anthonypoon.com

GENERALISTS VS. SPECIALISTS: WHO SUCCEEDS?

June 11, 2021

Ask someone, “Hey, what kind of music do you like?” You will likely hear in response, “I like all kinds.”

Why do people hesitate to list specific music? Why do they want to represent have broad and general interests, when typically, the range of personal taste in music is narrow?

Personally, I don’t like “all kinds.” I don’t listen to country western, reggae fusion, and late 17th century arias? And I bet there are dozens of genres that you don’t like either when you state ironically, “I like all kinds.”

In architecture, there are generalists and specialists.

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WHO WOULD YOU KILL TO SATISFY YOUR CREATIVE EGO?

May 21, 2021

Here’s the pitch for my upcoming novel. “San Francisco cloaked in fog and secrets: Architects are being murdered as they compete for a new museum of art at the notorious Alcatraz Island. This mystery of death and intrigue examines ego, arrogance, and redemption within the creative process. Who will win and at what cost?”

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LIVE LEARN EAT INTERVIEW PART 2 OF 2: RESTAURANTS BY POON DESIGN INC.

April 30, 2021

Michael Webb: Let’s finally get to restaurants. You’ve designed more than 50 varied examples, working on both generous and frugal budgets. Like schools, restaurants have to accommodate all their uses in the kitchen and dining area, and in between. How do you choreograph those movements?

Anthony Poon: That’s a good word, Michael, choreography.

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THE INFURIATING MYTH OF AN ARCHITECT’S WEALTH

April 9, 2021

It’s a popular myth that you see in TV and movies, that an architect is rich. From Greg Brady supporting a family of eight (nine if you count Alice) to the architect duo of Richard Gere and Sharon Stone, from charming Tom Hanks to Steve Martin playing an architect twice, the world seems to think architects are wealthy—rolling in money.

Well, we are not. Not at all. Not even close.

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THE THREE-PART SECRET: HOW TO GET SELECTED FOR THE BIG COMMISSION

March 19, 2021

I have a secret to share. What is the formula to success when your team is being considered for a big contract? It could be your design team being interviewed for a new shopping center, or a law firm being considered for a huge case. Maybe a financial group is being evaluated to take a start up public, or a real estate company for a national property deal. How to you hit a homerun during the interview and presentations?

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GOOD OR BAD: THE SUBJECTIVITY OF DESIGN

February 26, 2021

It must be asked: What is good architecture? What is bad architecture?

A 3rd century B.C. Greek adage has become the seminal motto, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” But who are these “beholders”? And is architecture subjective—to be determined on a case-by-case basis by whoever is beholden, whoever is the random casual visitor?

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