There's Got To Be Fun

Come hell or highwater, life has to be fun. I loathe architectural parties. They're always boring to the point of an excruciating death. Hi, what have you been working on? Did your studio split up again? Hey, so we beat you in this competition! I think that architecture schools should teach people to shut up about buildings once in a while. It doesn't really go anywhere. It bores normal people. Most architects just lack a healthy distance from their profession. So they go on about it everywhere they go. Doing so they turn into the worst company you could have the misfortune of hosting at a party. That has to change.

We are careful about how we present ourselves. Specialty, but also the manner of presentation, has a direct effects on what kind of clients approach us.

That's one of many reasons why we like working with the girls and boys from BoysPlayNice. It's a heart matter. Together we always strive for the best result, but we always find space to present projects with a bit of humour or exaggeration. That's what we like. We can make fun of ourselves and our designs and the boys help us do it. And then, people with a sense of humour come to us with commissions. It's simple.

Photos of The Dox house with the dog and chicken regularly appear in sections on animals in architecture across the world of architecture media. Even though the house might play second fiddle in these pictures, it helps us to get our work out there.

When I was on the phone about details of photoshoot in the Chicago grill restaurant, I heard from the other side of the line: "And so, wouldn't you like to pose for it in costumes?" Apparently it was meant to be a joke, but we latched onto the idea. The next day, on location, there was a banana, a nun, spiderman, a gorilla and a horse.

Once we had an idea of releasing a project at Christmas. So we talked to the boys and agreed to do the photoshoot of The Forest Villa in November and use it as a Christmas present. Unfortunately, the weather had been still very November-like and the pictures made it hard to believe that the holidays were anywhere nearby. So we did some light shopping. In short time we were fixing a dead carp onto a fishing line from the ceiling and throwing around the contents of Ikea pillows from the rooftop. The operation went well and Christmas wasn't without snow. So, yeah. Life has to be fun, come carp or highwater.