason housing tower in San Francisco. He has facilitated planning studies in St. Louis’ Downtown, North Central, and JeffVanDerLou neighborhoods, demonstrating that good design does not have to be expensive to be comprehensive. He was principal on large public projects including the International Terminal at San Francisco Airport, Terminal 2 at Oakland International; and the Central Subway Yerba Buena/Moscone Station in San Francisco.
Mr. Willis was President of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASF) in 1995 and was elevated to Fellowship in 1996. He has served on many committees and juries for the national AIA. II was a 2015 recipient of the AIA California Chapter Norma Sklarek Award. He is a 2013 Distinguished Alumni of the Washington University, a Distinguished Alumni of the WU School of Architecture, a Distinguished Alumni of the WU Brown School of Social Work; and a holder of a National Black Achievement award of the Black Alumni Council (1996). Michael gave the Commencement Address to the Brown School Social Work graduates in 2007.
Interview with Michael Willis, FAIA NOMA, click here
Michael's Three Favorite Buildings:
https://www.gatewayarch.com/
Check back later for more on the MDC 2019!!!
All of these speakers can be listened to here:
AEC Knowledge Courses for AIA California MDC 2019
Alberto Kalach (TAX- Taller de Arquitectura X, Mexico City): Architecture, Landscape and Urbanization
Mark Cavagnero (Cavagnero and Associates): Simple Volumes, Unapologetic Forms
Greg Pasquarelli (SHoP): Thinkers and Makers
Yvonne Farrell (Grafton Architects): The EARTH as Client
Bob Harris (Lake Flato): RESONANCE: Nature, Place, Craft and Restraint
Bryan MacKay-Lyons (MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects): The Wind and the Moon
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| Speaker Brian McKay-Lyons |
Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu (Neri and Hu): Obsessions and Disappearing Villages
Paul Kephart and Marta Kephart (RANA): Lightened Footprints, Natural Landscapes
There was a great presentation morning on Accessibility for All, which should really be at a later time, so we can all get breakfast and be there on time for something that everyone needs to know about as it WILL impact your life at some time.
Those were the sessions:
"Putting out the Welcome Mat" with Karen Braitmayer, AIA
Architecture Magazine: Karen Braitmayer brings unique perspective....
And "The Trouble with Accessibility" with Peter Slatin
Forbes Magazine "The Trouble with Accessibility" by Peter Slatin
I had seen some of Yvonne Farrell's work with Grafton Architects published and I have always wanted to visit Ireland, so i was very intrigued with this architect and her presentation was phonomenal, her sections very beautiful and useful, I always had sections like this in school and was criticized for making them, as I was told, "they are becoming almost cartoon like portrayals) this was back before anime' you know!!! and any real sensitivity in architecture, right???
I especially liked this about public space, one of the most important spaces: The Library and How it is a Place for Everyone.
Video of Yvonne Farrell, of Grafton Architects on The Library and Books
 |
| Donlyn Lyndon Interview with Pierluigi Soriano |
And you can get your books signed here at the conference!!!
I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Michael Willis, FAIA at one of the many events that weekend and though there is some background noise because of the nature of the surroundings and and my emphasis that I do not edit.please listen through because Michael has some incredibly good info on his career and I was happy to have met him that weekend. His daughter is also an architect and works at one of my college friends firms of Dangermond Keane Architecture and I hope it interview her at some point also, and she could maybe provide some insight into what it is like to have an architect as a parent and still want to practice it yourself but on your own terms!
MICHAEL E. WILLIS, FAIA, NOMA
Mr. Willis founded MWA Architects Inc. in 1988 and served as a Principal until 2016. Since 2017 he has been an independent design consultant, and teaching at his alma mater Washington University [BA1973/M Arch 1976/MSW 1976]. MWA Architects has created master plans, and has designed several mixed income affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization projects in San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Detroit, St. Louis, Memphis, and post-Katrina New Orleans Faubourg Lafitte in New Orleans, the Cecil Williams Glide Community House, and the GEDC 125 Mason housing tower in San Francisco. He has facilitated planning studies in St. Louis’ Downtown, North Central, and JeffVanDerLou neighborhoods, demonstrating that good design does not have to be expensive to be comprehensive. He was principal on large public projects including the International Terminal at San Francisco Airport, Terminal 2 at Oakland International; and the Central Subway Yerba Buena/Moscone Station in San Francisco.
Mr. Willis was President of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASF) in 1995 and was elevated to Fellowship in 1996. He has served on many committees and juries for the national AIA. II was a 2015 recipient of the AIA California Chapter Norma Sklarek Award. He is a 2013 Distinguished Alumni of the Washington University, a Distinguished Alumni of the WU School of Architecture, a Distinguished Alumni of the WU Brown School of Social Work; and a holder of a National Black Achievement award of the Black Alumni Council (1996). Michael gave the Commencement Address to the Brown School Social Work graduates in 2007.
Interview with Michael Willis, FAIA NOMA, click here
Michael's Three Favorite Buildings:
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| Guggenheim Bilbao: CNU cnu.org |
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| Basilica Palladiana di Vicenza photo from Wickipedia |
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| Villa Rotunda by Palladio (The Four Books of Architecture) I quattro libri dell'architettura https://www.lescuderie-sb.it/cosa_visitare.asp?language=en |
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| St. Louis Arch Being Built (Reddit) |
Check back later for more on the MDC 2019!!!
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