Alvin Huang, founder and principal of Synthesis Design + Architecture in Los Angeles, joins us to talk about growing his practice into the award-winning firm it is today. Alvin dips back into his time in London, going to school at the AA and working with Zaha, and shares the terror and excitement that is starting your own firm. We also discuss taking criticism on social media, firm/teaching/life balance, and computation's role in design.
This past August, Synthesis received the Presidential Honoree Emerging Practice Award from AIA | LA – check out their work here.
Listen to episode 82 of Archinect Sessions, "Grounded Research":
Shownotes:
The Greg Lynn Show at the CCA: Introduction & Neil Denari:
Peter Raisbeck, “Suits vs. Designers”
Discussion of Synthesis' winning design for Volvo's "Switch to Pure Volvo" pavilion competition
Mosaic of Episodes conference in Bangalore, featuring Alvin
Chelsea Workspace by Synthesis Architecture + Design:
What Alvin's watching: Netflix's The Get Down
What Alvin's reading: Double Cup Love by Eddie Huang and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
What Alvin's listening to: "Umi Says" by Mos Def:
7 Comments
Thanks for having me! It was a lot of fun.
Alvin, great talk, great work; now we all need to come out and have some drinks.
Ken, sounds like a plan! Then I can tell the stories I couldn't share on air.
Actually here's an idea for a podcast. Archinect Happy Hour. Invite a small group of people out for drinks and recorded conversations!
I've been a part of one of those, have photos to prove it, locked in a Snowden-proof vault.
I'd pay to attend one...
Nam, you're an always-welcomed participant. Let's make it happen.
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