Monday, November 19, 2012

Many years ago, a group of experienced architects and scholars voiced their concerns to the government that the so-called creative industry of Hong Kong was heading downhill at an exponential rate.

The reason behind the claim was the severe lack of opportunities available for local architects, especially young and emerging talent.

Hong Kong is famous for its architecture scene and has always been an open playground for the world, welcoming international architects and designers to erect landmarks.

There are benefits to being an open ground for architects from around the world.

However, to promote the so-called creative industry, one must understand that the prerequisite is a strong group of local architects and designers.

International firms wishing to participate in an architectural competition here must partner with a local firm to submit their entry.

Although this may help improve the situation for a while, it is perhaps the general attitude of "The West is better" that has really killed the opportunities for local talent. And for emerging talent, the problem is perhaps even more severe.

There aren't enough competitions that have fewer entry requirements and are open to small local firms only.

Such endeavors are important and the government must take the initiative to offer opportunities to the next generation to train and prove themselves.

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Talent in need of long-term design

Veteran architectural consultant teaches effective marketing strategies for architects and building design professionals, explains how they can optimize their online presence to bring in new clients and projects. Eric Bobrow reveals 9 common mistakes found in architect websites, and shows 5 simple methods to improve their effectiveness.

San Rafael, CA (PRWEB) November 19, 2012

Eric Bobrow, a veteran architectural technology consultant, author and trainer, has identified 9 common mistakes found in architect websites that cripple their ability to attract new design business. Through years of extensive study and experimentation in internet marketing for his own architectural software training courses and add-on products, Bobrow has refined and developed strategies that work to attract new clients in the architectural space.

In the free Internet Marketing for Architects training webinar, Bobrow presents an illuminating overview of how traditional marketing and promotion can be adapted to the new digital and social media tools. He divides the process into four linked processes, starting with Visibility (how easy it is to be found by prospective clients).

There are 11,100,000 Google searches each month worldwide for the term "architect", and millions more for related terms such as "home remodel" or "custom home design." It is clear that more and more people use the internet to research and choose architects and other building design professionals. Traditional methods of advertising in print publications such as the Yellow Pages reach fewer people than ever before.

Several of the mistakes Bobrow has identified reduce the likelihood of an architect website ranking well in search engine results, which means fewer people actually discover these firms. A number of the other common issues relate to the concepts of engagement and conversion. Typical sites by design firms focus on presenting beautiful images of completed projects, but do not actually address the needs and interests of the majority of site visitors.

One inspiring case study included in the presentation is the story of Modative, a small Los Angeles architectural firm that was able to boost visitors to their website 6 times over within a few months. They now rank number 1 in Google for their targeted keyword searches, winning out against much larger and better financed firms, and find that 90% of their projects originate through people discovering their website.

Other case studies presented by Bobrow include dramatic improvements for his clients in website rankings. These have generated more than a 1500% increase in traffic and 8 times as many monthly project inquiries within a 6 month period of strategic marketing and promotion.

In the webinar, Bobrow presents 5 ideas that can be easily implemented by architects to make their sites more effective. Firms that follow these principles will boost their rankings in the search engines, thus becoming more visible to prospective clients. They will also be able to boost engagement with visitors, increasing the number of active leads, and start to see a steady flow of serious inquiries about design projects coming directly from their online promotional efforts.

Response to the presentation has been very positive, with many attendees commenting that it opened their eyes to the reasons why their websites were failing to bring in design work.

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Free Architect Marketing Training Webinar by Eric Bobrow Teaches Internet Strategies to Promote Design Firms and ...

Philanthropist, developer and art collector Michael Audains plans to build an art museum in Whistler, B.C., are progressing, with the selection of Vancouver-based Patkau Architects for the project.

We ended up choosing the Patkaus based on their very extensive knowledge of art galleries, public art museums and also, of course, their track record is illustrious, said Mr. Audain, who interviewed eight architects for the project all from British Columbia.

Weve been to the site on several occasions already, said firm principal John Patkau. Its a very interesting site because its sort of between the Village and Fitzsimmons Creek, which is a very natural zone that runs right through Whistler. So it offers us some very interesting opportunities to have a building which is simultaneously part of the Village and simultaneously part of the forest.

While Mr. Patkau said they have no architectural ideas yet, that dual identity will play an important role in the projects design.

We view this as a sort of a three-part project, the first part being the collection, Mr. Patkau said. The second part is the architecture, but we view the landscape as being an equally important third part.

The award-winning firms projects include the Beaty Biodiversity Centre at the University of British Columbia, Montreals central library and Winnipegs Skating Shelters. The firm, whose principals are John and Patricia Patkau, is currently at work on a Visitors Centre at Torontos Fort York National Historic Site and the Tach Arts Project at the University of Manitoba.

I dont have any preconceived idea what theyre going to do, said Mr. Audain, 75. Its still early days, of course.

It was less than two months ago that Mr. Audain first saw the site in Whistler where he now plans to build a museum to house his impressive art collection. He says he expects to have a memorandum of understanding with the Resort Municipality of Whistler executed on Dec. 18. Weve been doing a lot of consultant work and background and due diligence, said Mr. Audain, who is chairman of Polygon Homes.

His plan is to have shovels in the ground next year, and he would like to see the project completed by the end of 2014. Things have to move along, Mr. Audain said.

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Philanthropist Michael Audain's Whistler art museum gets its architects

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