It happens on every project – sometimes you know exactly what it is because you had a hand in bring it into existence. Other times, you might be visiting the work of another architect, or really, you could just be going to a nice restaurant … but if you look around, you can always find that something special that seemed to get just a little more attention than the rest of the project. Andrew and I are going to dive into this idea a bit today Welcome to EP 161: Wow Moments
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Andrew and I are going to be talking about wow moments in architecture. This is really about their existence and if possible, I wanted to use this conversation to like to look for some sort of pattern in my own thinking – whether or not it obviously presents itself. The reason today’s topic came into existence is that I taught a professional practice class last week and the professor asked me to discuss a pretty wide range of topics as part of that presentation. Most of the discussed topics were not really related to one another so I was challenged a little more than normal to develop a way to move from one topic to the next in a way that made sense … at least, that was the goal so I settled in on trying to make it interesting and to hold the attention of these college seniors for a 2-hour lecture.
It’s All in the Details jump to 5:55
I’ve always thought the front door of a house holds a lot of potential as a “wow moment.” In fact, the first time I wrote about it was back in October 2010, not long after I started my website, and that article in particular was about a spec house I designed for a developer – which means that there was no specific client in mind. When you’re designing for a client who’s really the developer and not the end user—it changes how you think. There’s a certain amount of “lowest common denominator” thinking involved, not in terms of cheap materials, but in the sense that the house needs to appeal to a broad audience. You don’t want one person to love it; you want a lot of people to like it. In the example above, we concluded that this special moment should be one of the very first architectural items you encounter … the front door. To make things even more interesting, we added an exterior skylight just above the entry door.
I believe that the front door “experience” can do a lot of heavy lifting. It’s the porch, the steps leading up to it, the space around it—it all plays a role. I wanted to do something different for this spec house, so we decided to add a skylight right at the entrance. You’re still outside, but you get this incredible natural light coming through, which makes the whole area feel open and welcoming. And on top of that, we built in a strip light fixture so even at night, or on a cloudy day, the space feels bright and inviting—not like you’re walking into a dark tunnel. It turned out great. The detail worked exactly how I envisioned it. I think that’s when it really hit me—if you’re going to create a wow moment in a house, make it something most people are going to experience. Almost everyone who visits is going to come through the front door. That’s why I focus on that space. You’re not going to get the same reaction by putting all your effort into something like the kitchen pulls, which not everyone will even notice.
So apparently, as a result of the first front door experience, a seed was planted in my brain that this entry experience should be something special on all projects. The drawing above was a custom steel and wood infill door that really read more as a wall than the front door. Measuring in at 5′-7 1/2″ wide, this was not a normal door and we wanted everyone who it to experience just how special this moment was – from the act of walking up to it, as well as the manner in which is swung open, revealing the passageway into the main social area of the house.
Steel Trellis jump to 15:26
This steel trellis is included since it is really an extension of the large front door I just highlighted. The addition of this element – which was on the front of the house and is actually the first architectural element you experience (you can see more in this really awesome post on “floating sidewalk pads“).
There is actually an entire post dedicated to the design, fabrication, and installation of this trellis (Modern Steel Trellis) and I go into a lot more detail on why AND how this moment was created. The version Andrew and I discuss on the podcast today had to do with complimenting the front door experience with an entire entry sequence – focusing as much on the journey to the front door and the door itself.
WORK214 Stairs jump to 18:01
The “wow” moment we created in a project WORK 214, was centered around solving an interesting design challenge. It was a generic 1970s office building, elevated with parking underneath, and my clients wanted to turn it into a co-working space. One of the moments we focused on was the entry experience – which at this point should be obvious that I value this first walk-up moment to a project. We had to deal with code requirements like fire-rated stairwells, but we didn’t want the experience of entering the building to feel sterile or utilitarian. Instead, we aimed to create a moment experience by designing a monumental three-story stairway as the focal point of the space. Since we couldn’t add any square footage due to code and zoning restrictions, we had to place an open-air stair on the front of the building—something that could have looked unremarkable but instead became a design highlight.
We went all out with the design: a cast-in-place concrete wall with cool windows, metal stairs, and a plastic wall illuminated with changing colors for different occasions. We had to be mindful of the budget, so we focused all of our extra resources on making this entryway impactful. Even though it meant cutting back on some other ideas, we decided to invest in this moment because it was what would truly define the building’s character. I often find that monumental stairs become the natural focus of “wow” moments in commercial projects, and this was no exception. Despite the challenges, we created something that made a lasting impression.
The Entry Experience – Hill Häus jump to 25:58
One of the projects I worked on that had an amazing moment was a residential project that I still think about, especially since it didn’t come to fruition. This project feel into a handful of residential projects that I have come to call “the Covid Era Project”. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and all the associated challenges with contractor availability, supply-chain issues, not to mention that everybody was trying to improve their house and contractors decided to charge exorbitant rates for their services … the project died after we completed construction drawings. What should have been a relatively affordable house ended up ballooning in price because contractors were scarce, and materials were insanely expensive—plywood alone was going for about $79 a sheet at the time. We had trouble finding anyone willing to take on the job, and the few contractors who did were quoting astronomical prices, some as high as $680 per square foot.
The house was on a hilly site, and we designed a unique entry experience that I thought would create a special moment for the owners and their arriving guests. As you approached the house, you’d walk across the entire front, with the site sloping down, so by the time you reached the front door, you were about five feet above ground. We thought, why not put a fish pond under the walkway, spanning across the front of the house? The idea was to have the sidewalk stretch over the pond, and as you approached the living room, the pond would even extend underneath the room itself, giving you the feeling of floating above the water when you stood at the window. The husband loved it, calling it his “James Bond villain” entry, which really captured the cool, sophisticated vibe we were going for.
The whole thing was relatively affordable in the context of the overall budget—around $60-75k—and I thought it was a perfect investment to create a memorable, standout feature in an otherwise simple, efficient design. But despite all the planning and excitement, the project didn’t happen the way we envisioned, and it still hurts me that this amazing idea never saw the light of day. I often think that a house doesn’t need to be “wow” all over; instead, it’s about having one or two standout moments that really make an impact. This entryway could have been one of those moments, and it’s one of the missed opportunities I regret the most.
Oculus jump to 31:36
There was a phase in my career where I became really fascinated with the idea of incorporating an oculus into a project, and I found myself incorporating them into a two different projects in a small window of time. The first time I did this was for the KHouse, (this project was featured heavily here on the website – look here for all sorts of information regarding this project) a project that wasn’t actually mine—it was my partner’s. He didn’t draw, so I, along with another colleague, took on the responsibility of detailing everything. The house itself was very modern, and we had to be meticulous with the brick sizing to avoid any cuts around windows. It was one of those projects where everything had to align perfectly, and the client, who was a really interesting guy, wanted the design to be functional and thoughtful.
But one of the design challenges we faced was the large covered patio between the main house and the back structure. It was about 25 feet deep and 20 feet wide, and being so far under the roof, it was going to be dark and uninviting. So, I decided to just go ahead and draw in an oculus. I hadn’t asked anyone for permission; it just seemed like the right move. I figured it would let in some much-needed light without compromising the protection from the elements. I was nervous that the client might be upset, but to my relief, he was a fan of the addition. In fact, even after I left the firm, he would still send me messages about other oculi how much he enjoyed the one on his project.
Skylights and Oculus Take 2 jump to 35:42
Keeping on the theme of skylights and holes in the ceiling, I couldn’t help but reflect on a project we completed in San Marcos. It really was this project where I realized how powerful light can be in creating special moments. This project was a medical eye clinic, and when I initially talked to the clients about windows, they didn’t want any. It made sense given their need for dark rooms to do their work, but I thought, “We have 11,000 square feet of space, and no windows?” So, I came up with a compromise that included long hallways with windows at the end, ensuring that, at least during transitions, there was always some natural light but we would place generic off-the-shelf skylights in these long corridors and then shape the ceiling to heighten the drama of the form as well as spread the natural daylight throughout the space.
We were mindful of the budget, so we went with 2-foot by 6-foot skylights, but I added a trapezoidal shape to the ceiling that made the opening look much bigger and more dramatic. This inspiration came from Le Corbusier design at Ronchamp, where small elements like windows grow and open up spaces. I had always wanted to try something like this, and it worked out perfectly. The skylights became a key feature, drawing attention and adding an element of surprise as you walked through the building.
On the exterior, we incorporated an oculus in the outdoor waiting area, which was designed for the elderly clientele. We wanted to create a comfortable space where people could wait while their family members fetched the car without feeling rushed or stuck in the parking lot. The oculus wasn’t just decorative; it matched the planter below, filled with bamboo, and even doubled as seating. It’s one of those design elements where I wonder if people consciously realize it’s intentional or if they just think, “This is convenient.” Either way, it turned out exactly how I envisioned and I was extremely happy with the end results.
I’ve come to realize that many of the “wow” moments I aim for revolve around light—whether it’s manipulating natural light through windows or skylights, or creating thoughtful transitions from dark to light spaces. Light is dynamic, constantly changing, and that makes it one of the most powerful tools we have as architects. It’s not always easy to get these ideas approved, especially when working within tight budgets, but when it works, it’s transformative.
Design Process jump to 42:25
I was convinced it was award-worthy, but when it came to the final client decision, my design came in second. The design that won was done by a younger designer, and to his credit, we did end up winning a design award for it. But, as part of the team, I was one of the individuals who took the lead in scaling back his initial design as well as explaining to the client why we were making these modifications. In my bitter defeat, I have convinced myself that he had designed with the same budget constraints in mind from the beginning, my project would have won, but I’ll take that to my grave. Aren’t I childish?
What’s the Rank jump to
We are going to rank three predetermined things – from worst to best … this is a slightly different ranking question than we have done in the past. The premise is that you are going on a date and you are going to meet this person out front of the restaurant. What we are ranking today are the things on which you arrive – and keep in mind, they will 100% see you arrive and this restaurant is pretty fancy, has valet service, or which you will have to use.
Of the Following Choices, rank from worst to best a Donkey, a Very Tall Unicycle, and a Pogo Stick
| #3 | #2 | #1 | |
| Andrew’s Hot Date Transportation | Pogo Stick | Unicycle | Donkey |
| Bob’s Hot Date Transportation | Pogo Stick | Unicycle | Donkey |
I am pretty sure that we got the order correct. Despite the fact that all of these options are terrible, I prefer the story I would have to tell showing up on a Donkey wat more than having to explain the other two.
Ep 161: Wow Moments
Throughout my career, I’ve found that creating “wow moments” in architecture is one of the most impactful ways to leave a lasting impression on both clients and end-users. These moments aren’t necessarily about making every part of a building spectacular, but about thoughtfully selecting one or two key areas where you can really push the envelope—whether it’s through a dramatic entry experience, unique lighting elements, or unexpected architectural features. What I’ve learned is that these singular moments matter because they elevate a project beyond the ordinary. They offer a sense of discovery, creating experiences that people remember long after they’ve left the building. Light often plays a crucial role in this, whether it’s through a skylight, an oculus, or a well-placed window. Light moves, changes, and evolves throughout the day, adding a dynamic quality to spaces that is hard to achieve with other materials.
Ultimately, “wow moments” are about creating intentional, meaningful experiences that resonate with people—and that’s what makes architecture powerful.
Cheers,
Special thanks to our sponsor Petersen, which manufactures PAC-CLAD architectural metal cladding systems. Visit pac-clad.com to learn more.