Who is it for?
It is for students of architecture and design who want to write like a designer.
Read more...Writing here in the third person: in this reflective piece, I emphasize the importance of pausing to consider the motivations and beneficiaries of my efforts. By taking a moment to intentionally reflect, I aim to ensure my actions are aligned with my goals and values. This underscores a commitment to thoughtful, step-by-step progress rather than rushing forward without purpose. Or something like that.
Read more...In the summer of 1990, before starting architecture school, I watched the British documentary series "Architecture at the Crossroads," sparking a vocational and intense interest in this strange thing called architecture. This wasn't a burning emotional love, but rather an appreciation for a discipline I could bring into my world—a world of complex yet fascinating puzzles that influenced people's everyday lives.
The documentary portrayed architecture as a social endeavor, turning mundane built environments into compositions that spoke a physical language of form, repetition, pattern, materiality, and space. Particularly impactful was the episode on Japanese houses, with Hiroshi Hara's Awazu house standing out for its astonishingly literal and symmetrical design, vastly different from my suburban Australian upbringing, evoking a sense of open-ended possibility.
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Read more...In refining my Instagram marketing strategy, I had to define a clear target audience for the project. This focused effort ensures that the communication aligns with a clear strategy and effective segmenting. The project's aim is to create a non-fiction pamphlet that explores the relationship between writing and design, though the exact thesis is still evolving.
The book will touch on various interconnected ideas, as depicted in an initial diagram. Taking inspiration from Seth Godin's concept of 'genre' in his book *The Practice*, the work will fit within an established framework while responding to specific concerns. Recognizing that true originality is rare, our goal is to provide a clear and comprehensible context for our audience.
Architectural pamphlets, which are concise and centered on a single idea, serve as a model for this project. This format contrasts with comprehensive works, offering a brief yet impactful exploration of the topic at hand. More updates will follow as the project progresses.
Read more...The blog post introduces a diagram outlining three domains of design, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these domains. It explains that the focus will be on writing as a subset of the overall design process, highlighting the importance of understanding how each part relates. The author expresses uncertainty about the diagram's finality but chooses to share it now for further contemplation.
Read more...The book is designed for anyone who has been through architecture or design school, whether or not they have achieved licensure or registration. It emphasizes that many who complete architecture programs don't become formal architects, but can still carry a deep passion for the art of architecture. This passion and experience can be a foundation for exploring other creative and professional avenues.
Unregistered professionals can view their provisional status either as a limitation or as an opportunity. Instead of feeling inadequate without the official title, they can see the lack of definition as a chance to explore limitless possibilities in their design and creative work. The book encourages leveraging the uncertainty and undefined status to discover unique personal and professional identities.
For those who endured the rigorous critique and challenges of architecture school, the book offers a blueprint for harnessing their design passion in a new medium. It doesn't aim to replace the traditional aspects of architecture but to add another dimension to it through language, writing, and text. The goal is to reignite the desire to create and transpose it into a form where one can "draw with words."
Read more...Inner-city terrace renovations in Melbourne, Victoria, often follow a unique yet recognizable pattern. This involves preserving the heritage-rich front of the dwelling while creating modern, typically minimal extensions at the rear. The juxtaposition of the historical and contemporary elements creates a balanced, harmonious composition.
Despite the overarching pattern, each renovation features distinct variations, allowing for a wide range of individuality within the projects. These differences ensure that while the form remains consistent, each renovation evolves uniquely over time. The repetition of this pattern not only highlights the depth of modernism's legacy but drives ongoing innovation in architectural design.
Acknowledging these patterns and their evolution is crucial in the narrative of design storytelling. This repetition and variation underscore the dynamic nature of architecture, proving that even within established frameworks, there is room for creativity and transformation.
Read more...Understanding the distinction between a story and an experience can deepen our appreciation of architecture and design. While stories often possess a clear beginning, middle, and end, experiences tend to be more loosely structured, resembling Stravinsky’s *Rite of Spring*, which appears as an assemblage of discontinuous fragments moving within a rhythmic framework. This structure, though seemingly random, is intentional and highly specific, much like the complexity of real life.
In writing about architecture and design, one can adopt a similar approach by assembling fragments that each hold their own rhythm and structure. Architecture is an intricate conjunction of multiple elements such as use, form, function, and context, leading to an overall gestalt that is made up of harmonious yet discontinuous parts. This analogical method captures the essence of architectural structures better than a linear narrative could.
Moreover, architecture is subject to change and entropy, only standing permanently within the confines of styled photographs. The perception of a piece of architecture—whether through a story, an image, or a visit—is always a fleeting moment, a snapshot in the continuous flow of time. This perspective acknowledges the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of buildings and spaces.
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