How this award-winning Architect designs homes

[@30by40]

In the video, Russ + I discuss drawing shortcuts we use to create quick perspectives. Download my SketchUp models to give it a try: thirtybyforty.com/sketchup-template

[@helenlawson8426]

I've used Sketchup for years and never thought of printing it off to then draw over, this is why I think the sharing side of KZbin can do so much good. Thanks Guys x I'm not an architect just a scribbler not academic enough but do enjoy bring bits of my local history back to life using Sketchup.

[@dragonabsurda]

I've just started studying architecture and have already started using my SketchUp or Rhino models as a quick foundation for my sketches. It felt good to hear that professionals use this "cheat" to speed up their process as well. 🙂

[@Jaysen1431]

When I grow up I want to be an architect.

[@thabet7936]

I wish that you could translate all of your videos to Arabic so i can understand it 💔 Big love from syria❤

[@arvindtn5533]

I wanna ask one thing here, what we learn at college brings this level of work or its all the practical experience that matters??

[@gchesterton]

The conversation and sketches were great, but I think your video edit is under-appreciated. It supports and complements the conversation perfectly.

[@hibaimene9684]

Right ! And it's free ! I love this guy, so smart and so generous.

[@FutureProofNothing]

True

[@lerotoculteux2139]

I can't describe how much joy I feel when I see a new video from 30x40

[@muhammadnaqiebullahakbar6842]

Same. I would like to know what paper they used to draw on.

[@lerotoculteux2139]

@@muhammadnaqiebullahakbar6842 Looks like tracing paper

[@MikeFlores__]

@@muhammadnaqiebullahakbar6842 just regular tracing paper

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

This kind of general and concise language is so refreshing and helpful for residential clients. It makes process, budget, and lateral moves simple and clear which makes the owner feel comfortable and doesn’t overwhelm them It’s so critical for them to feel like an empowered part of the core team. And this kind of process (I mean fee) also shows them the architect is in charge (yes, that’s right) and reminds them why they hired that architect and not their competition

[@willpotatoes]

I am 16 years old, and for 2 years now I know that becoming an architect is a dream of mine. One week ago I found this channel, what can I say; I love it. Great ideas, great architecture, super inspiring (meanwhile I learn to sketch) and great videos.

[@brentsouverein4472]

Cheers to u!

[@stijn5783]

Remember, be an architect is not only sketching.. 😉

[@bfelb]

Wow, I wish I was 16 again! Spend a summer working in the trades ( pro tip: Find a company that builds things you think are cool and have you or your parents reach out to them.. if they're really good, offer to work for no compensation.), research every and any school you can find, in every country you can think of, and attend some summer classes or residency programs for art and design. Don't settle for less!

[@julianosilvasousa]

@@stijn5783He surely knows it ";-)

[@Alias.iverson]

Same

[@RyawnProdu]

Usually every upload becomes my new "favourite" video, however I reckon this might be a fave for sometime. Thoroughly enjoyed the beyond the surface questions you've asked that helped to peel away at the nitty-gritty of an Architect's design process and thought process. Thanks Eric and thank you Russ for taking the time to be apart of yet another informative video

[@anabella1184]

I’m a student and I’ve been doubting if I was ever in the right course, thank you so much for this, I’ve forgotten why I like architecture! It Really ignited my passion for it

[@dvampofo]

Im not even an architect [student], but I appreciated this conversation and seeing the beautiful home. Excellent questions and video editing!

[@ndikumanalewis]

Loving this interview series. Also loved seeing you geek out about someone’s sketches the way I do about yours haha

[@asiasatchell5279]

Same!

[@leticiaramirez7377]

same!

[@barkeater7867]

same

[@MP-lb1bv]

True..😀

[@mrsa4824]

This is really filling in the blank with navigating the communication/creative interconnection.

[@bstheory]

Anyone else loving these comments?? Tells you everything you need to know about this video. Thanks for this

[@JasminnnnnnE]

I love how these guys must sort of be each other’s competition in Maine to an extent, but here they are, all smiles, sharing their knowledge with each other and with us :D

[@kummer45]

Saw this long time ago. I think this man is enjoying his time in this earth. He is doing his profession and craftsmanship. Yes, I do this with algorithms, mathematics and physics. He do it the old school way, THE CORRECT way in my opinion, the best way he can. He got awards for his skills and dedication. Russ Tyson, that dude, I have a lot of respect for him. His pencil is exactly what is built. Not everybody has that RARE skill. He has it. He understand wood so well to the point that he already know how the joints looks like. I consider Russ one of those fathers of modern PARAMETRIC ARCHITECTURE. He doesn't need grasshopper, Rhino or Revit. He doesn't need coding, scripting or A.I. He gets with his pencil and see through it making such profession looks easy. I want to be THIS formal doing parametric architecture. I'm glad that many of you including this channel is promoting this man's work. Architects like him are very rare.

[@danpark417]

This is soooo good! Please make these interviews of other architects "a thing" on your channel. Your questions are on point and bring out the thoughts behind the choices the architect and clients made to reach the final build. Much appreciated 🙏

[@minhnguyen-jg7pt]

Wow! It’s 4am Monday morning and I stumbled to this channel. It’s amazing interview of the process and the feeling of great Designer…. Wow! Thanks for sharing this beautiful thoughtful insight the mind & heart of creativity…..🙂🌻🙏🏻

[@MultiBeatX]

I think this video had a huge effect on my being as an architecture student.. The story about the treehouse under the stars changed my mind about everything I thought I knew about the design process of a house. We need more videos like this, I love it.

[@sri-maan3243]

Really enjoy watching your content it's a complete package of Architectural knowledge being distributed in packs.

[@hariking22]

I learned more from this video than 5 years of Architecture school. I get that tutors want to teach us how to design by giving us the freedom to initiate and make mistakes and create numerous iterations. However, these type of videos by 30X40 just shows us how important it is to get a fundamental understanding of 'HOW TO DESIGN'. This is never taught in school and I did my Bachelor in Australia then moved to the UK for masters. I have never experienced this level of clarity from a single one of my tutors. Note to tutors who are watching this: Please enough with the ''you must eat, sleep, dream architecture for very little money'' lessons, teach us stuff like this instead in your candid talks during tutorials.

[@janetolsen1583]

THANK YOU for this. Stumbled across this ENLIGHTENING conversation when I was searching for DogTrot houses. Your 1-3 series was AWESOME. I'm trying to design 2 dogtrot tiny houses on one acre of land ( 1/4 acre each) for 4 senior women. I want the "community". Not having ever attempted anything like this before but as a 64 yr old widow there is a lot to GAIN. Thank you for putting this content out there.

[@kaye.]

You are doing God’s work. I’ve watched this channel ever since the beginning of my architecture studies and it just keeps getting better :)

[@ArchAnime]

It does. 30x40 is amazing. They inspired me to start doing content on architecture.

[@joshpasos3896]

Facts. I feel like I should be paying a membership for the amount of info we get

[@johans7119]

There's something very unhealthy about going from a 'woke' post modern architecture school to a large stifling office. This video is very humbling and brings it down to earth. It's about client, site, home. Period.

[@neotradnous]

I know this is hard for most people but this is why I feel like going to a community college prior to architecture school - so you can mature and understand time management better. To understand the ways of the world and realize that a lot of the post modern wokeness and pretentiousness is all for show - to fuel the shallow egos of professors and jury

[@Ashley-ro4xz]

@@neotradnous Im currently at a community college so thank you for this perspective.

[@herdesign9234]

I went to community and I had draftsmen instructors who could care less about the architect. They were booked with more work than an architect because architects are expensive to the client. Now I work with clients and attending arch school. But the schools want some unicorn land. They want you to kill yourselves in school with all these dramatic concept ideas 😅. I do bear min in school in terms of ideas but I love my job and clients.

[@tombuckland]

@@Ashley-ro4xz i have a B.arch from a good university and i am pursuing a masters but i learned a lot in a few classes at college, highly recommend it

[@rbasket8]

What is a community college? I am not from US

[@oskarlundqvist5328]

This is incredibly valuable. I am a first year architecture student and the hints I've gotten from this channel are invaluable. And this conversation seems like one of the most useful resources yet.

[@rafalpotasz]

I'm in finance, learning web development but I absolutely love this channel. Thanks for sharing a great talk/interview.

[@zeljkomarinkovic745]

I'm studying civil engineering but this is very interesting to me, i love the process of building the concrete project and solving the problems that form there, but with this man i fell in love with architectural design, love his channel

[@AnuragKrishna427]

@@zeljkomarinkovic745 wanna share your ig?

[@jrameau]

Thank you, this came at the perfect time. Amazing conversation, and I happy to see how open you were in fully illustrating your design process.

[@mojodojo5533]

Fantastic interview! For all you young designers, the most important thing he said was designing at 1:20 scale. I personally design concepts at 1/16 scale then gradually work up to 1/8. It lets you freely sketch many more schemes quickly without getting dragged down by the small details which, if the schemes fail, are moot. Also saves paper :) stay away from the computer program as long as possible. It can not think as freely as your hand.

[@BlowupCandle]

i love the conversational aspect of your videos like these! it's more of a fun dialogue and discussion rather than someone talking at the viewers, plus you get different points of view, experiences, and tips

[@annabellear9387]

Think this is one of my favourite 30x40 videos - I have this clip rolling in the background on my 2nd monitor whilst I'm at my desk working and creating - it's just really inspirational and am so grateful for this type of content on you tube - thank you!

[@ElMariman]

Listening to you makes me feel so warm. And the house you were talking about when I look a it and imagining myself in there I feel so free and childish. I think just being in there makes you wanna be a better person

[@ArchAnime]

Incredible landscape! I love how the views of these amazing homes are so carefully framed by the architecture.

[@TheYadeThrrr]

This is the first video of 30X40 I watched. Although my English is not good, somehow I understand and really love it. Next I read comments, and found out that a lot of people think the same way as I do. It feels like finding my old old best friends. Thanks for this eye opening content and thanks for whoever put those beautiful comments.

[@rickbabcock6397]

I'm a builder and love it.I built my first home with a plan from a book ,I liked the plan and house very much , but it didn't take in the consideration for the land or site.I wish I could have lived on the site for a year before building. My present home that I am remodeling, I've been here a couple of years and I have come up with a Home that will be the best place that I can imagine. A good plan take 's time and a lot of changes. I have built a scale model of my house 1 inch to a foot. It has been fun building it before I really get down to actually digging that first shovel of dirt.

[@ricci8497]

Loved listening to the pair of you talking along with the visuals you could really hear the passion that you both share for residential architecture. I always look forward to seeing your video's they are never mundane or boring they are always insightful and inspiring and make me want to look at things from another perspective and with fresh eyes.

[@Thyext99]

Absolutely awesome, love the in-depth questions, its a great inspiration.

[@nanpraw]

As a designer I'm really glad that I've found your channel. I'm not exactly an architect but the things that you talked about in your videos is basically free knowledge for all of us, so I wanted to say thank you. I hope you keep doing great things and let us know!

[@Enigma5055]

Amazing sketches, very inspirational interview. Thank you!

[@loghomemaintenance]

Like the way there’s no boring intro just dive right in love your channel

[@johncoyle2536]

Eric, Eric, Eric - (and those that help you): THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Another fantastic edition to the 30X40 stable. The amount of content here, both obvious and not, is deeply appreciated and will have me returning to this many, many times. Cheers to you - and to Mr. Tyson

[@christianfekete]

Great interview and discussion. I love to hear how drawing and conceptualisation relate to each other and to the client. There is a relationship to art and architecture that is elusive and so fascinating. The sequence of communication with the client strategy is always a good reminder.

[@ronaldec7]

I always wanted to be an architect. Did a few years of school but never finished. During school I had been also working as a land surveyor to make an income. I was unable to finish school but stayed in the surveying field, and today I am a Licensed Surveyor in two states. Note taking and making sketches were always very important to me. To produce a product and data that was understood was my goal each day. These days, for some, sketches have taken a backseat to auto-generated linework from the field software. But for me, when I do have a chance to get back into the field, I still do the sketches. For anyone who is in school for architecture, stay in that school and become an architect. I am happy and proud to be a land surveyor, but I do regret not staying in school and becoming an architect. Stay in school, learn as many skills as possible.

[@MJ-bs1ft]

I'm pulling my hair out designing our “dream house” additions at the moment. Some terrific points here. Thank you.

[@Ashley-ro4xz]

Best thing i have ever watched. He seems so humble and oh man I hope to watch more of these!!

[@ZigenZion]

As an aspiring architect, and student of architecture. This gives me so much inspiration and motivation among our field! That there's so much more to feel than just to design, I love it! Thank you so much for sharing this very substantial interview! ♥

[@joashha]

very interesting - beautiful sketches - beautiful design. thank you both.

[@munzirshaikhoun5113]

Insightful, inspiring, engaging! Just simply amazing I honestly can't express how much I appreciate the valuable content you have been putting out there. I've just come back to watch this particular video now, a couple of years after watching it the first time when it came out, it felt like a nice measure my own growth as an architect and as a person, because I feel that I was able to gain insight from this time that I didn't see the first time around. Immensely grateful!

[@baletexx9740]

Your a great content creator. I've seen a lot KZbin channel about architecture in general but yours is the best so far for me

[@bitarrabih7587]

The room you are talking from is extremely beautiful as same as your discussion. All the best!

[@simon_harrington]

Enjoying the recent interaction with other architects and designers! It's always interesting to hear architects discuss their process and share how a design evolves.

[@normanmcintosh4241]

I really enjoyed this video and how closely we follow the same engagement with clients here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. I’m relatively new to SketchUp but also almost at retirement age, the 3D sketching is still giving me the drive to continue doing what I love. Nice to hear two down to earth gents describing it as it is. Thanks.

[@Cal.lm96]

0:00 - 29:26 Quality Content

[@indianahoosier5794]

As a graphic artist... I think we design very similar. I always provide several different designs... a couple that fit the specs of the project and a couple that are maybe outside the box... show them their idea rendered and what their idea could aspire to be... cool interview and great architecture works... now if I were only rich...

[@the21stcolective.4]

This is one of my best 30x40 video. Thank you very much, Eric.

[@nickm9729]

i am lead designer for a mid size firm in chicagos suburbs. i enjoyed this video very much. the disconnect i experience with almost all of the arch related content online is the exterior forms i encounter. the year is 2020, "modern" arch design is over highlighted online. i have had 1 of the last 500-1000 clients request a near modern aesthetic. our firm is so design focused, with our main focus to create stunning, interesting and innovative exteriors/elevations. but these roofs have gables, hips and sheds. maybe it's because we deal with snow and cold Winters our designs have some traditional elements. although I found this video fascinating and insightful, I appreciate the designs and the designers techniques , but these homes sure don't have that curb appeal that I strive for for my clients, granted there is no curb on these sites. the designers in this video obviously take a lot into account, but when you're walking up to this house does it send your mind running and analyzing as if you were to view a masterful painting? personally I don't think so not to discredit the work discussed, again it's a disconnect that maybe I'm experiencing and others are not.

[@mirakarchitect7945]

Just beautiful and awesome 👌 A wonderful way to start the year 2023 with written notes of gold in Architecture. Thanks a lot, really appreciate it.❤🔥🙌🏽

[@nancyspicer4337]

Since I started watching you 30x40 many years ago. I am in a CAD Drafting Program at the Local Tech School. I may go civil-engineering. I am taking core classes now to transition into civil-engineering. I am attacking Revit this year and summer as well as learning AutoCAD. I am also inspired by drawings. I definitively have the imagery for knowing how to create a Aesthetic Experience. However everything else has been practiced and learned I have been working all my life on being able to know all the particularity of designing a home or structure. Thanks for your channel I am learning so much to apply to my schooling.

[@stephencripe7981]

I am an outsider looking into this unexplored world for me. Your conversation initiated a desire to learn more. thank you to both of you for your insights and story.

[@michaelwalz4724]

As an first semester arch. stud. losing his shit rn, i love to procastinate with 30x40 videos x) Much love out of Vienna, gonna go back to work

[@kudzaishemakweta211]

This is inspiring I’m already in bed but after watching this my design “cores” have kicked in... I guess your mantra “ go make things” has been achieved by this interview, atleast according to me. Thank you Sir and keep up the good work.

[@mre.smataruka4928]

Homeboy🔥🇿🇼

[@briancorkum2563]

What a great video. There isn’t enough of this sharing in our profession. Its inspiring... and helps us all to be better. I went to school with Russ and remember his incredible drawing skills back then. Thanks for this!!!

[@jotakun]

This is a very valuable and inspirational conversation. I enjoyed every part of the talk; the idea, the client, the solution, etc. and also the most important, just fired up my love of sketching again.

[@YOMOODY]

I'm happy that I once subscribed to this channel

[@bropitt]

I do the same sketch up hack, sketch over but I started using sketchup and layout to produce the CD's and it's a blast

[@Paul-ch4sr]

I can watch this all day! Love the content, I hope you'll do more of this. Thank you Eric.

[@DEVUNK88]

I'm not an architect, but I am glad to hear that there are architects out there that put though into the design. I own a maple sugarbush with family history and potential for small recreational cabins. for example there is an old rundown cabin that friends and family would like to rebuild. Its was our first sugarhouse. It sits next to a steep hill overlooking our valley with a creek. and you get there by way of old gathering trails. I have spent a fair bit of time analyzing the site, the view, the overlook, the ingress and egress, evaluating how I want to use the new cabin. whats is its purpose. Possible uses include a get-away, hunting cabin, summertime fun, and possible mini sugarhouse in the woods for historical education for tours. I think a lot about what type of construction, how rustic or modern, types of materials, hopefully lumber and stone from on sight. I think about the site as a whole. like how to build decks that extend out over the hillside and stairs that lead down to the creek. I love thinking and sketching and figuring out internal space layouts and how it might feel. I grew up working in new construction homes that were rather mindless cookie cutter designs and even the custom layouts were all built around trendy re-sale value upgrades rather than how a client would actually use their home, this was not always the case as there were a few really well done homes that inspired me to rethink my living space and layout. but I think your discussion here really highlights thoughtfulness and creativity instead of just going with the normal run of the mill solutions, and that is inspiring.

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

This is invaluable & absolutely a true insight of the client design process! Thankyou!

[@bottegaarchitecture7826]

Eric! Nice work by both of you. I absolutely adore the project reference, what a fantastic site and design and process. Lets re-highlight, anyone can design a house, adding that story and purpose is so important to those who appreciate it. Huge trust fall props to the client too! Great job Sir!

[@tokyotrashbby]

As an architecture student in my last year of school, I gotta say these videos r changing my life. The kind of emotion and inspiration school never was able to bring out of me. Thank you.

[@30by40]

Of course, so glad to help...!

[@raymonddimla6648]

Yes! It’s great to watch 30x40 videos again! Please have more interviewing videos like this one! #onward

[@parithingujam9143]

Thanks a lot for reminding me why I started in this journey of Architecture. Really needed this video.

[@bigiron5508]

Dudes got game.....love his style...

[@Passare5.0]

thank you for the amazing conversation, talking about process and how you start with incredible ideas and get to the final piece.

[@yanagild]

Thank you so much for the videos you make, always an absolute pleasure to watch them. The way you talk about the creative process is insightful and inspiring.

[@albertogomez1616]

AWESOME! Great conversation, saludos from Cabo MX!

[@najialmrdod3916]

As an architect, this was really inspiring and useful, more of this content please. Thanks 👍

[@joegotz1971]

I wish I had the time to sketch. My business partner and I competed 250 projects in 2023. just 2 of us. We are incredibly busy. We have great reputation and we get things done. That is one of the things our clients like. i remember in college we would have these design charlottes, do something in one afternoon. I remember we would complain and say, “real life is not like this”. We were right, it’s worse. There is no time limit, everything is right away. Timing is especially tight when moving tenants from one rentable space to another. Plus while we are doing new projects we have many under construction. some last several years. I had several office renovations, one 200,000 square feet, the other 75,000 sf. My most stressful project was a dormitory renovation which had to be completed in the summer. We did $6,000,000.00 in 11 weeks. twice! Now I am semi-retired working 40 hours per week. I don’t think i will ever see full retirement. Our biggest problem now is finding qualified help. engineering is worse.

[@johnferraz6417]

Thank you again for the calming insight you and your guest have provided into the process of 'making architecture'. (Journey as place...becoming as end.)

[@7th_CAV_Trooper]

"everyone can design a house" - and yet the subdivisions are filled with depressing evidence to the contrary. Really love your interview style and hearing from people who understand designing for humans.

[@ramiroalvarez9968]

Awesome! Thanks for speaking on the behalf of your followers. One day I hope to be in your shoes Eric.

[@TheFisherLarry]

Draw as small as you can. AGREED. The blow up to A0.

[@DanielZajic]

Fantastic. I'm embarking on my dream project to create a unique, efficient and sustainable home in nature, with a very cold climate. It's daunting starting with few constraints, and it's easy to let the ambition to achieve perfection get in the way of what needs to happen, which is the evolution of ideas. There were some important lessons to learn here, like the idea of identifying lines and then integrating them into a whole. Really appreciate these insights.

[@biminitiative8472]

Eric, great interview. Some really tacit ways to address the involvement of the design team, and communication. Similar to BIM but more emotive, which is why Architecture is the best profession...

[@kainostudiodesigns]

So in love with the hand sketches, I tend to think much better and more freely while drawing designs on paper. Can you please interview more architects like him...

[@maymay4272]

As an architecture student, I really enjoy this conversation. Thank you :)

[@richardsprow3418]

Another great video in this series. Though their discussion is about high end private homes in Maine, the process and client management tactics apply to larger and more complex projects just as well. Include scope and realistic budget in the first conversation , use site analysis to generate several options, show your favorite option last, get the contractor involved early in the detail development. He is especially right about not going to cadd and photorealistic detailed renderings too soon.

[@maxdragavtsev]

Immersive video and a very passionate explanation of the design process. Awesome.

[@patriciamaebanday974]

Thank you for this! Hoping to see more of this discussion between two great architects!

[@petrmn]

Your content is soooooo inspiring !!! Thank you very much!!! I’m studying in Moscow Architecture University and your videos gives me so much ideas for my own project!!!

[@833tr00t]

This format gives unbelievable insight into an architectual process. Great stuff 👍

[@andrewkd79]

Another great video Eric. Love Russ's persepective sketches.. this is what I always aspired too....

[@davidhernandez9985]

A decimal & solid scranch-ups great advice to continue always draw!

[@leighharron]

Glad to see your bonsai getting that natural light. And, also, great video. Always Interesting to see different people's sketch processes and an insight into their 'designer's mind'.

[@ronzi1866]

I'm really grateful for all the content you're offering us, thank you so much Eric.

[@hutrv]

Great insights into the 'dark art' of architecture.... truely an artful profession crucial to human wellbeing amid the spaces we live and work.

[@oneofonedesign4178]

So true about archicad. I've been guilty of jumping to archicad almost straight away and it does not offer you much freedom to design. Very interesting to see how others are doing it out there and their formula in design.

[@tempest8044]

MORE OF THESE PLEASE!!!

[@tufankilinc636]

I really appreciate your drawing and sketch videos. Very inspiring.

[@echuderewicz]

Thanks to you both for this. Nice discussion. Beautiful work.

[@HenryAlvarez]

This conversatioin was nothing short of incredible! 💯

[@el3xg373]

One observation I have of the whole channel is that you are super-specialized on one single type of building: Single-family homes on large properties for private clients. That covers a miniscule, tiny, tiny part of architectural practice. I appreciate that's a nice bubble to be in. You must be well-known by now in your area for that kind of architecture. And the houses are beautiful. And I'm not saying designing these projects is easy. But don't you ever get the urge to venture beyond that kind of project?

[@30by40]

Did those other projects...long ago...here's my backstory: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH24hmmtmKZmp6c

[@narensolanki8894]

Amazing Eric....thanks for sharing such an insightful conversation.

[@sethwestbrook6959]

So on board with his perspective on Archicad. Too many questions too early... I used to use sketchup a lot more, and want to bring it back into my process. Love this video.