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BUILDINGS ARE COOL

Stories about Architecture and Design. Charleston SC
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How Shame Pushed Me To Get My Architecture License

April 18, 2016

Recently I told the story about how I became a Licensed Architect.  I told this story for a guest post on Michael Riscica's Website: Young Architect.

Spoiler Alert:  As the title suggests, there is some shame and embarrassment involved.  After the embarrassing story I share some of my study tips.

http://youngarchitect.com/2016/03/26/shame-architecture-license-bac/

← Five Tips for Maximizing Your Time in Architecture SchoolThe Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman: Book Review →

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Welcome to BUILDINGS ARE COOL!

Hello, my name is Steve Ramos.  This site is about what it's like to be a young architect in Charleston, South Carolina.  In 10 years, I will write about what it is like to be a middle-age architect. 

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Good morning from my desk! My sweet 7-month old daughter Vera got to see my office at @ls3p yesterday. It’s obvious she wants to be an #architect isn’t it? She loves the architectural scale. Enjoyed my standup desk. Thought that 3D printed models were just delicious! And was even ready to redline some drawings. It will be cool to one day look back at these photos. Especially if she were to become an architect! Also will be cool to see the evolution of the building designs featured in the photos. Assuming that they all become actual buildings one day. The yellow trace paper had some earlier conceptual sketches for the New Ronald McDonald House on Calhoun Street. The image on the computer was a hotel we are working on at King and George Street. And the model she was consuming was an office design for the corner of Meeting and Calhoun. Being a dad and an architect is amazing. I feel lucky every day. I do the things I love while at work and come home to a boatload of love every evening. Life is good. #babiesarecool
Good morning from my desk! My sweet 7-month old daughter Vera got to see my office at @ls3p yesterday. It’s obvious she wants to be an #architect isn’t it? She loves the architectural scale. Enjoyed my standup desk. Thought that 3D printed models were just delicious! And was even ready to redline some drawings. It will be cool to one day look back at these photos. Especially if she were to become an architect! Also will be cool to see the evolution of the building designs featured in the photos. Assuming that they all become actual buildings one day. The yellow trace paper had some earlier conceptual sketches for the New Ronald McDonald House on Calhoun Street. The image on the computer was a hotel we are working on at King and George Street. And the model she was consuming was an office design for the corner of Meeting and Calhoun. Being a dad and an architect is amazing. I feel lucky every day. I do the things I love while at work and come home to a boatload of love every evening. Life is good. #babiesarecool
Good morning from Halls Chophouse! These pics are right next door to yesterday’s pics. Just moving down the street. You’ll notice that the right side of this building looks a bit different on the 2nd floor. See the large window and the break in the cornice. You see this a lot on #kingstreet Historically there was most likely a gap between the buildings. Within that gap would have been an exterior stair and porch just like the piazza on a singlehouse. That would have provided access to an upper floor residential unit above the shops. You can see a great example in the pics I posted yesterday. Over time many of these piazzas have been filled in along King Street just like this one. In some instances 2 or 3 buildings have been joined together over time and you can spot if from irregular window spacing and hints at the cornice. #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Halls Chophouse! These pics are right next door to yesterday’s pics. Just moving down the street. You’ll notice that the right side of this building looks a bit different on the 2nd floor. See the large window and the break in the cornice. You see this a lot on #kingstreet Historically there was most likely a gap between the buildings. Within that gap would have been an exterior stair and porch just like the piazza on a singlehouse. That would have provided access to an upper floor residential unit above the shops. You can see a great example in the pics I posted yesterday. Over time many of these piazzas have been filled in along King Street just like this one. In some instances 2 or 3 buildings have been joined together over time and you can spot if from irregular window spacing and hints at the cornice. #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from the Holy City! Another great building on Upper King. This one caught my eye on my walk home yesterday. And it always does. I love the tall proportions. I love the large expanses of glass at the ground floor. And how about that cornice? I also like how this building demonstrates that it’s ok to be taller than your neighbors. And of course you guys know how I love the Charleston Single House. And this #singlehouseoftheday is yet another demonstration of the versatility of this iconic building type. The side porch or #piazza provides access to the upper floors of the building. The piazza also provides a welcomed break in the urban wall. Just a great building! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from the Holy City! Another great building on Upper King. This one caught my eye on my walk home yesterday. And it always does. I love the tall proportions. I love the large expanses of glass at the ground floor. And how about that cornice? I also like how this building demonstrates that it’s ok to be taller than your neighbors. And of course you guys know how I love the Charleston Single House. And this #singlehouseoftheday is yet another demonstration of the versatility of this iconic building type. The side porch or #piazza provides access to the upper floors of the building. The piazza also provides a welcomed break in the urban wall. Just a great building! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Upper King Street! The People Matter building recently got a fresh paint job and a new retail tenant. The clothing boutique @freepeople just opened up shop. I enjoy seeing things evolve especially on this stretch of King. I’m also happy to see that they kept the People Matter sign even though People Matter eventually became @snagajob and that company outgrew this space and moved out. It has quickly become a mini landmark. And it is fitting that the People Matter building now hosts a business called Free People. Can’t be a coincidence? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Upper King Street! The People Matter building recently got a fresh paint job and a new retail tenant. The clothing boutique @freepeople just opened up shop. I enjoy seeing things evolve especially on this stretch of King. I’m also happy to see that they kept the People Matter sign even though People Matter eventually became @snagajob and that company outgrew this space and moved out. It has quickly become a mini landmark. And it is fitting that the People Matter building now hosts a business called Free People. Can’t be a coincidence? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Broad and King! This is one of my favorite corner buildings. I see it almost every day on my lunchtime stroll. Some buildings are beautiful and some are handsome. This be a handsome little devil. Architectural fun fact of the day: those douhickeys on the corner that look like #tetris blocks are called quoins. It is a detail you see often on old masonry and stone buildings. Used in a sentence: “Whoa! Check out those sweet quoins on that building bro”. Or, “I’m about to jazz up this building with some quoining.” See...buildings can be cool and fun! #themoreyouknow🌈 This building was renovated a few years back with the help of design from the talented folks at @billhuey.architecture Bravo!! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Broad and King! This is one of my favorite corner buildings. I see it almost every day on my lunchtime stroll. Some buildings are beautiful and some are handsome. This be a handsome little devil. Architectural fun fact of the day: those douhickeys on the corner that look like #tetris blocks are called quoins. It is a detail you see often on old masonry and stone buildings. Used in a sentence: “Whoa! Check out those sweet quoins on that building bro”. Or, “I’m about to jazz up this building with some quoining.” See...buildings can be cool and fun! #themoreyouknow🌈 This building was renovated a few years back with the help of design from the talented folks at @billhuey.architecture Bravo!! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Ashley Avenue! Just a simple yet elegant building doing its thing. Question: old or new?
Good morning from Ashley Avenue! Just a simple yet elegant building doing its thing. Question: old or new?
Good morning from Cannon Street! There is an awesome collection of renovations in this area. This is one of my favorites. I love the wrap around porch and the stained columns. You don’t see that often. Overall Cannon and Spring streets are becoming Charleston’s next great streets. I’m happy to live right in the middle of this #renaissance ! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Cannon Street! There is an awesome collection of renovations in this area. This is one of my favorites. I love the wrap around porch and the stained columns. You don’t see that often. Overall Cannon and Spring streets are becoming Charleston’s next great streets. I’m happy to live right in the middle of this #renaissance ! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from King Street! Some things are not what they seem. This facade #symmetrical right? Wrong. The ground floor is perfectly balanced. The upper two floors are slightly off. The far left window is skinnier causing all of those windows to be off-balance....just a hair. The way you can see it is to locate the centerline of the ground floor storefront and follow it up. Maybe only something a wackadoo would notice. So what does this mean? Maybe it means that close enough is sometimes good enough? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from King Street! Some things are not what they seem. This facade #symmetrical right? Wrong. The ground floor is perfectly balanced. The upper two floors are slightly off. The far left window is skinnier causing all of those windows to be off-balance....just a hair. The way you can see it is to locate the centerline of the ground floor storefront and follow it up. Maybe only something a wackadoo would notice. So what does this mean? Maybe it means that close enough is sometimes good enough? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from the High Battery! The stately house on the left is #9 East Battery known as the Robert William Roper House. It is one of many large mansions on this stretch. I’ve always enjoyed promenading on this elevated walkway. And I’m pumped that the city has long term plans to restore the sea wall and walkway which will help safeguard this area from flooding and create a more pedestrian friendly environment. Yo @allen.davis.davis ! What’s the timeline on that? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from the High Battery! The stately house on the left is #9 East Battery known as the Robert William Roper House. It is one of many large mansions on this stretch. I’ve always enjoyed promenading on this elevated walkway. And I’m pumped that the city has long term plans to restore the sea wall and walkway which will help safeguard this area from flooding and create a more pedestrian friendly environment. Yo @allen.davis.davis ! What’s the timeline on that? #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Gillon Street! It is a short little street but it sure is pretty. Have a good one! #dailydoseofcharleston
Good morning from Gillon Street! It is a short little street but it sure is pretty. Have a good one! #dailydoseofcharleston

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