Q: What is it, specifically that you do up here? (Note: her and staff remain tucked in the deepest corner of an enormous 3-floor office space.)
A: Well, we put together models (gorgeous accent). People bring us their designs, we make them 3-dimensional.
Q: What are your favorite kinds of designs to work on?
A: Residential mostly, though we get very few of those here. One partner keeps getting commissions to build residences in _________ (insert ritzy Connecticut community name here). All of the detailing and the trimming...we make doll-house sized models that you can really look into and get a feel for.
Q: What about the larger-scale models that the firm does for institutions or big-pocket developers.
A: Some of them go elsewhere for modeling. Most of the work we do in here, with styrofoam, wood, plexi, particle board, chip board...a lot of elevations and topographical models.
Q: Why do you think models of the bigger projects require less detail?
A: Because they are designed with less detail [laughs]. It's an aesthetic. We try to do solid work here, good work that lasts a while. This is a serious firm: renovations, historical preservation. It is good work.
Q: Do you produce exclusively for BBB?
A: No, we bounce around, and we rent out office space to other firms [Note: she takes me afterwards to visit the workspace of a certain Pritzker Winner to see the work he is up to] so in certain situations we help out other studios. I worked at _______ ________ Group for a while. [Really? I thought they were a developer, or property manager?].
No, they are actually...well, they are very trendy, but they don't make work that lasts. You know, they do the designs -- casinos, restaurants and bars -- and the concept is only meant to be glitzy and lit up, but it's not meant to last. They operate as if they intend everything to be torn down eventually. And it always is. I have a problem with that, consciencely, but to each his own.
Q: Do you experiment a lot in here?
A: Yes, we do [breaks out sample boxes, shows off laser cutter].
Q: Who does the actual production of the scale buildings? Who discusses fabrication techniques with contractors and builders?
A: I don't know, that's a good question. The project manager?
Q: Do you ever give an architect or designer feedback on a project?
A: Well, yes, I'll ask them, "Well how are you going to do this" and "Are you sure that's going to give you the effect that you want"? It's pretty open here, I guess you're expected to sort of stay quiet, but the Swede in me just can't let it go, I think all of the girls in here are pretty open about projects. The quiet thing is a corporate thing, I think, but it's good.
A: Well, we put together models (gorgeous accent). People bring us their designs, we make them 3-dimensional.
Q: What are your favorite kinds of designs to work on?
A: Residential mostly, though we get very few of those here. One partner keeps getting commissions to build residences in _________ (insert ritzy Connecticut community name here). All of the detailing and the trimming...we make doll-house sized models that you can really look into and get a feel for.
Q: What about the larger-scale models that the firm does for institutions or big-pocket developers.
A: Some of them go elsewhere for modeling. Most of the work we do in here, with styrofoam, wood, plexi, particle board, chip board...a lot of elevations and topographical models.
Q: Why do you think models of the bigger projects require less detail?
A: Because they are designed with less detail [laughs]. It's an aesthetic. We try to do solid work here, good work that lasts a while. This is a serious firm: renovations, historical preservation. It is good work.
Q: Do you produce exclusively for BBB?
A: No, we bounce around, and we rent out office space to other firms [Note: she takes me afterwards to visit the workspace of a certain Pritzker Winner to see the work he is up to] so in certain situations we help out other studios. I worked at _______ ________ Group for a while. [Really? I thought they were a developer, or property manager?].
No, they are actually...well, they are very trendy, but they don't make work that lasts. You know, they do the designs -- casinos, restaurants and bars -- and the concept is only meant to be glitzy and lit up, but it's not meant to last. They operate as if they intend everything to be torn down eventually. And it always is. I have a problem with that, consciencely, but to each his own.
Q: Do you experiment a lot in here?
A: Yes, we do [breaks out sample boxes, shows off laser cutter].
Q: Who does the actual production of the scale buildings? Who discusses fabrication techniques with contractors and builders?
A: I don't know, that's a good question. The project manager?
Q: Do you ever give an architect or designer feedback on a project?
A: Well, yes, I'll ask them, "Well how are you going to do this" and "Are you sure that's going to give you the effect that you want"? It's pretty open here, I guess you're expected to sort of stay quiet, but the Swede in me just can't let it go, I think all of the girls in here are pretty open about projects. The quiet thing is a corporate thing, I think, but it's good.
We share stories on the way out of the office. She needs an upholsterer, I know a guy, she gives me her e-mail. I see the partner on the way out. He's busy, no time to talk.
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