0:00:19 – Intro Host: Max Mandel
In the rest of this podcast, we'll unravel the defining moments of his architectural career, explore the philosophy behind his award-winning designs and gain insights into the delicate dance between architecture and sculpture. But before we do, let's acknowledge this struggle, because it's in the struggle that the seeds of resilience are sown. Mr Bertman's perseverance became the foundation upon which he built his illustrious career. So to all the buddling architects out there grappling with early challenges, know that you're not alone. Every rejection, every closed door is a step closer to the breakthrough you seek.
Stay tuned as we dive deep into the life and mind of Mr Richard Bertman. This is Survive to Thrive where resilience feels success. Ready to thrive, let's continue this extraordinary journey. In the coming minutes we'll uncover the secrets of thriving and missed life's challenges, explore the fusion of architecture and sculpture and gain valuable advice from a true master of the craft. Hit, play and let's unravel the extraordinary tale. Mr Richard Bertman, architect, sculptor and thriver Well, so can you share, like some insights into your journey from Harvard University, mit and then, eventually, the University of California at Berkeley?
0:03:11 – Guest Richard Bertman
Let's see, I started Harvard. I got into Harvard, which was good, and then I knew I wanted to be an architect. But I think I was lucky in that, from grandma school, studying Greek mythology, I remember loving what the Greeks were doing in architecture and thinking, boy, I'd love to do that, and in fact that's what I became an architect. And so I knew when I went to Harvard that I wanted to be an architect. So I graduated Harvard and needed to go to a professional school and MIT was close by, and so I applied there and luckily got in, and that's where I started architecture, learning about architecture.
0:03:52 – Host: Max Mandel
Awesome. That's a pretty impressive resume, right An illustration exam.
0:03:55 – Guest: Richard Bertman
So, anyhow, I graduated with my degree at MIT as a Bachelor of Architecture and then worked for three or four years getting first hand experience in some architectural offices Founding principal right of CPT right Child's Mars, child's Child's Bertman, sechorus Sechorus incorporation.
0:04:16 – Host: Max Mandel
Can you discuss some of the key projects or design philosophies that have defined your architectural career? These are tough questions. They are. I like to ask the tough questions.
0:04:27 – Guest: Richard Bertman
Well, let's see when we started. We started in the basement of my two family house and I remember my wife was our secretary, so she and it was, I think, three or four stories from the basement where we set up the office and we just used some tables and chairs and file cabinets to make drafting boards. And I remember some experiences, you know. I think we had our first client who wanted to build a library no, not build a library, convert an existing building into a library and make a library out of it. And I remember that he was coming over to interview us. And so we had friends who worked at various offices around town and we had them come over and come to my basement and sit in these chairs and pretend they were drafting, while this potential client came to our office. And so he came, saw that everything seemed good, left and then everybody who was in the office went back to work at the offices they were working in. But we got that job and that was the beginning of the architectural practice.
0:05:31 – Host: Max Mandel
That's awesome, and there's always a path. Your office had received over like 200 design awards. Could you highlight a few projects that you're particularly proud of and share the stories behind those projects that you're particularly proud of?
0:05:43 – Guest: Richard Bertman
I'm proud of all of them and I think a lot of my success had to do with really being thoughtful and careful about what I was doing. It was really to produce something good. The making of money is important, but I think what I found was just trying to do good work was the most important thing and that made me happy and that's why I always loved what I was doing. And I do remember it led to my writing a book on the design process because it had never been very. You know, all architects have to learn how to design and that isn't well taught. It's hard to teach that, not how you go about it.
And I remember teaching and so I wrote a book and I did a house for someone at one point and I remember writing down everything that I was doing. I would make sketches and I would think about what I was doing when I was doing those sketches and I would write that down. And so this book shows the process of what you're thinking in your mind as you're designing something and how you go about it, and that became a very helpful teaching tool as I continued my teaching.
0:07:04 – Host: Richard Bertman
Do you remember the name of the book? What was the name of the book it's called? I'm just curious.
0:07:10 – Guest Richard Bertman
I'm getting old so I don't remember so quickly.
0:07:12 – Host: Max Mandel
It's OK.
0:07:13 – Guest: Richard Bertman
Yeah, but I have copies all over my I actually I'll give you a friend a copy of the book. That might help.
0:07:23 – Host: Max Mandel
That would be extremely helpful. I appreciate that she would love that.
0:07:28 – Guest: Richard Bertman
It's called the Single Family House and the art of its design that's affordable.
0:07:33 – Advertisement #1 Blue Cross Blue Shield
0:09:12 – Guest: Richard Bertman
0:10:40 – Host: Max Mandel
Thank you. Yeah, no, it's very helpful, you know, and that's I appreciate it. It's really interesting to hear that. The process, like the breakdown process of your sculpting career, and I was going to ask right, this is a little bit more of a specific question Like, how do you balance your time and creative energy between architecture and sculpture?
0:11:09 – Guest: Richard Bertman
Well, when I was doing architecture now I'm retired, now it's easy I was doing architecture. I would come home at night and do a little sculpting after work and then you know, I would just work late after the architecture. But it was much less a major part of my life now, as in retirement, I can do sculpting at all times. I'm still helping a little bit with architecture, helping person down on the capes and friends with their house, which is interesting in itself because this fellow I'll digress for a moment this man, this family that live in Belmouth. His business was finding or going to bidding on things, old objects, including like a fire engine and you know, major pieces of work, and then fixing these up and selling them. So for his house he has this. He's building his own house but he has all the pots that he was selling.
He's now retiring from that business of selling objects that he's fixed up and made. So he has all kinds of wood, all kinds of granite, all kinds of structure, all kinds of windows. So I've designed something for him and he's putting and then we go back over what I've designed and say, well, I had. He would tell me I have these windows. So I try to find a place to transform the house that I'm designing and using his objects. So it's been really a wonderful experience and I'm digressing, but that's in terms of mixing the pots of my abilities. This house is really special because it's going to turn out to have these oddities that were completely unexpected, which is also part of the aesthetic quality of this unexpected quality that you try to create in the work you do.
0:13:37 – Host: Max Mandel
There's the bridge from, like you know, sculpting and architecture kind of meshed really well, Absolutely. It's creative genius, as it might say.
0:13:47 – Host: Max Mandel
All right. What legacy or impact do you hope to leave I?
0:13:51 – Guest: Richard Bertman
purposely chose to take the office with my partner. My first partner died. The people had been very kind and invited me when my last project at the office was the library in Wolburn Mass and it was very nice that that won the National AIA or American Institute of Architects Award at this year's. I was a AIA leading in San Francisco and so they they invited me to go to that and receive the award and that was really nice. I felt very proud to do that because it was the culmination of my career. But it's a library and by a historically famous architect, h H Richardson. H H Richardson did a lot. What did he do? A church in Copley Square, but he did many historic, beautiful buildings and this was a new addition to this library. And so how do you integrate a new addition, new modern building, to an old historic building? So in this one, this award, which was very nice. So those qualities of trying to do good work are really important.
0:15:36 – Host: Max Mandel
Some advice for, like, future architects right coming out of college and like what would you advice would you give to them in terms of, like, pursuing that career of working with art and architecture? Like is there any career advice that you wish you had, starting out that you had, that you have, now that you can help?
0:15:57 – Guest: Richard Bertman
It's very hard for new architects, you know, coming out it was just like when I started it. You really don't have much that you can offer to an office because you haven't that experience. So the first job is really very difficult. Then afterwards it gets more and more easy and you learn so much from your partners, your environmental situation, where you're working with a lot of other people. The advice that I would have is for the starting architect is really you just got to keep plugging away at it. There's no easy way. You just go and ask if you can work at some place and you just try to get that first starting experience and then it's much easier there after, because then you know something and you know how, what people need, what things you can learn that people need, and then you just keep building from that point.
Outro
0:17:09 – Host: Max Mandel
And there you have it An incredibly enriching conversation with the renowned Mr Richard Burtman. I hope you found inspiration in his journey through architecture and sculpture. Before we wrap up, a friendly reminder to subscribe to Survive To Thrive podcast so you never miss an episode filled with stories of resilience and success. Your feedback means the world to us, so take a moment to leave a review and connect with us on Twitter at Survive T47193. A massive thank you to Mr Richard Burtman for sharing his insights and experiences with us today. Special thanks to our listeners for joining us on this journey from survival to thriving, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity to thrive. Stay resilient, stay inspired and keep thriving until we meet again on the next episode of Survive To Thrive.
Franchise Segment Why Boston?
Now, mike, kind of a segment we've had on this podcast, survive To Thrive, is what means you stay in Boston and why did you choose Boston out of any city? Is there something? Is there a reason I want to like you could answer it based off like the reason. The answer could be anything personal, anything I just want to know, like what brought you to Boston and what makes Boston so special, dive.
0:18:35 – Guest Richard Bertman
I always lived in the surrounding neighborhoods. I grew up in Brookline. I mentioned that my neighbor was Michael Dukakis, who I think had a lot of influence on me because he was a year older than me but I would play basketball on his front yard with him and I would help wash his dishes. Probably that's why I have a Greek partner, because I you know, it was sort of much more natural for me because his mother would teach me how to some Greek as I was wiping the dishes in their house and he remained in Boston. He was the governor and went on to run for president and just a wonderful, wonderful man. He had a second influence on me, even more psychological Anyhow, but I always loved Boston and I got involved in the city in doing these committees and things and that kept me here.
I had purposely gone to California to see what the other side of the country was doing and that was helpful. So once I had done that and come back I realized what a wonderful place this was. My wife grew up here as well and we married. So we're now living in the house that she grew up in, so I've never had any really desire to go elsewhere. We've traveled all around the world. I've done sketches of things all around the world, so it's really a wonderful place to return to.
0:20:09 – Host: Max Mandel
I'm serious. Thank you for taking the time and, you know, go and interview with me on this podcast and to career professionals. Appreciate the time it took and also show me your work. And thank you so much.
0:20:25 – Advertisement #2 Fidelity Investments
