‘Cast Away’ is one of my favorite movies ever. I find the struggle of a helpless soul forced to fight the fury of sea, the torment of solitude and the anguish of uncertainty absolutely thrilling. It’s not by chance that drama is one of the most popular genres in the film industry: humans find pleasure in misery, particularly when it falls on someone else. Since going on a cruise has never been part of my bucket list and I don’t work for FedEx, I never considered the risk of sea seclusion worthy of consideration. I’ve felt quite safe and ‘protected’ every time I’ve grabbed a can of Coke and a bag of chips and made myself comfortable on the couch to watch Tom Hanks suffer non-stop for two hours and twenty-three minutes.

​But then, 2020 made its appearance.

The harm that the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted to thousands of small business owners in America cannot be measured or even described (and I don’t think there is need to describe it, anyways). As many other microentrepreneurs and owner-operators, my dream of a continuously growing and promising startup suddenly turned into the plot of a Robert Zemeckis film, but with no clap boards, cameras, reflectors, stunts, special effects or makeup artists: real life’s budget doesn't allow for Hollywood’s artifice and glamour. This time the fury of sea, the torment of solitude and the anguish of uncertainty are 100% real. The end of the storm isn’t in sight yet, and the only option at this point seems to be packing the volleyball, getting on the raft and facing the waves like there is no tomorrow. And it probably won’t, if we don’t take the risk to leave the island behind.

Hire a small business if you have a chance.
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​In addition to a fully updated and highly precise BIM or CAD background adapted to your template and custom standards, we can deliver a point cloud compatible with every major design software as well as a set of 4K photos and a virtual photographic 3D model that you and any authorized members of your team can remotely access, visualize, measure, and tour at anytime and from anywhere via computer, tablet or smartphone. Basically, we provide you with full access to the building or space from anywhere, at anytime, for as long as needed for reference during the entire design phase without the need of repeated job visits. As a matter of fact, since the start of the pandemic some of our clients have completed their designs from start to finish without having even set a foot on the job site, all by means of our capture and documentation technologies. If at any point they needed to double check on an existing condition, let's say a critical dimension or a finish to remain, a couple of clicks have provided the information needed. A design issue to be discussed with a consultant can get resolved by means of sharing them a screen capture of the specific detail or granting them temporary access to the model. No physical visits and cumbersome coordination efforts required. No delays in the decision making. No safety compromise. When virtual is the new normal, our documentation services put the gift of ubiquity in your hands.

Coping with the most challenging conjuncture of the modern era demands the best of our creativity and inventiveness. More than ever before, designers have the duty of helping delineate the future, and we are here to help you rise to the occasion.

Please count on us.

Thousands of small businesses are being struck by the financial crisis derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a small business ourselves, we decided to join the #OpenWeStand campaign and do our best effort to contribute to the economic health of the AEC + Real Estate industries by remaining open even if our doors are closed, lowering our fees and even providing pro bono services to some of our struggling clients. If you need help, reach out for it.

For information on the Open We Stand initiative, visit OPENWESTAND.ORG.

#openwestand #aec #architecture #engineering #construction #realestate #consulting #architecturalconsulting #architecturalconsultingservices #consultingservices #makingdesignsimpleaslife #morpholab #godaddy

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary and thesaurus defines "rebirth" as "a period in which something becomes popular again after a long period of time when it was not popular". A second, more succinct definition, calls for "a period of new life, growth or activity; a new or second birth; a spiritual regeneration". Spiritual regeneration: I would definitely embrace this denotation full of emotion and symbolism to describe the process that Morpholab recently jumped into in an attempt to adapt to the challenges of an industry in continuous mutation and, let's be honest, to take back some of the fun that got misplaced over years of routine, stress and obsessive commitment with deadlines, budgets, revisions, change orders, invoices and fees. And not that there's anything wrong with that type of commitment! No matter how much we love what we do and how much passion we put into it we're a profit-making business and we need to pay our bills like everyone else, with all that entails. But let's get something straight: it's not only about business. It cannot be all about business, and that certainty is the core value that founded the collective dream of this talented group of designers and professionals that I've had the immense privilege to lead for more than a decade around a new approach to architecture, design and visualization. This rebirth is not only a reconciliation with our origins and our professional beliefs, but also a re-encounter with our clients, friends and collaborators and the way we interact with them. The pursuit for the perfect balance between art and science that has always inspired us continues. Feel free to join us in this fantastic journey!

We are Morpholab: a laboratory of forms in constant evolution.