era MANIFESTO | Design + Build Architecture Specific to You
WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE?
Architecture may seem a little intimidating. It is usually associated with elite design and big money. But architecture is not that. It is for the use of people every day. It is for you.
There is certainly no one size fits all architecture. That is because architecture is for people and every person is different. Their purpose for making architecture, the place in which they live and the people involved in their story is different. As such, the architecture is different for each person.
Architecture is simple. If a space does not feel right to you, it won’t be right for you. However, if you walk into a space and it makes you feel all sorts of magical emotions – memory, excitement, comfort – then it is right for you.
Regardless of which way you choose to design and build your own architecture – whether that be a pre-designed plan, newly designed plan, if you design and build with someone else or if you design and build alone – you can make it specific for you.
Every ones life is special, and it should be celebrated in the space they live their life.
You have the right to live in spaces which are specifically designed for you.
You have the ability to learn how to make that happen.
IT IS YOUR TIME TO MAKE ARCHITECTURE SPECIFIC TO YOU
Children make so much effort to create their own space – a cubby made with a sheet and spare chair, a house built under the leaves of a tree – these are our first homes and I don’t think that need to create our own space ever leaves us.
I believe that everyone should experience the joy of architecture in their every day lives.
I believe that everyone knows what they want in their home or place.
I believe that everyone has the capacity to design and build their own architecture, but the process can be daunting and it is the little things that you may not yet know that can make all the difference at the end of the day.
I want to share the ways that every person can experience architecture in their every day.
WHAT DOES ARCHITECTURE MEAN TO YOU?
To me it is to design and build your own space which is specific to you, your place and your lifestyle, whether that be a home for your family or a cubby for a child.
The beauty, pragmatics and little things that will make your architecture special are for every one on any budget – even a child and their cubby.
In whichever way you choose to design and build your own architecture, you already have the knowledge to ensure the architecture you make is specific to you.
All you need is a process to help you find and apply the information you already have, as well as some tools to assist you in your journey.
Architecture is for you and the lifestyle that you want. It is a way to create a genuine connection between you and the spaces you will inhabit. Every part of the building will therefore relate to you and how you would like to live.
You will spend a lot of time in these spaces and so the architecture should speak of your story, your purpose, your place and your people.
It is only if it does speak your unique architectural language that it will suit you in every way, every day.
WHAT IS AN ARCHITECT?
An architect is an interpreter.
They are interested in your purpose.
They are interested in your place.
They are interested in your story.
They ask questions.
They listen to answers, look for patterns and help you interpret all the elements into your unique architectural language which can then be translated into a built form.
YOU CAN BE YOUR OWN ARCHITECT.
You know your purpose.
You know your place.
You know your story.
If you ask yourself the right questions, you can find answers, look for patterns and interpret all the elements into your unique architectural language.
With that knowledge, you can design and build your own architecture which is specific to you. That means that every part and every space will suit you, your place and your lifestyle.
HOW TO FIND YOUR ARCHITECTURE.
The Process.
Every architect has their own slightly individual process for making architecture - this is mine.
I see the process of architecture falling into three main parts:
| GATHER INFORMATION |
| PUT THE INFORMATION TOGETHER |
| BUILD THE REALITY |
Within each part are the steps that will help you put everything together.
01
GATHER INFORMATION
PURPOSE The Why
PLACE The Where
PEOPLE The Who + What
PROGRAM The Numbers
PARTS The Products
02
PUT THE INFORMATION TOGETHER
PATTERNS The Design
PLAN The How
PROFESSIONALS The Team
PERMIT The Approvals
PAPERS The Documents
03
BUILD THE REALITY
PROCURE Make it Happen
PACT The Contract
COMMENCE The Build
PROGRESS Communication
COMPLETE Live Your Lifestyle
Your Unique Architectural Language.
The most important part of the process for me is the first. The information you gather informs every other part of the process which follows.
There are three main steps of information to gather when you begin.
PURPOSE – PLACE – PEOPLE
Once you have these three steps, you can find your architectural language.
It really is the little things about your purpose, place and people that will make your own architecture unique to you and the every day moments you experience within it will be special to you.
Finding your unique architectural language – In a nutshell:
PURPOSE
The Why
Understand your purpose - know your end goal.
How can you move forward when you don’t know what you are moving towards?
Know what it is you want to achieve at the end of the day. This is your anchor. Every decision you make along the architectural journey comes back to this single purpose.
PLACE
The Where
Understand where you are - know your place.
How can you know how to set your architecture in your place until you know your place?
Spend time on you place, and gather information about your place to understand its constraints, potentials and personality.
PEOPLE
The Who
Understand your content - know yourself.
How can you know what lifestyle you lead or how you wish to live until you know something about yourself?
Understand yourself by really knowing your past, present and future - your memories, sensual triggers, values, needs and wants.
YOUR ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE
PATTERNS
The Design
The unique combination of elements found in your purpose, place and people make up your unique architecture language.
When you take all of the elements which you have learned about your purpose, place and people, you will find patterns which when used in combination create a unique solution which works in every way for you – your own unique architectural language.
WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?
Now you have your language, you can Design and Build your architecture.
The process moves on to Put the Information Together and Build the Reality.
And that is a story for another day :)
For you to Save
Til next time!
Start the journey to find your architectural language and make your little ideas a reality.
Click here to see the little things I have made for you, or click here if you would like to work with me one on one.