"What They Said"
The entire experience was perfect. The lectures, conversations, project, place, friendships, family.... all were amazing in a way that I was not prepared for in really any way. In one of the first emails we exchanged, you mentioned something of the "impact" of the class. I know a little what you meant now. For the moment, I am a little dizzy with it all. The week in Awaroa was an education unto itself, and ultimately, unlike anything I expected it could be. There were several moments each day where different class members would exchange a look that summed up the whole experience. In part, it was a look of disbelief at our good fortune to be a part of it all. It was also a sense of awe at the conversations we were having and listening to. I didn't know there were other people that felt and thought the way I do about architecture, design, or even life. It was invigorating to speak to them, and hear new ways of looking at the challenges I think about at home in Denver. The looks we exchanged had a lot of joy in them. Not got-the-big-project joy, or I'm-on-vacation joy, it was deeper and more pure than that. More than anything else, though, our shared glances, and the conversations that came out of them were filled with gratitute. Personally, I am so indebted to you, Peter, Richard, Ath, and the other students, that I can't fathom repaying what I owe. I can only promise first, to use, and pass along what I have learned, and second, to throw myself openheartedly at other opportunities to expand on the lessons of Awaroa.
Thank you again. You have put together something magical.”’.Scott Lawrence, Colorado, USA (2008)
I am writing to thank you for the master class last week at Awaroa. I feel stimulated and energized after an intensive week of being immersed in architectural ideas and activities. I have brought back tantalizing glimpses of ideas to develop, and you have helped me to uncover thoughts and design approaches that have been in the back of my mind. I hope I will remember to nurture each project into life with more insight, more care and more attention to the details of place and human behaviour. I have enjoyed making tenuous connections with so many new people, but regret that there was not more time to explore them. There are a lot of great people in the world and many of them are architects! Thank you all for tutoring us with insight, humanity and respect. It was an intense week and I felt both elated and exhausted at the end of it.
Rick, thank you particularly for the references and the ‘journey’ into the derivation of words, which I will continue with enjoyment. I’ll think of you every time I open my etymological dictionary! Peter, thank you for warning me about the local body politics of urban design and for your encouragement. Ath, it was wonderful to spend time with you at Awaroa again, and to learn some more from you. Lindsay, I appreciate that organising 24 architects must be like herding cats. Thank you for everything."’.Anne Salmond, Wanaka, New Zealand (2008)
I started
the week with trepidation. Did I have a useful contribution to make to
a Master Class? Did I have the intellectual rigour and ability? It seemed
an indulgence to take time out from my work programme, a mountain with
somewhat unstable terrain. I felt exhausted both mentally and physically.
I was fascinated by the fragility of the ecosystems verses the cultural
/ economic dynamics of occupation, seemingly in a state of conflict and
change. Change was poignantly illustrated by the decaying bones of the
scow revealed by the ebb of the tide verses the pristine Euro-copter resting
at the end of the green swathe of the runway. The big question, how do
you inhabit such a special place and what is an appropriate response;
the problem at Awaroa a microcosm of the bigger picture of habitation
at the edge. Being placed in a group produced interesting dynamics of
collective thinking verses the frustration of conflict or non response.
A germ of an idea that was nurtured and challenged at its weak points
by informed constructive criticism. We saw the power of extraordinary
mentoring, encouraging a more insightful response to the problem posed.
The energy and elation when the tide turned, the result gathered momentum
as collective and diverse talent communicated a solution. Point of Arrival
Master Class 2005 was a re-awakening, a re-energizing of why I am an Architect;
the responsibility and privilege of being entrusted to modify place. The
sway this has on the quality of the experience for individuals as well
as the wider impact on community spirit was brought home. How complicated
does that response need to be? Like a gesture drawing, a good idea needs
to capture the essence, no more. Thank you to Lindsay, Rick, Ian and Peter
for sharing your wisdom and experiences of a lifetime. As the Anzacs remind
us each year ‘Lest we forget’.
John Palmer, Nelson (2005)
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The Awaroa
Master Class brought together two water taxis full of people who practice
diverse forms of architecture, carried us to the shore of an extraordinary,
beautiful landscape, provided accomplished educators, fantastic food,
wine, comfortable accommodation and engaged all in an intense dialogue
with the place, architecture, each other and ourselves.?The water taxi
made its way round the coast and the scene was set. Sea spray, honey dew
scent in the air, dolphins and along the shoreline great blocks of stone
sculpted - by the elements. It occurred to me -these places have stories
to tell.?The challenge – to consider, collaborate and respond with
architecture to what lay before us. Diverse expectations, experience,
personalities, cultures interacted. The cause - a program for settlement
at the beach. The brief was open ended. We were free to dialogue in conceptual
terms, free from the office, but there was another challenge: ourselves.
Collaboration required some reconciling of differing perspectives –
a degree of introspection. Then creativity emerged with the force of a
spring tide. Rick, Stutch, Ath and the projector indulged us nightly with
a selection of images details, and ideas. I woke early each morning and
walked. The forest, the wetlands, the shoreline - silent contemplation,
restoration. It truly is an awesome place, Awaroa - great rumbled lumps
of marble at the headland, glittering micaceous sand drifts stirred up
at the lapping line, sublime reflecting pools, an estuary clear and watery
at high tide - sand floor at low, Kanuka lowland forest with anechoic
moss carpet, seabirds and forest hills with bellbirds. The Master Class
has taught me some ways in which I may read the environment and use it
as a reference for architecture. I have also learnt I must have faith
in my own judgement. Those few days in that beautiful place with all those
wonderful architects will be a treasured memory.
Dominic Hassan, Christchurch (2006)
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Well what
can I say? NZ Master Class 2005 - superb tutoring, superb place and a
wonderful mix of architects, to result in a truly memorable week. For
someone on the cusp of 'retiring' from the architecture world, I have
been re-energised and re-enlightened as to the meaning to it all. Thanks
for everything. And critical to its success - it was superbly organised.......".
Felicity Christian, Whangarei (2005)
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Conditions
for a perfect Master Class: Bad weather clearing to fine, frost, sleet,
bright sun, full moon. A superb natural setting. Excellent food and accommodation.
And, above all, a compelling project to explore. How to occupy the edge
of the natural world is a dilemma of the ages, brought up to date each
day. “Territory, status, and love, sing all the birds, are”,
as W.H. Auden wrote, “ what matter.” Architecture is how you
put these together. This class showed the deep interconnections living
and building have with each other. The work of each master tutor is the
result of intensely scrutinized personal and professional experience.
What they shared will last in students’ minds far longer than the
few days of the program. As shaman, oracle, hunter-gatherer, chief, each
filled a different role, enriching the ‘learning’ and ‘unlearning’
involved in the week’s adventure. Or was it, in the words of an
old rhyme: magician, gambler, executioner, priest? Poke a stick in the
sand. You’ll discover who is who and which is which, when you go.
John Hawkhead, Wellington (2005)
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Honestly
I believe one word - EXCELENT is the best illustration. Of course next
time you all have to try to do more, to do something new and different,
and maybe the most important try to challenge people individually and
as teams (as you did at Awaroa). Once again thank you very much for all
that you, Peter, Ian, Richard and Lindsay did for all of us. I am sure
for many of us it was something special that happened in our career as
architects. It was an experience that many will never forget (including
me). As I mentioned on our last presentation, thank you very much to give
me (us) opportunity as architects once again to dream, to play and to
“fly” – to be young , to be not obstructed and free
to be different.
Davor Mihulcic, Wellington (2005)
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It takes
a powerful mix of ingredients to make a Master Class.??-Teachers who’ve
achieved so much, proven, approachable, inspirational, funny, challenging.
Participants arriving from all directions committed to improving their
understanding and passion for architecture. All mixed up in the potent
environment of the pure energy of Awaroa. For me, a sole practitioner,
the chance to work along side the big boys, learning (again and again)
the difference and importance between analysis and understanding, the
realisation after being ‘cooked’ for a week in the bush, how
much we must wake up to our responsibilities for the built environment
and a reminder how important getting out of the office is when clarifying
design decisions. I value receiving my Master Class certificate more than
receiving my BArch 25 years ago.
Richard Sellars, Nelson (2006)
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Thank you
so much for organising our wonderful week at Awaora. It is difficult to
express the profound effect it had on me. The spirit of this place seemed
to lift buried memories, and instill new challenges. Point of Arrival
- discovery of a special place; new friends; reappraising
what I do and how I do it. Reassessing past relationships; moving through
mental blocks; growth; healing; forgiveness; moving forward. Criticism
couched in gentle questions that landed with the accuracy of a dart, and
pointed you toward greater ideas. Sharing values; seeing the beauty of
an idea; respect and generosity. I want to be more thoughtful about how
I work. Thank you for this great gift - please, please do our next one!
Judith Taylor, Wellington (2005)
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An intense
experience encompassing engendering extremes of emotional highs
and lows. The programme challenged design and site analysis preconceptions.
We had a great team to work with, maybe others were not so lucky? Or did
that just mean they learnt different things? Relieved to see even the
experienced hands struggling at times. Great to experience the personal
involvement from Rick, Peter and Ath.
David Jerram, Nelson (2005)
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Line, drawing,
place, landscape, vessel, bulldozer, driftwood, edge, fragility of edge,
island community drawn to the edge, journey, point of arrival, point of
departure, pattern of settlement, nest, pit, cave, fin, pod, isolation,
community, fart, bridge, stepping stones, gorse,
garden, fire place, view, dune, kanuka, tide, shelter, air strip, ritual,
event!
Thanks again, it was wonderful and I would love to join you on the next
leg of the journey, as Richard mentioned.
Cushla Dowman, Wellington (2005)
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I must tell
you how very much I enjoyed the "Master Class" experience and
thank you for being such amazing people. It has taught me much more than
just architecture and has been a life changing experience. How you all
handled the problems our group was experiencing …….. made
me realise that Architecture is more than just buildings. It was a brilliant
week...I think it changed my consciousness for ever! If you ever think
of doing this again you can count me in, and I will seriously consider
the full 2 week class in Australia in the next couple of years, as I can
see just how much I still have to learn and not too many years to do it
in.
John Chaplin, Christchurch (2005)
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Invaluable
were the lessons learnt in "drawing"("like water from a
well"
Rick) upon the landscape to inform you in design decisions, be that
sketching the forms seen, or letting the ambience of the landscape inform
you; such as the movement of the tide, the dappled light through the
trees.... the expression of the built form in the "honesty"
of materiality;
the structure is what it is ("If you can learn to do things with
honesty,...with total honesty.."Peter)....and the analysis of the
"pathways"
between spaces and how they are occupied ("one strong move with a
bulldozer
may save the environment of a whole lot of other lines" Ath)
It is difficult to quantify what I have learnt except to say that the
mentoring alongside, and powerful anecdotes of experience and past teachers
will inform me in the way I approach architecture from this point forward..
Martin Varney, Auckland (2005)
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The Aura of a House is Nature. The Character of a House are its Residents. The Self of a House are Emotions. When I came back to Rome on the 7th of October, 2006 from Awaroa Lodge, my perception of space had deepened. When I took the plane to go back to Italy, I had spent 2 weeks in New Zealand. I had spent time in a space of overwhelming natural force, with individuals with overwhelming energy, nourishing myself.
It all began with words on a computer screen: “Sustainability”, “Australian Architecture”, “Glenn Marcutt”, “Architecture Foundation of Australia”, “New Zealand Architecture Master Class”. Discovering a place is personal and not necessarily physical. How I discovered the Master Class “site” is luck, maybe probability, chance, likelihood, opening, ability and opportunity, but most of all intuition. You are searching for something and all of a sudden you are somewhere else that enables you to open up to greater things. It is just as the well-known crane that Louis Kahn had in front of his eyes for a long time on the site of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and surprisingly the aggressive resistant object became to his eyes the affable “inspiring” friend. A change so unexpected is only the product of allowing ourselves to open up to something new and the desire to break mind-frames. Then, I was totally unaware that the flight would be endless and that I was going to the bottom of the Earth. Now I know I had to fly for 24 hours to get there because the experience was worth all the efforts. Invited to write about the understanding I had in the New Zealand Master Class 2006, the first idea that came to my mind was to write about Space. Not the Masters or the Participants, of which I am sure that just by looking at the ozetecture site under “Tutors” you would find their outstanding curricula; or just by looking at our happy faces in the pictures you would find satisfaction; but just the “space” of the Master Class. It is a physical space, but most of the time it is an inner space. How can a space be spiritual and worthy of respect is just what it was implicitly suggested throughout the week. Surrounded by vegetation and hills; adjacent to white beaches, wetlands, tidal lagoons and a blue ocean, we were welcomed at Awaroa Lodge. A central core housed the reception, the café, the restaurant and the common areas with a “fireplace”. Immersed in trees and bushes, a crowd of simply elegant lodges hosted the hotel rooms. Not far from the main lodge complex, but distinct, were located the housing for the personnel, the organic garden ( a little jewel!) and the electrical generator room. At first I had no particular visual impact. Nature was stronger and everywhere. The space needed time to be absorbed and the living became the answer. We lived there for a week, sleeping comfortably, drinking cocktails and eating exquisite meals outside, in front of the fireplace and inside a warm wooden shelter. We worked, drew, sketched, read, questioned and talked about “architecture” and “ourselves”. We audited interesting lectures. We walked and ran on the beach and in the water; climbed hills, explored the land, the forest and the settlements. We saw sun and moon and stars. I saw different stars! We saw the reflection of the sun light in the forest, through the trunks and branches and on the water. We gathered around candle lights, sitting in the darkness. The space was all in one and there was continuity and sincerity in the rotation of the ceremonies. The space was flexible, warm, gathering and open to views. Views that were means to enter inner views. The physical space was perfectly in synchrony with the spirit of the place but most of all the spirit of the course and its masters were in synchrony with the spirit of the place and all was one. Isn’t this our main goal as architects?
I would
strongly advise to give it a try!
Martin Varney, Auckland (2005)
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