how do you know it's bad?

when the term "european hillside community" is used to describe a neighborhood in the suburbs of denver

when the architects love and design in the "tuscan" period

when homeowners proclaim about their new mcmansion: "our home was created as an old tuscan home" and they're glad that it feels like a "homey home rather than a mansion"

the developer claims that "they stayed true to form from the outside to the inside" while they pan over a modern kitchen framed by a fake rock grotto

when "everything from the french paper to the french mail is very...french" (in a tuscan home)

thank you for sharing your pain.

really you should start looking for another job

sometimes when you're the new guy is the best time to speak up. i assume your portfolio isn't full of faux tuscan and they still hired you, right?

...not a one. I just emailed my thoughts to the entire office...we'll see if I still have a job at the end of the day!

Fryance. It's so very. . .French. "The black-bottomed pool is so typical of what you'd find in. . .Provence."

if that's the competition, i hope your firm doesn't have anything to worry about.

otherwise, i'd take p2an's suggestion and try to get a job w/ ron faleide

I suggest that you tell your employers that you will need to be reimbursed for your study tour to Tuscany.

What every happened to the "Rocky Mountain High"...Colorado is not Europe. It is LOG CABIN COUNTRY!

Those designs beat the pants off the crap that's found up here in Canada. I'd prefer a fake villa to a fake 'Georgian/Edwardian/Tudor red brick model' made from pink brick and somehow manages to look even uglier than the ugly pink box it is...with siding at the sides and back to really bring out the 'Georgian/Edwardian/Tudor of it all.

At least they used actual tiles on those roofs, the monstrosities here are covered in ashphalt shingles.

What really bothers me are the people with more money than sense, whom insist on having fake chateaus built, all of which look like a mini Versailles.
Why not just spend half the cash and have a gorgeous old home renovated instead of having a fake old home built?

sigh.....a fool and his money I guess

well, I 'sarcastically' responded to the parade of homes tour and I was told to "temper my philosophies" and that I am supposed to look at this as an "opportunity to network" and to "see things we don't get to see everyday" and to "look critically at every building, whether good or bad". WOW! I'm afraid if this is the type of project this firm is going after, our future in architecture is dim, because that Olde World BS is so played! Oh yeah, and we are a "service oriented firm, so if a client wants a neoclassical, well..." I guess it doesn't matter if we are doing a disservice to the communtiy or to the entire profession.

sarcasm hardly ever works in a positive way, but good for you for making your views known.

unfortunately their response is a little disappointing: doesn't offer much hope that you WON'T be working on a project that will be in next year's parade of homes.

I don't get it...almost half of the office is fresh out of school and/or LEED certified (hopefully thinking about the absurdity of these types of homes) and yet, no one has joined my plight.

Thanks Steven and everyone else for the replies!

you WILL work on these projects because you need the money. you WILL survive and your soul WILL only be crushed a little...

crave, I hope you can learn in this office - you are an intern, right? - some of the basic important stuff of internship: putting a drawing set together, basic constructibility, codes, office processes, etc. If they seem like a firm that is interested in giving a good, well-rounded intern experience, there is always more to be learned, especially those first years out of school. Keep an open mind and be both learning what to do and what NOT to do.

If they seem like they want you to sit at your cad station and be quiet, a new job might be a better idea. Given that your sarcasm was responded to with what sounds like gentle acknowledgement and respect for the opportunity to learn, it sounds like you might do OK at this firm for awhile. Don't start planning on being principal, though, if their design philosophy is so opposed to yours!

I would echo the sentiments here... I've had a few jobs in the past that I didn't enjoy, for a variety of reasons. But every time, I stuck it out and paid special attention to how things are run, so that I would know exactly how I DON'T want to do things in the future. You can learn a lot from experience like that.

frankly, crave, i don't think your response was at all mature or responsible. for some reason, you chose to work in this office. how did you not know the type of work they do? now, that you're hired there, to act as if you are somehow better than the office, is pretty immature. if you don't want to be there, or think your talent is genuinely better than this office, leave now. if not, go on the parade of homes tour, network, and try to learn as much as you possibly can from this opportunity. you're not going to go far just acting superior.

I'm licensed and have been for 3 years now. however, your comments about learning from this office are valid. i was aware of some of their more traditional work but they expressed to me big changes are in the future...they're all about affordable housing, sustainability, technology, etc. I was hoping to spur on some of that dialogue among my coworkers...maybe my sarcasm was irresponsible and next time I should be more professional or just move on. thanks!

I was going to post about how some developments on my local parade of homes are actualy stuning examples of complex roof framing and good residential design - then I clicked the link. Good Lord - whats wrong in Denver? Ive never seen such horrible buildings as shown on that site.

And the size - my God, I thought we were beyond this 5000+ SF thing / Or at least 5000 SF close enough to your neighbor to watch him piss.

The Villa di Vita

THE HOME. This beautiful home has all the authentic Tuscan Old World details without compromising comfort or livability. The main floor has a secured multi-story interior courtyard leading to the front door. The foyer is grand and opens up to the great room. The great room’s glass wall opens to the outdoor covered living space with stunning views of Red Rocks and the mountains. The first floor study has mountain views as well as access to the front interior courtyard spaces. Other interesting aspects include a dining room, gourmet kitchen, nook, hearth room, caterer’s kitchen and two half baths. Two staircases lead up to bedrooms and a bonus room. The master suite opens to a trellised deck with mountain views. The lower level reveals a centrally located courtyard with access to the bar, media/family room and a billiard room. This home is certified Built Green® Colorado

2 story Foyer? Opens to Great room? What is this 1989? At least it has a bonus room.

A brand-new, way-oversized home Built Green out in the suburbs of the city?! Somebody's completely missing the point of green building.

Ugh. These look EXACTLY like the homes that ruined the beloved ranch land of my hometown (including the home I grew up in, sadly, which was however much better designed than these AND only 2200 sf).

Also -- what kind of code do you have out there in Denver? This Villa da Vita thing is over 6,000sf but it sounds like it's not actually architect-designed...?

i was in the Rose Bowl Parade last year

there oughtta be a clause that no 5000sf home, unless housing 10 people or more, can qualify for any recognition with 'green' in its title.

"Because of its size, the [4500 sf] house started out with a negative 11 points on a 102-point system needed to achieve LEED-H Platinum status." "The house is currently tracking at 118 points. . ."

if i forget about everything else, just that so much concrete was poured so that, what, three people (?) could live in that place tells me the LEED system is broken.

What are we supposed to build with, now -- fiber-reinforced air ? [insert rolled eyes AND a big smile, here]

This was reviewed on tonight's News Hour. The author said he has spoken to therapists who are treating home-owners for anxiety related to dealing with contractors and color consultants. . .

Ooooh. Is the de Medici family moving in? Who the hell needs a caterer's kitchen anyway.

Gift-wrapping room. Plant potting room. More bathrooms than occupants.

In Tuscany does everyone want a Cape Cod?

...and live in a subdivision called Pilgrims Cove?

No doubt. "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. . ."

I always wondered, What SHOULD new communities be called? If not something innocucous like Pilgrims Cove?

You have to pay admission for the Parade of Homes in Denver? The local "Parade" here is free and features thousands of homes all over the metro in all price ranges and sizes. Most are suburban but in recent years there have been several urban in-fill and urban condo models.

I can see the benefit in touring the homes if you work for a residential design firm and your clients want suburban homes similar to what the competition is offering.

Of course everyone on Archinect is disgusted by the Denver parade offerings. I agree that it's nothing I'd be putting an offer on. However it's somewhat akin to all the threads about "what are the good design firms in X city." Everyone on archinect has such a hard on to prove to the architecture "community" that they care about design above all else.

Still, this is a service based business. 99.9% of us end up designing what our clients want. I'd say get over your ego and you'll be much happier at work. Or you could do what most archinector's do and move to NYC or LA and work in a botique firm that "gets" design, or so they say.

To clarify my last post. As architect we do need to strive for good design. But, what I think is ridiculous is finding an employer based on what they have designed in the past based on your opinion of good design. You'll never be happy at work if you base that on the designs going out the door.

In the northeast, it's the shingle style that is starting to get overplayed. I actually like a lot of shingle style houses, old and new. But some of the ones going up now are a bit obnoxious. Instead of badly done colonial or french style McMansions we see a lot of faux shingle style houses going up. They're getting away from what made these houses good and making them too "fancy" and complicated.