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Guilty Pleasures of Architects

chris-chitect

While I'm not in pure architecture anymore, I found when I was in school and a short period in the industry, that it was often a high brow environment in which you couldn't be caught eating from McDonald's, listening to top 40, wearing clothes that weren't black or liking post modern architecture. 

I'm curious what some architects secretly crave but don't want to admit. For me I had a hard time admitting that I was never going to bike to work and that I enjoy a can of Dr Pepper, daily. 

 
Mar 2, 17 4:00 pm
Non Sequitur

I have a massive Lego collection which is constantly growing and spend a fair amount of money on Magic the Gathering cards. 

The only high-brow thing I encountered when I got into the work place is the (free) office coffee. The int-designers were quick to turn their nose up  and prefered to spend money on starbucks and co. 

The office coffee is delicious and I'll proudly finish a 3hr old cold pot without shame. 

Good topic, let's keep it rolling.

Mar 2, 17 4:12 pm  · 
1  · 
archiwutm8

But Starbucks coffee is pleb coffee. Obviously aren't "real" designers!

Mar 3, 17 5:54 am  · 
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Non Sequitur

I remember making a very similar comment at that time when I explained the situation to friends.

Mar 3, 17 8:58 am  · 
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cipyboy

I'm currently in a dilemma- whether i should go Lego Architecture Studio or Arckit. Magic, I did back in college, talking about that era of Wrath of God, Armaggedon etc. but I don't hear any buzz about it these days

Mar 6, 17 10:04 am  · 
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Non Sequitur

Classics. I started back in the glory days of 4th edition (1995)

Mar 6, 17 10:05 am  · 
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atelier nobody

I just finally got the Lego Architecture Studio. My next purchase will be a set of the wooden blocks. I also have WAY to much D&D stuff. Never did get into MTG.

Feb 24, 23 4:20 pm  · 
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SneakyPete

Energy drinks and a low threshold for idiotic, whimsical, last-minute design changes.

Mar 2, 17 4:16 pm  · 
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sameolddoctor

I drive a fast japanese car (no volvos etc, they look like dung).

I never dress in black. That is for pseudo intellectuals.

I hate the totally desaturated illustrations that architect usually like, I like some elements of pop

Mar 2, 17 4:26 pm  · 
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arifj

Agreed on the Desaturated thing, embrace color for the win

Mar 5, 17 10:08 pm  · 
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chigurh

Being a high-brow phony is so much work, better to just relax and have fun.  I remember ordering a bacon cheeseburger and getting a sideways look from a classmate.  Worked for a guy that was all farts and practical jokes...had a good time in that office - he was a great architect.

Mar 2, 17 4:38 pm  · 
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senjohnblutarsky

My guilty pleasure is not worrying about expectations or guilty pleasures.

I do what I want. 

Mar 2, 17 4:41 pm  · 
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tduds

I go out of my way to avoid wearing anything black. 

I think in a sense that might be more high-brow.

Mar 2, 17 4:45 pm  · 
1  · 
atelier nobody

I got bored with black and now have an unreasonable number of paisley shirts.

Feb 24, 23 4:25 pm  · 
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mtdew

I work in a "high brow" environment where the partners talk with a New England accent. When we talk about TV & movies; documentaries, foreign films, Downton Abbey... and some other serious & stiff shows will come up. 

My coworkers will prob act shocked/disgusted if I told them I watch shows like the walking dead or HBO boxing, UFC.

Mar 2, 17 5:18 pm  · 
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Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots, The Carpenters, FLW, Bakersfield Sound, orange MCM furniture, canned sweet corn, gardening.

Mar 2, 17 5:35 pm  · 
1  · 
chris-chitect

chigurh, I know what you're talking about. I never thought going into architecture would require me to change my diet. I work with engineers, and while it's far less judgmental when it comes to food, I remember pouring milk into my cereal and receiving the comment that "cow's milk is only for cows".

When I worked in construction management it was much more casual and vulgar. It was like going from Woody Allen humour to South Park. The only person that swore in the architecture office was the owner who once yelled out " I fucking hate it!".

Mar 2, 17 6:03 pm  · 
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TeenageWasteland

Admiring  Bjarke Ingels and his works...

Mar 2, 17 7:34 pm  · 
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geezertect

Not knowing or caring who the current wet-dream architect is.

Mar 2, 17 8:23 pm  · 
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citizen

Floor plan porn

Mar 2, 17 11:01 pm  · 
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Aw hell. There goes any work I planned to do tonight.

Mar 3, 17 10:15 pm  · 
1  · 
citizen

Sorry, Donna... I've been captivated by residential floor plans since about 1965. Nice to know there are others similarly afflicted :o)

Mar 4, 17 3:18 pm  · 
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chris-chitect

Haha, I've always loved reviewing residential floor plans. When I was 9 I got a catalog of home floor plans for my birthday. I reviewed it front to back. I was an odd kid.

Mar 22, 17 6:07 pm  · 
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archeyarch

Working a 40 hr week

Mar 2, 17 11:18 pm  · 
1  · 
awaiting_deletion

Hank Williams Jr

Mar 3, 17 12:20 am  · 
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archiwutm8

Piercing and tattoos.

Mar 3, 17 5:55 am  · 
1  · 
Zbig

Most weeks I work 40-44 hours.

I love the Lego Architecture set that my kids gave me, but I added some color from other sets.

Big-time soccer fan, but not a fan of Premier League.

I brew coffee that I have personally imported from Brazil. It is a regular supermarket brand, and it comes ground. But I will drink the office stuff too.

Curling as a sport and social event.

Mar 3, 17 8:41 am  · 
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Non Sequitur

^I have a curling tournament tomorrow.

Mar 3, 17 8:58 am  · 
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Wilma Buttfit

Occasional shopping at Walmart and the Dollar Store. Listening to Justin Bieber, Fifth Harmony, and Bruno Mars and singing along.

Mar 3, 17 9:00 am  · 
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Non Sequitur

This

Mar 3, 17 9:07 am  · 
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s=r*(theta)

I have egalitarian conversations with the building custodians
 

Mar 3, 17 10:03 am  · 
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archietechie

I dislike coffee. Only drink it when necessary.

#2edgy4u

Mar 3, 17 10:25 am  · 
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randomised

My guilty pleasure is making unconventional sandwich combo's during lunch and eating them.

Mar 3, 17 12:03 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

^such as?

Mar 3, 17 12:04 pm  · 
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randomised

Cream cheese, cucumber, chocolate sprinkles and balsamic vinegar for example, very refreshing. Another good one but more traditional is peanut butter with Indonesian sambal, again cucumber and sometimes cream cheese for additional freshness topped with fried onions for the crunch, nicely spicy. Peanut butter with slices of salami, brie cheese, honey and mustard (also great toasted)

Mar 3, 17 12:27 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

Briliant

Mar 3, 17 1:45 pm  · 
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sameolddoctor

Hmm, I think architects would like these sandwiches. How about taking a Subway sandwich and then tricking it out?

Mar 3, 17 3:25 pm  · 
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randomised

The smell alone puts me off. Their restaurants smell like New York garbage that's been left out too long on the street during a heatwave.

Mar 4, 17 4:40 pm  · 
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senjohnblutarsky

Cream cheese, cucumber and pepper jelly. Good stuff.

Mar 7, 17 11:40 am  · 
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atelier nobody

I had a coworker who ate peanut butter & roast beef sandwiches...

Feb 24, 23 4:37 pm  · 
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TIQM

When I was a kid, my mom made me peanut butter and bologna sandwiches. On Wonder bread. I still love them. Sweet and savory.

Feb 25, 23 10:08 pm  · 
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chigurh

doritos on your sub.

Mar 3, 17 12:12 pm  · 
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chris-chitect

Non Sequitur - Serial Joe? bahahahahah. I think this is the best response yet. 

Mar 3, 17 1:32 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

Thanks. Gold star for me. Would you believe me if I told you I saw them play a local fair in the late 90s?

Mar 3, 17 1:46 pm  · 
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x-jla

Eating ice cream while watching forensic files and other detective crime docs.  Beating my kids at mortal combat and streetfighter and watching them rage because im old and should suck at video games.  Drinking skunky (weed smelling) beer like heinekin and becks that my beer snob friends sneer at...(yes I like that skunky taste...)  

Mar 3, 17 2:36 pm  · 
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Kidd

Having a glass of whiskey at my desk when I'm working late.

Mar 3, 17 2:50 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

Is that not expected?

Mar 3, 17 3:28 pm  · 
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Kidd

Dry campus

Mar 3, 17 4:07 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

...and? Who cares, you're all adults.

Mar 3, 17 4:09 pm  · 
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Kidd

I've never been big on institutional rules. Not in the military and not in school. I finished my bottle on Wednesday. Need to restock

Mar 3, 17 5:25 pm  · 
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JonathanLivingston

Giving away free architectural advice anonymously on the internet 

Mar 3, 17 2:54 pm  · 
1  · 
s=r*(theta)

many times the best things in life are free! you jus have to pay for them! 8-D

Mar 3, 17 3:35 pm  · 
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Medusa

I live in a single family house with vinyl siding and a white picket fence and I love it. Suck it, urbanism!

Mar 4, 17 3:24 pm  · 
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citizen

You probably drive one of those evil "cars," too. For shame!

Mar 4, 17 3:45 pm  · 
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think_again

living a conservative life while practicing with a liberal agenda

Mar 4, 17 11:12 pm  · 
1  · 
geezertect

Watching Hoarders and imagining the underlyiing house as a flipper project.

Mar 5, 17 10:53 am  · 
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Brad Pitt.
Mar 5, 17 10:22 pm  · 
1  · 
Beepbeep

I own a few guns, and enjoy hunting- and cheeseburgers. Still lead the liberal life front. 

Mar 5, 17 10:33 pm  · 
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canary trace and pentel sign pens

Mar 5, 17 10:43 pm  · 
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-and fried food from the mediocre hot bar while marking up drawings

Mar 5, 17 10:46 pm  · 
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arifj

I call it butter trace which makes it sound more pleasing to me. But I agree sign pens on butter/canary trace is the way to go. White trace is lame !

Mar 7, 17 2:21 pm  · 
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TIQM

No reason to feel guilty about those. Canary trace is the best trace. Add white Prisma and you’re good to go.

Feb 25, 23 10:09 pm  · 
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shellarchitect

I love defending trump to my super liberal friends and family, I don't actually support him, but love the arguments

Mar 7, 17 11:25 am  · 
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tduds

I shamelessly jam out to awful trance / edm music while working on details. Helps me focus.

Mar 7, 17 12:32 pm  · 
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s=r*(theta)

Secretly tapping my feet to "party in the usa" by miley cyrus

Mar 7, 17 1:59 pm  · 
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Wilma Buttfit

I watch only one TV show and it's The Bachelor. I watch it for the train wrecks not because I thinks it's great or anything. My husband watches it too, he is actually more into it than I am.

Mar 7, 17 2:03 pm  · 
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JLC-1

I like the earthships in new mexico

Mar 7, 17 4:59 pm  · 
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tduds

Do most architects not? I think they're fantastic. (full disclosure I helped build one once)

Mar 7, 17 5:10 pm  · 
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JLC-1

I don't know what most architects like to be honest, we have become so divided as of late. I also love Patron Cafe, a new find.

Mar 7, 17 5:21 pm  · 
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JLC-1

Hit enter before telling you how envious I was of your helping on that

Mar 7, 17 5:23 pm  · 
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Wilma Buttfit

I like them too. Those in the Rocky Mountain regions and West tend to like them but all other architects LOATHE THEM!

(edit: was supposed to be a reply to the bit about earthships.)

Mar 7, 17 5:16 pm  · 
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JLC-1

well, that's the answer for tduds, I would like to know why they loathe them.

Mar 7, 17 5:37 pm  · 
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Wilma Buttfit

They who loathe them will have to answer that. The project where I sat with my feet in the stream was for earthships but it never took off so to speak.

Mar 7, 17 9:05 pm  · 
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chris-chitect

Old thread for sure, but another guilty pleasure popped into my head the other day.

I like air conditioning. I'm used to working with people that say "it doesn't get that hot here" and sure some natural ventilation is nice from time to time, but the second I'm uncomfortable, I'm closing the windows and waiting for the satisfying sound of the compressor on the AC kicking in. 

Feb 24, 23 4:07 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

I replaced my house's entire HVAC system in 2022 and now I can control the AC from my phone.

Feb 24, 23 4:08 pm  · 
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Almosthip

i bought a shaker box air conditioner for my bedroom window 2 years ago. It got hot here in the great white north for a week this summer, but alas the air conditioner is still in the box

Feb 24, 23 5:21 pm  · 
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chris-chitect

Non Sequitur - I like central air, satisfying that it's built in and integrated. I've not been good for home automation though, takes too long to set up for convenience on my end. I use a Dyson Fan for purifying the air though. I liked that I could control it while in the office from my phone and run it on a high setting to clear out the forest fire smoke in the summers.

Feb 27, 23 2:23 am  · 
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sameolddoctor

Post pandemic, I am finding that I am getting closer and closer to what could be considered "architect" guilty pleasures - Extremely gourmet coffee, Bikes and NPR. And getting more and more antisocial working from home.

Feb 24, 23 5:03 pm  · 
2  · 
Non Sequitur

Since COVID, I added vinyl record collecting to my list of guilty pleasures. Value of said collection is quickly getting close to equaling those of my other pleasures I listed at the beginning of this thread.

Feb 24, 23 5:22 pm  · 
1  · 
sameolddoctor

Yes I had started a mini collection too, but with kids in the house all all times during lockdown, I had to switch back to streaming music and headphones lol. The bike stuff adds up though - between all the gear, accoutrements (bike computer, sensors etc etc) and the increased number of coffee shop stops...but my excuse is health.

Feb 24, 23 6:35 pm  · 
1  · 
chris-chitect

Haha, Sameolddoctor, that doesn't actually sound like a real guilty pleasure, I'd argue that fits in with what I'd expect from architects.

Feb 27, 23 2:26 am  · 
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chris-chitect

I found with the pandemic though I tried to be more social actually. If I wasn't going to be in the office I would at least be pushing others to get out for a beer on a friday afternoon.

Feb 27, 23 2:26 am  · 
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natematt

I'm not sure I feel guilt over any of my pleasures

Feb 24, 23 5:52 pm  · 
4  · 
bowling_ball

Same. Life is way too short.

Feb 25, 23 10:22 am  · 
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TIQM

I have over a hundred fountain pens.  And The Sound of Music is in my top five. 


Feb 25, 23 10:10 pm  · 
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TIQM

We’re among friends here, right?  also… Foreigner.

Feb 25, 23 10:12 pm  · 
1  · 

Coloring my hair. I really should let it go grey, but I’m  enjoying being a blonde for a few more years.

Feb 26, 23 12:49 pm  · 
2  · 
ivanmillya

I've been trying to find a "professional" way to color my hair, and was thinking of doing a peekaboo color (like dying the underside), so that way unless it's whipping around, it's harder to spot.

Feb 26, 23 6:50 pm  · 
1  · 
citizen

Butter.  And Al Stewart.  But not at the same time.

Feb 26, 23 4:25 pm  · 
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natematt

.

Feb 27, 23 1:36 pm  · 
1  · 

weekends.


And a daily quad shot dirty chai.

Feb 26, 23 6:05 pm  · 
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chris-chitect

Ouch haha, while I wasn't in an architecture office for the pandemic, I did start taking longer lunches. I certainly felt like I put in my 8 hours a day, but I just felt like I needed a lot more time at lunch to exercise, enjoy a meal, sit on the sofa for a bit, watch some tv and then return to work around 2pm. Friday afternoons I finished early and went for beers. It took me a while to stop thinking it was a guilty pleasure, but then again I was the one sending out Sunday evening e-mails to catch up on all the long lunches I had in the previous week.

Feb 27, 23 2:32 am  · 
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