NASSAU, The Bahamas – The sketches of renowned Bahamian architect Pat Rahming has reached as far as Germany where he drew the winning prize for an innovative approach to the profession.
Honored with the Arch of Europe for Quality and Technology, Mr. Rahming was one of three people from the Caribbean region to be so honored. The other honorees were from Haiti and Suriname.
Mr. Rahming, director of Patrick Rahming & Associates, says he has no idea who submitted his name. The organizers are very closed-mouthed about the process so as to prevent professionals from nominating themselves.
The award ceremony was held at the 32nd International Arch of Europe Convention on February 27, 2006, at the Inter-Continental Hotel Convention Hall in Frankfurt, Germany.
Mr. Rahming recently shared his views on the award and not only what it means to his firm, but to The Bahamas.
“I think if it has one aspect of it that sets it apart is its focus on innovation,” says the 36-year veteran architect. “We’d like to think that the only difference and the people who came before us, is the way in which we do the same things they did. We’re not solving any new problems. We’re solving the same old problems in new ways.”
Mr. Rahming says the award helps the country’s profile on global quality.
“There are many people who may have outmoded image of the way in which business is done in places like The Bahamas. People don’t expect to come to The Bahamas and be able to find architects, engineers and people who are involved especially in the technical profession, who function in a way that is commensurate with what they’ve been accustomed to,” he says.
The purpose of the Frankfurt 2006 is to recognize the commitment to quality of awarded companies, whose activities cover the top areas of industrial production and services.
Mr. Rahming notes that there were about 50 awards given to professionals, mainly from Africa, Eastern European and the Far East. The diverse backgrounds were in real estate, air conditioning and aluminum manufacturing.
He hopes that the award makes his firm and The Bahamas part of a very impressive global tradition.
“Actually, the focus was not solely on details of architecture, but the attitude towards leadership and the way in which the person developed their practices,” he says.
Mr. Rahming has been involved in some form of construction since a child, and once he went to college, it seemed like a natural course to pursue a degree in architecture.
The first building he designed on a computer was in 1982 – the Freeport branch of the National Insurance Board. He took a trip to Miami and rented time on a computer from an architectural firm. The government has also used his expertise for the designing of the NIB Headquarters on Baillou Hill Road. Mr. Rahming also designed the Pirates Museum, a major tourist attraction in downtown Nassau.
As for the future of architects in The Bahamas, Mr. Rahming said he was distressed that younger architects are not concerned about the profession as an art.
He says although there are some “extremely gifted” architects in The Bahamas, Bahamians are shy about using that gift.
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