I recently read “Between Silence and Light” by Louis Kahn, the architect of the Salk Institute in San Diego. It inspired some thoughts, as a good book should.

 I kept thinking on what I would really like to be doing now, as an architect in my 60s. Like Kahn, I believe there is a heart to every site and building. If there isn’t, then how can the design deal with humanity? Enhancing civilization and the human experience is what real architecture is about. This remains true even as the architect works to digest and achieve the client’s goals. It may sound like a lofty goal but it is achievable. That said, I do accept the fact that most buildings are not real architecture. About 80% of buildings are developer based and do not involve an architect, so the human experience is seldom part of their program. As Kahn noted, it is OK for architects to work on only 5% of the built environment. That still gives us a lot of opportunity to create great built-environment experiences.

JHAI searches for clients who seek a special home, place of business or investment, or who have conceived of innovative design ideas to create that perfect environment that will truly inspire their lives in multiple ways. Applying our love of design as demonstrated by strategic special arrangements and an integrative approach, we bring clients’ dreams to fruition. The sustainable, cradle-to-cradle implementation of our designs along with the right the building materials combine to tailor a project outcome that has been uniquely customized for you and your goals. Taking our built environment to another level is the JHAI vision.

Ever since the Pacific and Central Railroads first met in Promontory, Utah, to complete in the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, it was clear that mass transit was never going to be the same. Cities starting popping all along the railroads, filled with residents eager to take advantage of this new transit opportunity.

When I’m reading, my thoughts usually swirl around to what types of projects I’m working on and, inevitably, the issue of aesthetics turns up. In this case, I’ve been reading “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” in which the author, Milan Kundera, discusses the notion of “aesthetic intentions.” Here at JHAI, whenever we see or hear about a project that isn’t what we think it could be, we are reminded that aesthetics and aesthetic impact remains at the forefront of design.