Design, Build and Convert

I met Jonathan just under four years ago. He called me and I went to work for him. Just like that. I thought it was strange that I wouldn’t be interviewed, we had never met, but my friend David from Boomerang had recommended me and I soon found out that’s all it takes. Jonathan is very trusting. In fact, I later found out that most of the people who have worked for Jonathan arrived via alternate routes other than the usual set-up-an-interview type situation. They just sort of found his door and knocked. Fortunately for them, Jonathan is the kind of guy who opens the door and, if you look interesting, and if you look smart, and if you’re nice, he lets you in.

Anyway, what was I hired for? I don’t remember. I think maybe I was supposed to help out with some portfolios of different projects he had done. Yes, that’s right. I was going to be responsible for preparing books of various buildings which would consist mainly of photos, along with a brief bit of text. The books would help organize his work and serve as a visual reference for potential publication and so forth. I'd be working part-time, as a consultant.

I think it was about a month into working for Jonathan that I realized there was no such word in his dictionary as “part-time.” Not that I’m complaining, I mean, how many bosses ask if you want a glass of wine while you’re working? It was part-time, just part-time at all hours. But it was fun. And working for Jonathan means you become part of his family. Actually, I didn't just work for Jonathan, because his business includes his wife and kids, and you all sort of work together. Matthew, his son, was definitely the computer technician. Whenever anything didn’t work, print, or open, Matthew was on hand to make it work, print, or open.

Jonathan’s business is different from most architectural firms. The majority of projects in the Segal office are his own, meaning he's his own client, he designs and builds his work, and conducts the whole show. It's been this way since he went off on his own more than a few years ago and it suits Jonathan’s personality to have things remain the same.

There are exceptions, he has done homes for a people along the way, but the bulk of his business comes from multi-housing loft projects in downtown San Diego.

Once I began working with Jonathan, all sorts of new work began to turn up. It was a fantastic learning opportunity in that it was all a little bit different, and it was always challenging. For example, in early spring of 2001, Jonathan received word that he had been nominated to be a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects. Only a handful of people are chosen each year, from each state, and the process is quite lengthy. Basically, you have to submit letters of recommendation from, if I remember right, seven architects, and you have to put together a book of sorts, about you and your projects, certain subjects being required. Our book was twenty-two pages, with a resume, publications list, awards list, and layouts of all the key projects. Now, you’d think that wouldn’t be that hard. Well, let me tell you what it’s like typing up a list of publications that Jonathan has appeared in...exhausting. From the New York Times, to the L.A. Times, Architectural Record, San Francisco Examiner.... and on, it was long, single spaced, and had to be cut short - we only had so many pages we could include in the book. The following fall, Jonathan got word that he was accepted as a Fellow, and one of the youngest in California to ever receive the honor (with the Fellowship, you have three “tries” to get in, most people don’t make it on the first.)

The commercial projects in the Segal office are all very urban. Jonathan’s specialty is converting the old, and mixing with the new. For example, some of his buildings have incubated from old warehouses, an example would be the Waterfront in San Diego. The oldest bar in the city, Jonathan wanted to preserve it, while still utilizing the surrounding land. He built around the historic Waterfront bar, left unchanged, and today popular food and drink spot is still thriving.

This year finds Jonathan in his new house, and new office. Still finishing off some of the last details, this house takes off where The State ended. The same, but better. Imagine James Bond played by Roger Moore, and then picture the same character played by Sean Connery. The Prospect would be Sean Connery.

Glass, exotic wood, lap pool, sliding glass walls (making another appearance), and a patio made of thick glass that looks down onto the lower floor. On the front end of the house, Jonathan commissioned artist Malcom Leland to design a metal sculpture that would hang at the uppermost exterior portion of the four level home. Very contemporary, very un-La Jolla, and very enjoyable cocktail party venue, as all of us who are lucky enough to get invites can attest to.

What’s next for Jonathan? Currently he is designing two private residences, and has another loft building in the works. In between his architectural design duties, he is lecturing at various universities, taking up golf, and smoking the occasional cigar.

for more for on Jonathan see www.jonathansegalarchitect.com