Garage Modern Garage

Architect Peter Kunz built these concrete garage showrooms for a client in Switzerland. Clearly crazy about his cars, the client wanted a spacious place to store, fix and admire his collection. The result is five concrete cubes that are half-buried into the Herdern mountains; the fifth cube is the entrance, with a sliding gate inside.

Or maybe the garage door is a viewing frame to acknowledge that some cars are meant for a museum.

When deciding what’s on your menu, you will also need to decide if you’ll offer à la carte services or full service. This really is a strong differentiator and a waypoint for your brand. Offering full service means you’re requiring your clients to hire you for all phases of the work, including the all important construction observation. It will make a difference in the project you’re able to deliver to your client, and naturally you’ll have fewer to choose from. You’ll establish your brand as exclusive and high end, but recognize that the trade-off is a more limited reach. Knowing who your ideal client and target market are will inform this decision.Design the experience you want your clients to have and deliver it. It doesn’t have to be any of the above, or the perceived “accepted” way, or the AIA way. That’s the beauty of owning your own practice — you get to choose what it’s like. Sometimes we forget that we’re designers when we start focusing on our business, but this can be a creative exercise once you understand the fundamentals.Now you’re ready to do the work in front of you. Good luck!More:How to Start Your Architecture BusinessThe Basics of Marketing Your BusinessHow to Get Hired

Considering our grade... maybe very cool? Maybe shipping containers for that industrial look?