Why I chose architecture - The first sparks
I thought it was time to share a little bit about how I ended up in architecture.
The early days
Unlike many boys wanting to play rugby for the All Blacks, growing up I wanted to play cricket for New Zealand! (It was NZ cricket initially - the Blackcaps moniker didn't come till I was a bit older!) Failing that, my next career choice was to be an artist. I think I liked the idea you could come up with "art" and sell it for lots of money! Although that philosophy is clearly flawed as, while there are some wealthy artists out there, it's clear that it's not the most lucrative profession!
I was the youngest of 5, my nearest sibling being 8 years older. In some ways I was an only child needing to entertain myself and make my own fun. This involved City Lego predominately - including trains which I loved! When I look back now I realise I had more fun spending ages creating a cityscape - all the buildings etc. - than actually playing with it! I would also make up games with elaborate rules which I would then explain to my parents at length, leaving no time to play the game! I loved creative projects or big ideas that were too hard or time consuming to execute.
Kid me with my lego city
At Paraparaumu College
I held my two career options for a long time. I never would have been good enough at cricket, but architecture became more of a possible career in my early years at high school. While I still didn't really know what I wanted to do, my subjects centered around the sciences, maths, graphics and art.
I can remember a project in 4th form (which was beginning to be called Year 10 at the time) where I was introduced to Antoni Gaudi. I was just amazed at the unique beauty of his buildings, especially La Sagrada Familia, a highly decorative and complex basilica still under construction. Then at the end of 7th form a local careers advisor told me about a course: Bachelor of Engineering Technology, major in Architectural Technology. Right from then I was hooked on the course and didn't look back.
discovering more of the greats
So off I went to Wellington in 2005 to embark on my degree. There I was introduced to the work of Norman Foster (The "Gherkin" and HSBC Headquarters), Richard Rogers (Pompidou Centre), and Frank Ghery (Guggenheim Bilbao Museum). We were taught how a building is constructed and how to draw it so that all its parts work together to form a functional whole - a solid foundation that has put me in excellent stead to this day and which I'm so thankful for.
I believe it's important to follow your passions because you are working for so much of your life. As it turns out I wasn't too far away from artist in the end, and I love how architecture blends the creative with the practical. We have to design buildings that work with the laws of nature, function well for human occupation, and are beautiful too.
dream big
It's so important to dream…even if it's not practical or is too expensive. Would buildings like La Sagrada Familia ever be built if all we thought about was practicality and cost effectiveness?! There's something awe inspiring about these types of buildings and that’s why old or unique cathedrals, mosques, skyscrapers, and homes are visited every year - because they amaze us.
Kids teach us it's ok to imagine wacky ideas; you don't have to have it all figured out or be excellent at everything. They give things a go with no ulterior motive. As we all "grow up" we tend to lose our childlike creativity that knew no bounds. We can get too boring and practical as adults! So remember to dream, bring that creative fun, and give things a go!
One of our key desires at Reform Architecture is to create buildings that are beautiful, and in doing so evoke joy, inspiration and wonder. Please get in touch if you would like to join your story with ours.
