An Architect on a Mission

By Carlos E. Fernandez

Marc O'Brien is a young architect who lives with purpose and great intensity. He's a sophisticated man, with a passion for architecture, and a taste for adventure. He has sound principles and strong opinions about society, politics, and the economy. He has already met with success but he quits his job to pursue his dreams and sets out to accomplish a grand mission. In his journey, he has to overcome big obstacles including a serious illness, a hostile father, and a nemesis. Also, at one point he has to endure a very tragic loss.

To complete his mission Marc learns valuable lessons from several prominent architects that he meets or that he studies their work. He then develops special expertise that later helps him make a big impact in the world. Along his journey, he meets a beautiful and enigmatic woman. He shares his dreams with her, and they have a torrid romance.

However, amid his best moments, something happens that will turn his life upside down.
Aside from being a fast-paced novel and full of thrilling adventures that take the reader to many cities around the world, it has a touch of philosophical content that provokes reflection around some meaningful topics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Jun 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9780228856818

Carlos E. Fernandez

Carlos E. Fernandez was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, and lived both in the USA and in Europe for several years. He's a Canadian professor of Marketing and International Business at Seneca College in Toronto. He's passionate about architecture, and this is his debut novel.

Book preview

An Architect On a Mission

A NOVEL

Carlos E. Fernandez

An Architect On a Mission

Copyright © 2021 by Carlos E. Fernandez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events or people, real people, real places, real events, or real works of architecture are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-5680-1 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-5681-8 (eBook)

This book is dedicated to every young architect and student of architecture anywhere out there, especially my son Alejandro

About the Cover of this Book

The Sidney Opera House is for Marc, the protagonist, a magnificent piece of architecture. The building has been declared UNESCO World Heritage.

Marc is standing on the docks contemplating the sunrise behind the building. For him, it symbolizes the beginning of his journey to fulfill his mission as an architect.

You should become the person you are. Friedrich Nietzsche

The philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways, the point however is, to change it. Karl Marx

Beauty in things exist in the mind that contemplates them

David Hume

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Genesis

Chapter 2 - The Retreat

Chapter 3 - The Initial Spark

Chapter 4 - An Important Re-Encounter

Chapter 5 - Opportunity, But ….

Chapter 6 - Reckoning

Chapter 7 - Again…

Chapter 8 - With The Master

Chapter 9 - A Project

Chapter 10 - The Family

Chapter 11 - The Party

Chapter 12 - The Landmark Forum Training

Chapter 13 - Sausalito

Chapter 14 - Back in Toronto

Chapter 15 - Postponement

Chapter 16 - Networking

Chapter 17 - Dinner at the Ponti Residence

Chapter 18 - The Marathon

Chapter 19 - Good News

Chapter 20 - Sylvia visits Marc

Chapter 21 - Some Bad News

Chapter 22 - A Contract

Chapter 23 - At the O’Briens’

Chapter 24 - Claire

Chapter 25 - White Water Rafting

Chapter 26 - A Call from Amalie

Chapter 27 - Meetings in Italy

Chapter 28 - Meeting in Paris

Chapter 29 - Meetings in Denmark

Chapter 30 - Back from Europe

Chapter 31 - Claire

Chapter 32 - A Conference in Mexico City

Chapter 33 - Quebec Project

Chapter 34 - Vancouver Prospect

Chapter 35 - Tragedy Strikes

Chapter 36 - A Recovery Plan

Chapter 37 - El Camino de Santiago

Chapter 38 - Back From El Camino

Chapter 39 - Meeting in Montreal

Chapter 40 - The Practice Grows

Chapter 41 - Some Strategic Planning

Chapter 42 - Claire Comes to Toronto

Chapter 43 - Villa Marina is Inaugurated

Chapter 44 - Conference in Washington D.C.

Chapter 45 - A Storm is Brewing

Chapter 46 - Claire comes to visit Marc

Chapter 47 - At Venice Festival for the Arts

Chapter 48 - A new Competition

Chapter 49 - Claire Goes to Visit Her Roots

Chapter 50 - A Brief Encounter in London

Chapter 51 - Significant Milestones

Chapter 52 - A Flurry of New Things Happening

Chapter 53 - A Short Vacation

Chapter 54 - A Matter of Principle

Chapter 55 - A Voice from The Past

Chapter 56 - Wood Common Tower is Inaugurated

Chapter 57 - The Mother of All Battles

Chapter 58 - A New Life

Chapter 59 - At the United Nations

Chapter 60 - The End

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Genesis

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. This is a quote that constantly resonates in his mind. His name is Marc O’Brien and he’s sitting at his desk on a sunny spring day in 2020. Through the window, he’s contemplating the trees and how the leaves and the flowers are beginning to bloom. A ray of warm sunshine illuminates his desk.

His office in Turner, O’Callaghan Architects and Associates is in a minimalistic interior, housed by a modernist building sitting in the heart of Liberty Village in Toronto.

Of all the exciting places where I could live, why Toronto? Marc thinks.

Well, this is a city that for various reasons has become prominent in North America. A city where experimentation in urbanism is wide open. Toronto has several outstanding buildings and plenty of space for more. It recently was named the fastest growing city in North America, and reputable reports state that Toronto has the most diverse population of any city in the world.

Marc is happy because he has had considerable success in a firm that has been a significant player in the national and international arena. Lately, however, Marc has come to a profound realization when he reflects: Attaining happiness in life is a very shallow goal; I feel that fulfillment and the commitment to a cause larger than myself are what I should strive for.

In his current career situation, he has progressively become frustrated from his inability to influence the firm to adopt his developing philosophy of architecture. Marc feels a burning desire to make an extraordinary contribution in the field of architecture and, in the process, make a difference in people’s lives.

In the following days, Marc sees that if he wants to attain his goal, he needs to take full control of his destiny and establish his own practice. However, there is something dark in his life that stands in the way.

Feeling that the time has come, Marc decides to talk with the partners about his decision to leave the firm. Although his relationship with William O’Callaghan has always been good, not so with Mike Turner who has always been jealous of Marc’s success as an architect. Mike Turner is a wealthy man because of a large inheritance; he has partnership ownership in the firm, and through his network, has a lot of influence in the community.

In his meeting with both partners, William tries to convince Marc to stay in the firm. After all, as far as William is concerned, Marc is well on his way to becoming a partner. On the other hand, Mike has always been reluctant to make Marc a partner and he sees Marc’s departure as a good thing for him. Deep down, Mike has profound envy towards Marc, and he doesn’t want him to succeed.

After his conversation with Bill, Marc thanks him for everything that he has contributed to his profession but although Marc is aware of what he’s leaving behind, he feels that it’s time to move on. Marc goes ahead to empty his office; he packs his belongings and by the end of the day he’s out of there, thus stepping into the uncertain and the unknown…

Chapter 2

The Retreat

When Marc is leaving the building, the sun is setting, and the silhouettes of the neighboring buildings are beginning to appear. Although he’s somewhat nostalgic from the great years he has lived at the firm, he’s also breathing a sense of expectation and hope about what is to come. He heads to his apartment in his Audi Quattro – Marc has a love affair with cars, something he has inherited from his father early in his life.

Marc rents a two-bedroom apartment on the east side of the waterfront. The name of the building is Aqualina. This was designed by Arquitectonica. At one point while in architecture school, Marc did an internship at the Paris office. Arquitectonica’s philosophy, they claim, is to push the limits of the use of geometry, pattern, and color to introduce a new brand of humanistic modern design to the world. Aqualina –on Bayside, is a part of a new development that has been part of a revitalization of Toronto along the city’s inner harbour. Although Marc does not particularly like the building that much, it is strategically located, and he partly agrees with the design philosophy of Arquitectonica. This is not his dream of an apartment but he has been happy living there, and it makes him feel good to know that this building was awarded a prize for sustainability.

In the spirit of his profession, Marc has taken the time to create a special environment that reflects his identity. The walls of his apartment are painted with an eggshell white to allow for maximum neutrality to the decoration of the interiors. In general, the décor is Pueblo-style design, with solid wood used on all floors, an array of wooden beams on the ceiling, and white fabric on the furniture. Most of the furniture accents (cushions, rugs, and mats) have a combination of simple Pueblo-style and Celtic patterns predominantly with beige, yellow, and terracotta tones.

Here he is, several weeks after he quit his job. The trees have turned completely green and warmer temperatures have arrived. In the meantime, like most of the world, the country and the city continue to be in a lockdown situation because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having this golden opportunity in his hands, Marc spends a couple of weeks reflecting on architecture. Architecture for Marc is not a means to make a living, it is not even a profession; for Marc, architecture is a passion. Not his only passion, but the most important one.

Although he has been to many major cities in Europe and the Americas, thanks to the internet, Marc has been virtually traveling around the world looking at how architecture has been created in all corners of the globe.

Spanning over two thousand years of architecture, he has been able to visit amazing iconic works, inspired by very different motivations and built for very different purposes. From the Parthenon in Athens, built during the 5th century B.C. up to the Torre Hadid, standing in Milan, Italy, and completed in 2017. The former, a temple dedicated to a goddess who represented wisdom and protection to the citizens, while the latter, an office tower representing Capitalism, which is supposed to provide material well-being for the citizens.

Apart from looking deep into his concept and philosophy of architecture, Marc embarked on a thorough review of the essence of architecture:

Architecture is all around us; it shapes our lives like no other discipline because it takes influences from other art forms while being the only art that also has a strong component of science. Architecture provides us with spaces in which to conduct our daily lives, be it a house, an office building, a school, a hospital, a museum, or practically any other space, including outdoor spaces. Architecture deeply matters in our lives because, we make dwellings but in turn, dwellings make us.

Architecture is so often built around those who dwell inside. It has the ability to affect and influence our emotions and perceptions through factors such as space, light, and geometry, right down to the very materials that are used in its construction. It isn’t just an instinctive feeling either. Scientific research has shown that certain cells in our brains attune themselves to the places we inhabit.

From his reflection retreat, one idea that stands in his mind is as much as we should build for our times and have our eyes on the future when we design architecture spaces, not only do we have a rich past to draw from, he thinks, but it would be a mistake to ignore its legacy because he thinks, the history of architecture is a fascinating spectacle of the past growing into the future.

Chapter 3

The Initial Spark

When Marc finished high school, he decided to take a year off before deciding what studies to pursue in university. As part of that year, he spent close to four months in Italy. At the beginning of the first month of the stay, he went to a classical music concert featuring Vivaldi. It was during the intermission that he spotted a woman that he had briefly met while looking for a place to stay in the city of Pordenone.

When he first met her she did not have a room to rent but she had given him some directions for other options.

Loredana was quite an attractive woman. More on the short side but endowed with a gorgeous body. Short, stylish dark brown hair down just below her ears, olive Mediterranean complexion, and a lively personality.

This time they met, It did not take long for both of them to experience special chemistry. She had a combination of femininity and intellectual energy that captivated him, whereas Loredana quickly fell for Marc’s exceptional looks and charisma. He invited her for coffee across the street from the auditorium. While sitting in that quaint café, the hours flew and their conversation never had a dull moment. The end of that episode became the beginning of a relationship that lasted till the end of his stay in Italy.

Several years older than Marc, Loredana, was an art teacher in a local college. She displayed a certain aura of intensity with a passion for art and history. Right from the beginning, and because she was so proud of her country’s culture and history, she found Marc an avid learner, and she practically took it upon herself to educate Marc about Italian culture, particularly Humanist philosophy, and the Italian Renaissance. There were other lessons that Marc learned from her: Loredana was an incredible partner in the art of lovemaking….

In the span of several months, they visited museums, attended conferences, and listened to concerts, and more than anything, they held long soirées of rich discussions in front of the fireplace in her little chalet. During those months of intensive activity, they took several road trips including Rome, Florence, and Venice but they also visited the region of the Veneto, in the northeast part of the country.

For Marc, the culmination of their trips was their tour of the Renaissance villas including Villa Barbaro, Villa Foscari, and most especially Villa Rotonda, located in the small hills near Vicenza. Villa Rotonda left a lasting impression on Marc. It was pure delight that he experienced, and it was a feeling that would forever remain firmly imprinted in his memory. In fact, over time, this exquisitely designed building, designed by Andrea Palladio became a true icon of renaissance architecture and gave origin to Neo-Palladianism, a style that spread to many corners of the western world.

As a result of all these experiences, Marc became fascinated with Humanism and the Italian Renaissance; a fascination that has stayed with him till this day, and it was at this moment that Marc decided that he wanted to become an architect.

Why have the merits of renaissance architecture endured till our times? Marc asks himself now. Perhaps because, as the Italian writer Indro Montanelli said, the Italian Renaissance was The biggest explosion of human genius in history after the Greek civilization in the 5th Century A.D.

Humbly, Marc ponders, it might still be true today. How can we argue against the endurance of Beauty, Truth, and Wisdom? How can we not agree with a definition of beauty that includes a harmony of the parts fitted together with such a proportion and connection?

From the Renaissance, through the Neo-Classical period, and up to Postmodernism and contemporary times (with exceptions of some modernist and postmodernist buildings) concepts like order, symmetry, proportion, and balance are still valid in today’s architecture.

When Marc reviews the evolution of architecture, he notes that Modernism promoted function while Postmodernism, form. Modernists integrated utility and art resulting in a sense of earnest conviction while Postmodernism liberated utility and function from each other. But Humanism, thinks Marc, favours a balance of the two

Now, at the end of this reflection period and when nightfall is descending on the city, Marc wakes up and comes back to reality: What’s the next step in my life?

Chapter 4

An Important Re-Encounter

Was it the right timing to quit?

Will I be able to make it on my own?

Not wanting to dwell too much on these thoughts, Marc gets up, puts his running gear on and he goes for a run on the boardwalk at the neighborhood called beaches, on the shore of Lake Ontario. The sun was shining brightly and a light breeze was blowing on his face. He was soaking it all in and enjoying every minute of the run.

By the time he’s done, a mild rush of endorphins floods his system and his optimism is regained once more. Then, he goes home, takes a shower, and changes into comfortable but smart clothing. Since his younger days, his mother had given him some advice that he’s been turning over his mind ever since: Marc, no matter where you go, or what the occasion might be, you should strive to always look your best

It’s already noon on this gorgeous Sunday and Marc decides to go to Harbour Front for lunch. While looking at the lake, at the time that he’s just beginning to sip a glass of Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, an older gentleman approaches his table and cheerfully greets him. It takes Marc only a few seconds to recognize the man. Stanley Spencer. He now clearly remembers how he had met Mr. Spencer years back, at the international festival for the arts, the Biennale in Venice. Meeting Stanley Spencer back in Venice would later result to be crucial in Marc’s life. It was very lucky for Marc to meet someone so unusual and prominent as Stanley. Lucky, because it just so happened that they liked each other right away.

Stanley Spencer is an eccentric individual; tall, slim, full long white beard, silver semi-curly hair touching his shoulders, and a penetrating gaze. He’s wearing white slacks, a multi-colored patterned short sleeve shirt with a light blue blazer over it, he walks on yellow loafers and covers his oversize head with a Panama- style hat. Also, Mr. Spencer has a torc - a Celtic mythological necklace around his neck.

Stanley has had a long career as an architecture critic, university professor and he has even done some investigative journalism. Throughout his career, he has written extensively about architecture and urbanism and he has held interviews with many prominent architects around the world. Currently, Mr. Spencer is an active member of the International Committee of Architectural Critics.

Marc invites Mr. Spencer to join him for lunch, and soon they are reminiscing about their experiences in Venice. That year, the Biennale had been one of the largest exhibitions on record.

By the time their main courses arrive at the table, they recall that in contrast to the excellent comments from critics about the festival, there was a lot of criticism of the controversial bridge built over the Grand Canal, Ponte Della Constituzione. Talk about a big architectural disaster; this project broke with so many principles of good design, including the lack of functionality and problems of maintenance, all in the search for notoriety. In Marc’s head, he briefly became aware of a bad lesson in architecture: failure to consider both form and functionality in design.

So how are things going for you? I suppose you continue your ascending career at Turner and O’Callaghan.

Actually, Stan, I recently resigned. I am planning to start my own practice.

Really? I thought you were on a great path to professional success at the firm. What exactly made you take this bold decision?

Well, you might remember some of our conversations back in Venice, including my growing lack of satisfaction because of the nature of work at the firm. I know I’m facing big uncertainty and risk, but I want to make an extraordinary contribution to the field of architecture. To accomplish that goal, it’s clear to me that I need to be in control of what I do.

Yes, I do remember some of your comments, but I didn’t know to what extent you were unhappy with your situation.

Don’t get me wrong, during my years in the firm I was able to create a great professional network and great exposure on a national and international level. I left the firm on excellent terms and I think I did not make any enemies Except for Mike Turner, thinks Marc.

That sounds good but, any ideas on what your next step will be?

Well, knowing myself, I don’t foresee spending too much time planning the opening of my private practice. Sometimes I follow the maxim of an old friend of mine: instead of getting ready, aim, shoot. I prefer to shoot and then make adjustments. By this I mean, that I will start looking for a project at the same time that I start making the necessary arrangements to start operating.

At this point, Marc reminds himself that he needs to be humble and recognize that he has a long journey to travel, and many lessons to learn about architecture.

Well, Marc, as you know, after the Ontario College of Arts and Design became OCAD University, they are planning on an important campus expansion and as far as I know, although the university has already decided to launch a competition, the process for choosing who will do the design has not started yet.

By this time, they are finished drinking their digestif. Stan says goodbye and he promises to call Marc to give him some information on the competition.

Chapter 5

Opportunity, But ….

A week later, Marc gets a call from Stan and he gets the information regarding the competition.

Stan says: I’ve had a talk with my friend Meg Sullivan, president of OCAD. During our conversation, I told her about your successful career at Turner and O’Callaghan and in general, about your passion for architecture and your life’s goal to contribute something extraordinary to the field of architecture.

Marc can hardly hide his excitement, and more than anything, he’s grateful to Stan and grateful to Life for this struck of luck (He stops short of saying thank God since Marc is an agnostic). This is a good opportunity to initiate my own practice with a project like this. The project is not hugely glamorous or prestigious, and the money attached is not so tempting; you would think that because of this, the project would not attract any prominent architects to the competition. But it turns out that it carries a special point of attraction. It has to do with a building to host educational activities related to design, and what could be closer to any architect’s heart than the notion of design? In Marc’s case, this project looks to be just what he needs to jump-start his career as an independent.

After Marc completes the application, he receives the competition brief. OCAD University project statement reads like this:

Our campus expansion in the heart of Toronto’s creative district is aligned with our goal of creating a 21st century, healthy, accessible, and creative environment where studio-based, experiential and collaborative learning can thrive.

The brief goes on to say the following: The CCC (Creative City Campus) project will revitalize and expand the core of the institution’s campus along McCaul Street in Toronto.

The competition is open, international scope, and endorsed type. There is a competition coordinator and a Jury.

The objective of the competition is to select a design and an architect in a two-stage review, using electronic submission.

At the core of the project, the competition brief mentions that the design value is based on the belief that a building and product should be designed from timeless principles that transcend particular designers, cultures, and climates. It is also required that the building capture the essence of architecture. The wish that OCAD university conveyed is: We want a temple to the instruction of design.

Soon after his application is accepted, Marc starts the preparation to enter the competition. He has no time to