What would be one thing you would tell an incoming architecture student to prepare?
I can’t tell you anything. I would ask you to ask yourself, “Are you passionate enough about the subject to be fully committed to a life of design?” If the answer is yes, then you will thrive.
What architecture books do you recommend incoming students to buy/read?
In terms of social understanding and space, Herman Hertzberger’s, Lessons for Students in Architecture is a must. From a compositional and formal understanding you will never stop purchasing variations of books. The books purchased should never be limited to architecture and should act as a catalyst to gain access to a broader library of design.
Besides your own instructor to go to for questions, who would you feel most comfortable asking questions to? Whose opinion do you value the most?
First, you need to know what kind of information you want to embark on. Whether it be concepts, structure, or design functionality, those who you gear the question toward will give you the best possible outcome. Know what conversation you want to spark.
Your peers are the most valuable source of receiving honest critiques. Everyone is going to give their critique, from there you must pick and choose the opinion you value the most. Then, you utilize it.
On a 100 point scale, weigh craft verses concept.
In process, craft should always come secondary to concept. Although, craft should be our stable, design should never be limited. I encourage all to master a craft. Then, go outside their comfort zone and push this ability.
How would you better your time management skills throughout the program? Any tips on what to do or not to do?
Spend less time thinking, setting goals, and simply procrastinating. Just produce! Going back to craft, don’t let the assembly of an object deter you from quickly building the object. The faster you evolve, the more time you will have to produce “crafted” work.
How early do you recommend people start thinking about their thesis and getting information for it?
Your thesis will be a culmination of a wide range of personal interests including your architectural prerogative. Unknowingly, you will begin to mold an idea of a thesis or a study that you become obsessed over. Around the Design B Level (midway through a degree program), you will start to realize sorts of a “personal project.” This idea will continuously change until your final thesis presentation and will evolve for the duration of your career.
Are there any tips for saving money on supplies?
Utilize “junk” and learn how to do it well to discover a wide range of differences in materiality and usability. This will begin to prepare you for the reality of the material use versus its aesthetic intention for a model/construct. Discovery is key to realization.
What inspires you to keep going? It seems like all we’ve done so far is not sleep, get cranky, and barely eat.
Passion. The reason why you enjoy such torture is because when that project is completed, and you have succeeded, you have deserved the reward of feeding your passion.
Tips on not choking when presenting your project in front of the jury and remembering what you want to talk about?
Be prepared. Not by practicing what you want to speak about, rather laying out a process of a pin up that allows you to talk about the project as if you were reading a book. Utilize what is on the wall as a datum of sorts to walk them through your project. Short and sweet, relax, and remember that you are in an informal setting.
Who is your favorite architect and why?
Well, I would say for a monumental figure in architecture I have always studied and will continue to research Le Corbusier’s work. Leaning towards my style and passion, is Wolf D. Prix of Coop Himmelblau His theory is simply, architecture cannot be taught. Prix’s impact in the avant-garde contemporary movement should be utilized as great precedence. The trick is, to study historical architecture for its reasoning and apply it to avant-garde approaches at your own will.
*note: avant-garde should not be confused for a particular style; it merely means “out-of-the-box.”
Can you provide any added insight to a rigorous studio setting?
Learn to set rules and restrictions to your concepts. How does A touch B and when do they react to C? If your designs can follow a set of personally developed rulings, then the rest can simply become a playground to explore within on a project to project basis.
As a rule of thumb, the designer who evolves the concept and rules the fastest, will get to produce a more detailed craftier design for the final product (versus that of your neighbor who has changed their underlining theme for the third time). Go off the initial sketch and start the evolution through your defined process!
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