This article appeared in the Pioneer Press on February 23-24, 2005

Hovey to give lecture at IIT

David Hovey's new book, "The Nature of Dwellings," will be the subject of his lecture at IIT on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m.

David Hovey, prominent architect and founder of Optima, Inc., has had several of his most significant works showcased in a new book, "The Nature of Dwellings, The Architecture of David Hovey."

The renowned architect will give a lecture on the book at the Illinois Institute of Technology on Monday evening, Feb. 28, entitled "The Nature of Dwellings, The Architecture of David Hovey.

The lecture will present an overview of the history of Optima, Inc., including Hovey's innovative condominium buildings and will also focus on the book. The lecture is free and open to the public. It will be held at 6 p.m. at Crown Hall, 3360 S. State Street.

Published by Rizzoli International Publications, the 200-plus page book features over 250 spectacular colored photographs by top architectural photographers of seven single-family homes. Three of the homes are in the suburbs of Chicago and the other four are located at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Through a series of comments that accompany the photographs, Hovey describes his design intent and the palette of materials that creates a unique solution for each site.

"The Nature of Dwellings" presents a comprehensive view of seven single-family houses Hovey has recently designed and relates them to his award-winning portfolio of multi-family housing developments both in the Chicago and Phoenix areas.

According to the editors, Hovey's most recent homes have explored the fundamental dichotomies in architecture: natural and built; machine and craft; shelter and exposure; rationality and romance.

Hovey received his architectural training at the Illinois Institute of Technology and worked in the offices of Arthur S. Takeuchi and C.F. Murphy (now Murphy/Jahn) before opening his own office in 1978. Optima, His design, development and construction company, is committed to well-designed multi-family housing projects. Since Optima's founding, the company has completed more than 30 projects and won 17 design awards.

Hovey' work has been widely published and included in numerous architecture exhibitions. His book is available at amazon.com.

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