The Potter Farm
Potter's Mills, PA
Probably one of the most significant contributions Professor Phil Hallock made to my development as an architect was an interest in thorough research. No project was ever undertaken without first spending hours in the library. We were expected to know as much as possible about site conditions, soil, climate, topography, what kind of materials were available, etc. We needed to know in detail the needs and demands of the client. Most lay people think architects are artists first. The impression some have of architecture is that we make buildings look good. Not so with Professor Hallock!
We were taught to consider how need is translated into function, how that need relates to other functions of the larger picture, how one building part relates to others. The details of planning were always stressed over and above "how a building looks."
One of the most useful aspects of design was the employment of "bubble diagrams." This technique helped in showing how each part of design related to others. It has helped me over the years as I explain the design process to clients long before "pencil is put to paper. " Stressing concept, relationships and how a plan "works" has been most helpful in relations to clients. Thanks to Professor Hallock, this has always been primary in any project for me.
Taylor M. Potter
Class of 1950
September 1, 2006