Robert Nichols

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Robert Nichols ("RN") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

RN : I have been in an experience for architecture and design for over three decades. In 1993, I opened my own business as Principal in Design specializing on residential, commercial, institute, government, and universal design for people with disabilities in public and private accommodation. I received Bachelor of Architecture in 1979 and Master of Architecture in Urban Design in 1981 from Cornell University.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

RN : When I was 12, my father hired architect J.Robert Hiller (now StudioHiller which was changed after The Hillier Group - the nationally known firm in Princeton, NJ was sold) to design a new laboratory for him. I visited the firm to see the model and drawings and soaked up the ambiance between my father and Bob Hillier. Fortunately, when I was fifteen and in a youth employment program, I got a part-time job in Hillier's firm. When I was in the college, an architectural history professor asked me if I would like to help save a 100-year-old cabin in the Green Mountains in Vermont. Without assistance, I drove to the cabin , measured the entire structure, and prepared the final drawings for the report. The professor not only gave me an A, but encouraged me to apply to the School of Architecture at Cornell University.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

RN : I chose to become a designer after an experience at different design firms in Washington, DC, NYC, and Boston. I decided to start my own business as designer because I believe that my role is a freedom of design without being pardoned or controlled.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

RN : Most of my design work is the new contemporary house, including universal design and new technologies for residents with disabilities.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

RN : To learn more information from me for the future of their professional services, I need to have young designers to work with me in the team.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

RN : They are very competitive in between their positions. It's important for me as principal as well as judge to listen and make a final decision who is the right one about the new idea that matches to the client needs.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

RN : A review and evaluation on the good design is very important to understand a clear concept on the new language and technology of architecture.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

RN : Most of the client wants a good design to make their investment when the construction is completed. The value of good design is combined with the program what the client provides and we the designers in the team to build a strong relationship and connection with them from beginning to end of construction.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

RN : I can work for 24/7 anytime in morning, afternoon or evening because the time is money that client is spending depending how soon he/she wants the construction to be substantially completed.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

RN : My dream project is to build the arts gallery or museum, because an organization wants to invite many architects for the design competition. The competition for a new arts museum is not easy to win on their toughest selection.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

RN : By research, I can discover some resources of information from office or department of architecture for my successful design.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

RN : I get inspired by the master builders as well as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies and LeCorbusier. Louis I. Kahn was a great legend of the 21st Century American architecture after FLW.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

RN : FLW's residential projects, especially Fallingwater and Martin House, were my favorite architecture not because of beauty of architecture, but because of exploring a new language of architecture. The principal idea of his buildings - both residential, museum, institute and housing - are central core of the structure.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

RN : I hope I can make my greatest design by developing a new language with the simplification of elements.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

RN : Nothing. I would be very impressive if the people improve themselves to be better perhaps I can communicate with them for more details in their designs.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

RN : Builder? Actor? Chef? Or whatever depends on my skill in work.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

RN : When I pick up a brick, I ask it "What is design for you"? The brick replies, "I love to be designed in house by myself"! So, I can find out what proportion of human design I can fit in the scale of space.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

RN : By thinking as apple falls from tree for a gravity. I can't listen to a teacher, supporter or wife, but I can reach to new heights by myself.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RN : As a kid, my mother was a talented pianist while my father was an organic chemist with his own laboratory. I feel I absorbed from my parent's diverse backgrounds an interest in both creative and practical arts. I found I had a talent for seeing things in particular ways, and representing this vision pictorially.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

RN : Before I became the designer, I learned that many people of disabilities were barred from entering building and accommodation without the accessible elements. As a hearing loss designer, I feel I should be so sensitive to remove barriers from building for the disabled people. The universal design which differs from the standard as Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 shows more beauty of the accessibility to installed in in a good manner with existing structure to allow people with disabilities into the building. I think it's very important to work with designers, architects, politicians, and advocates for people with disabilities to build a bridge to other countries in order to positively influence disability policy.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

RN : The designers should bring more information in their work by presenting the conceptualized idea, "before and after" sketches, site relationship, 3D views and images, models, etc. for the town/county meeting and review. The designers shall be listening with their patience to whoever the outside people give their thought and comments on the presentation.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

RN : My next design is a new custom that will be starting in construction this coming fall. Hopefully it will be completed in the end of winter in 2018 before I will submit entry for A'design Awards competition.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

RN : I hope that when I become successful my ultimate goal will make more money for living!

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

RN : Depending on their financial situation, the middle-income family seek the concept in design and cost that would be reasonable for their needs. It is very similar to FLW's usonian homes. Usonian is a term usually referring to a group of approximately sixty middle-income family homes built in USA. I would design for it!

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RN : It's important to a client and/or family who want to live better for a long term or who want to make investment from selling in the future.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

RN : A contemporary house with new technologies and method of materials.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

RN : Takoma Park House project. I won a Silver Trophy A'Design Award for the house because I think it is a good architecture with a new style. The house forms a linear structure in a cantilever cube with one being open and the other enclosed.The house is understood frontally by the layering of principal facades.The first of these consisting of a stainless cable rail frame Cor-ten panel and mesh fence defines the outer edge of the house’s boundary.It acts as a focal point, receiving the stair between front driveway and side entrance level.The house’s form is also reflected in the distortion of the plan of the two decks above.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

RN : I have no idea, because at this moment I am not complete in the new house design and research to see what will be in coming years.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

RN : It will be built in the same area where I live and work for this year.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

RN : As soon as when I have done with it. Hopefully it will be finalized this coming summer in preparation to start construction.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

RN : Work at home office to start a new design project with the team, involving within all basic phases of architectural services.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RN : Think design.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

RN : Design always sets the trends. Everything in problem is solved by design, not trend.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

RN : Model making is one of a few technologies that the designer can research on the scale of human behavior in space. CAD is the important technology to view 3D.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

RN : My design software is ArchiCAD by Graphisoft. It is very useful to view and draw everything from conceptualized design to construction with several systems for the builder.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

RN : It depends on how skill the designer creates with his own hands on color and material.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

RN : Anything whatever the people ask about my design. I cannot answer what they will ask until I will know when they ask about my design.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

RN : To bear in mind, the design needs to include new products to obey the program.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

RN : No, I am only the one partner.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

RN : By inviting architects and designers to review my design. I will provide a refreshment for them to make sure they are satisfied with the design.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

RN : Many books about the contemporary houses from around the world. I subscribe Resident Architects, Architectural Records, Architects, Dwell and The Plan.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

RN : I have spent much of my time to research and develop by myself to become a master designer. I have some people who are working to be integrated in the team for the design project.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

RN : I can invite some designers/architects from the local society in architecture for meeting during lunch or coffee to discuss more details about the design. Most of them are also hearing loss architects who share their similar experience in professional area of architecture with me.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

RN : I am very happy about the Silver Trophy A'Design Award. That is my first time I ever won for the house design since it was completed last year. I would be delighted to meet with new faces to share our experiences in work at the Gala Ceremony, perhaps we will keep in contact with each others afterwards.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

RN : Red, Siena, Italy, pasta, fall, BMW, Pinot Grigio, Kevin Spacey.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

RN : Pantheon taught me that the dome without a hole is where the light is not, and the space is inside where the light is from outside. It is a matter of no-light or electrical light. To make a dome which raises above the wall and which makes its own roof of no-light, but oculus cuts to open in middle to bring natural light: that is the marvel of the designer.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

RN : When I work hard on marketing to get a contract for my business, I would be very motived myself to design and build a good structure.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

RN : As a kid, I was fantasized by FLW's Guggenhiem Museum, TWA Terminal at JFK, and New York World Fair in New York, where my grand parents used to live. Many interesting architectures by great master builders gave me very motivated to learn to become a designer.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

RN : I think that the new "Computer Revolution" will change many softwares for every designer to work in competition with each others to build a new futuristic structure. Many new technologies by the computer's software are endlessly changing new tools in design for human and animal to earn their living to avoid from being affecting by the global warming. If not working, then trip to another planet!

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

RN : Some of them applaud me for receiving the award in recognition of my courageous work as hearing loss designer. I wish my parents could be proud of my excellency in my working design which received recognized awards if they were alive.