Designed
to Please
Architect Thomas Hood
Customizes Every Project
B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D
Y
OU TALK; I LISTEN AND SKETCH." THAT'S HOW
ARCHITECT THOMAS BATEMAN HOOD
DESCRIBES HIS APPROACH TO INITIAL MEET-
INGS WITH HIS CLIENTS. HE HAS ALSO DEVEL-
OPED A 160-WORD QUESTIONNAIRE THAT ASKS THE CLIENT TO
DESCRIBE DETAILS OF PRIVATE LIFE AS DIVERSE AS WHERE THEY LIKE TO
READ, IF THEY WANT TO ENTERTAIN OUTDOORS, HOW MUCH WINE
THEY KEEP ON HAND, WHETHER THE COMMODE SHOULD BE IN A SEP-
ARATE ENCLOSURE OR PART OF THE BATHROOM, AND WHETHER OR
NOT ONE LIKES TO BE AWAKENED BY THE SUN. OFTEN, HE'LL VISIT THE
BUILDING SITE WITH THE CLIENT AND FLESH OUT HIS IDEAS ON A
SKETCHPAD WHILE THE CLIENT TALKS ABOUT HIS OR HER VISION FOR
THEIR FAMILY'S HOME.
"I LOVE THIS PROCESS," HOOD SAYS. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS HIM
TO PRECISELY TAILOR A STRUCTURE—WHETHER IT IS A RESIDENCE,
COMMERCIAL OR MIXED USE PROJECT—TO THE USER'S SPECIFIC
NEEDS
AND LIFESTYLE. "I'M IN THE GLOVE BUSINESS," HE'S FOND OF
SAYING, "NOT THE MITTEN BUSINESS."
C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 221
"
