Antonio's choice
Thursday, September 30, 2010
moving
This blog is moving to a sub-domain in our website Avila Architecture. Would you like to keep following these posts, please update your bookmarks to http://antonio.avila-architecture.nl
We are wearing A new jacket! ¶ 9/30/2010 11:38:00 AM 0 comments
We are wearing A new jacket! ¶ 9/30/2010 11:38:00 AM 0 comments
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Avance de obras
Somebody I know is building in Caracas. Soon I'll be doing the same. First I'll have to get the design right, the contractors, the permits (I'm on it), etc. Nice to see Cristobal's work building up.
Avances de Obra - A.C. 509: avances - semana 16/08/2010 ¶ 8/26/2010 11:08:00 AM 0 comments
Avances de Obra - A.C. 509: avances - semana 16/08/2010 ¶ 8/26/2010 11:08:00 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
houses
Where is this fascination with houses, architecture, design comes from?
Many years ago a teacher at architecture's school told us, first year students, that we would lose our friends from high school. Perhaps abruptly, perhaps slowly, but we would lose them through our studies. We would learn about design, we would made that our lives, we would be architects. Not just someone with a grade, but more someone with a identity architect.
That could be part of the explanation.
But it also could be that Caracas is, in its own peculiar way, a city full of architecture. So many houses, buildings to see, walk around, look around, identify. Great. Looking at caracas moderna, I couldn't stop wondering of all the houses, buildings, parks, villas, streets, etc. that I once walked around and are part of the imaginary city I carry with me. So, no wonder that Avila Architecture is focused on houses, modern architecture, eclecticism, individuality... We always had that back in the valley...
Many years ago a teacher at architecture's school told us, first year students, that we would lose our friends from high school. Perhaps abruptly, perhaps slowly, but we would lose them through our studies. We would learn about design, we would made that our lives, we would be architects. Not just someone with a grade, but more someone with a identity architect.
That could be part of the explanation.
But it also could be that Caracas is, in its own peculiar way, a city full of architecture. So many houses, buildings to see, walk around, look around, identify. Great. Looking at caracas moderna, I couldn't stop wondering of all the houses, buildings, parks, villas, streets, etc. that I once walked around and are part of the imaginary city I carry with me. So, no wonder that Avila Architecture is focused on houses, modern architecture, eclecticism, individuality... We always had that back in the valley...
Labels: Avila Architecture, caracas, houses
¶ 5/12/2010 01:48:00 PM 0 comments
Monday, March 29, 2010
Avila Architecture
After several months of preparation, discussions, tests, layouts, mockups, etc. I set the new website for Avila Architecture. Now we are focusing on the private commissions for houses in Holland.
The strategy is to focus on a product of quality: architectural projects for private houses. Then promote the product on the right markets. The cities of Almere, Enschede, Lelystad, Blauwe Stad, and others in the Netherlands. make that promotion omnipresent in the marketplace: google, conventions, fairs, publications. Let clients approach us, and get the most information out of them.
So far, what we started in august, with an idea for a new-year greeting card, has developed into a full website with participating architects in Brooklyn and Venezuela, a new folder, one contract for a house project, one qualified quote for another house project and a couple of good conversations with potential clients.
is this the right way? Maybe yes, maybe not. Still, taking all these steps and see how things happens after all the work is a nice thing. This feel better that sitting at a normal job... ¶ 3/29/2010 04:06:00 PM 0 comments
The strategy is to focus on a product of quality: architectural projects for private houses. Then promote the product on the right markets. The cities of Almere, Enschede, Lelystad, Blauwe Stad, and others in the Netherlands. make that promotion omnipresent in the marketplace: google, conventions, fairs, publications. Let clients approach us, and get the most information out of them.
So far, what we started in august, with an idea for a new-year greeting card, has developed into a full website with participating architects in Brooklyn and Venezuela, a new folder, one contract for a house project, one qualified quote for another house project and a couple of good conversations with potential clients.
is this the right way? Maybe yes, maybe not. Still, taking all these steps and see how things happens after all the work is a nice thing. This feel better that sitting at a normal job... ¶ 3/29/2010 04:06:00 PM 0 comments
Monday, November 30, 2009
project Almere
Should we move to Almere? The only place in Holland where you can get an affordable piece of ground to build your house?
Possible yes, because it is an opportunity to really build something in The Netherlands after so many years. Actually I have only projected/designed one house that has been build. Many years ago and with all the faults of the first job. The house that CPS did for the D'urso family in Oripoto, Caracas. All other houses and projects on my account where collaborations and the main ideas where proposed by other people in the team.
But I would possible not move to Almere. Many years ago my mother and family moved to her actual house in los Naranjos, Caracas. Far away from everything. We were pioneering in a place with lack of public transport, not a single shop in about 5 kilometers and where all connections to the city, the urban dynamic of Caracas was at least half an hour ride.
After many years in Rotterdam and a 4-year stretch in Breda, I'm very much attached to Rotterdam and its live. I know where everything is, I like to get a saturday breakfast at Dudok or WP, I can walk to the Kunsthal, Boymans or the NAi. I can also host family from Venezuela or friends from abroad and know that they will connect easily through public transport to the airport, the train, the highlights... I like Rotterdam a lot and many things of the city are very valuable for me.
What would be Antonio's choice?
Should we move to Almere? The only place in Holland where you can get an affordable piece of ground to build your house?
Possible yes, because it is an opportunity to really build something in The Netherlands after so many years. Actually I have only projected/designed one house that has been build. Many years ago and with all the faults of the first job. The house that CPS did for the D'urso family in Oripoto, Caracas. All other houses and projects on my account where collaborations and the main ideas where proposed by other people in the team.
But I would possible not move to Almere. Many years ago my mother and family moved to her actual house in los Naranjos, Caracas. Far away from everything. We were pioneering in a place with lack of public transport, not a single shop in about 5 kilometers and where all connections to the city, the urban dynamic of Caracas was at least half an hour ride.
After many years in Rotterdam and a 4-year stretch in Breda, I'm very much attached to Rotterdam and its live. I know where everything is, I like to get a saturday breakfast at Dudok or WP, I can walk to the Kunsthal, Boymans or the NAi. I can also host family from Venezuela or friends from abroad and know that they will connect easily through public transport to the airport, the train, the highlights... I like Rotterdam a lot and many things of the city are very valuable for me.
What would be Antonio's choice?
Labels: Architecture, Gaizka Wibo, iker alvaro, Margreet, Rotterdam
¶ 11/30/2009 03:16:00 PM 0 comments
Monday, October 05, 2009
playing the market?
looking at the personal finances, there has lot of things going on lately.
First of all, I got most of the debt consolidated into one loan, which I'm paying interest and principal. Second, keep the credit cards clear of debt. I might use them, but I'm not financing on my credit cards.
Is these two things are okay, then the next steps are saving and investing.
Saving looks dire with the actual interest rates.
investing in stocks looks beter. Only if short-term is not the goal.
So far, this year I have bought some stocks of Adobe, Air France-KLM, Logitech, DSM, LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet-Hennesy) and Fortis... would this be good five years from now?
looking at the personal finances, there has lot of things going on lately.
First of all, I got most of the debt consolidated into one loan, which I'm paying interest and principal. Second, keep the credit cards clear of debt. I might use them, but I'm not financing on my credit cards.
Is these two things are okay, then the next steps are saving and investing.
Saving looks dire with the actual interest rates.
investing in stocks looks beter. Only if short-term is not the goal.
So far, this year I have bought some stocks of Adobe, Air France-KLM, Logitech, DSM, LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet-Hennesy) and Fortis... would this be good five years from now?
Labels: Antonio, finance, stocks
¶ 10/05/2009 12:22:00 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
about 2009
So far there has been only one post this year. That's a little bit crazy, seeing that I crashed the boat in january, Margreet had a baby in april and we had had many adventures. Small ones, short ones, but still, nice things that happened.
Friends overseas are struggling with the financial crisis. Surviving. I realised that I've living in a constant financial borderline, but surprisingly I'm doing okay in these times. Maybe years of training, who knows!
Margreet and I have now two kids: Gaizka Wibo and Iker Álvaro. Gaizka is almost two years old and Iker is three and a half months old. What a day's work is that!!
We are like all parents in the world: proud, amazed, curious and happy. Also sleepless on these early months of Iker. He likes the night.
What's next?
A house? I just don't know, but in times of financial crisis the banks are being very cautious about lending money for a mortgage. Two years ago, no problem, today, all the problems.
But I'm not anxious, we have what we have and it's good, and it's plenty.
Labels: Antonio, Gaizka Wibo, iker alvaro, Margreet, Rotterdam, sailing
¶ 7/21/2009 12:27:00 PM 0 comments
