Samuel taught me during my second year of architecture school. I remember him for being approachable and providing memorable analogies to my questions. And yellowtrace, lots of yellowtrace for consultations.
Published on Archlosophy on 23 December 2022.
1. What Inspired you to become a tutor?
I saw a need for younger architectural students to have quality guidance in their university education. The architectural community is a small cohort, and it’s a good thing for our profession to foster talent wherever we can find it.
2. Do you have a teaching style? How would you describe your teaching style?
I have found that working with students on pen and trace paper in class has been the best way to demonstrate architectural ideas and concepts. Although CAD drawings are being used more commonly for communication and presentation, working out an early concept on paper allows for ideas to be quickly tested and discarded if necessary.
3. Is there someone or something that has changed or influenced the way you think about architecture?
This is a difficult question to answer as there were many people who have influenced the way I understand architecture.
I’ve recently grown to look to architects like Louis Kahn, Carlo Scarpa, Marcio Kogan, Alvaro Siza, Glenn Murcutt and Renzo Piano on how to design, however this list tends to change over the years.
4. Both of us grew up in the age of technology. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence seeping into the industry and its capabilities growing over the years, do you think AI would one day compete with graduates of the future? How do you feel about it?
I believe someday artificial intelligence may develop into a useful tool in assisting design, however I don’t think it would take over design entirely. We experience the world in a myriad of ways – reading, music, ceramics, sports, movies, photography, eating, sleeping, etc. These activities that we do outside of architecture often are what inspires interesting architecture.
I think these incidental events are difficult to replicate in an AI environment, and as such, I don’t think it would be able to compete with the entropy of a person’s everyday life.
5. What skill do you think a student should hone while in university and why is this skill important?
I would encourage my students to get into a habit of reading about architecture. There’s many lessons to be learnt from looking at others and how they resolved their architectural design.
It’s also important to learn to interrogate and self-reflect on your design. Learn to both believe in yourself but learn to let them go when the time comes. There is nothing worse for a project than to cling to a concept that is no longer relevant to the architecture as it develops.
6. Do you think passion is necessary in the field of architecture?
Yes. A career in architecture can span from your early 20s to well past your 80s. It is helpful to be stimulated and curious about the work you do, else you may find this profession long and unfulfilling.
7. What are your aspirations for the future, as an architect and tutor?
I have since got my registration as an Architect in NSW working at my current practice EM BE CE. I hope to be continually involved with the university as I enjoy seeing my students find their own path.
As for my aspirations, I haven’t figured out yet what I am looking for in the future. Perhaps one day I will find something that I like and stick with it. In the meantime, I am still exploring and testing out new things every day.
-End of interview-
Thank you Samuel.
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