Architecture Is Life!

I’m Tegan Hancock, welcome to CaSO four. Back in 2015 I was accepted to participate in the Glenn Murcutt Masterclass, an experience I’ll never forget. Coming forward two years to 2017, I attended the Melbourne Conference (both events hosted by Oz.e.tecture Architecture Foundation Australia). The theme of the conference, ‘hots and cools’, the design and architectural responses in different climates from the North to the South (the Arctic to Antarctica).

I was in a conversation and one of the partners of an attendee was asked “why didn’t you join in?” her response was “I don’t know what it’s all about.” After a short pause, my response was, “It’s about life.” This was the seed that started CaSO four. I had something and needed to explore it to really find what this is.

I had things to say, to share, and still do. I needed a platform, and I needed to start writing, so, this brings me to today. And, to further explain what this means is that architecture has always been a reflection of our society. It may not always have been or will be at the forefront, but nevertheless, it’s always there. If we think of the evolution of our society and community, we can see how architecture really has started as simple shelters. Think of any tribal or nomadic group of people, and how they built shelters. It is also seen in ancient cultures through stone structures, an obvious example, the Egyptians and their pyramids, and, as we know, they weren’t the only ancient civilisations with pyramids either.

Now, looking to modern history, we can see architecture has played a continued role. As our needs change in society as a collective, the architecture also changes, and sometimes we realise, what previous generations have created, either hasn’t or no longer serves us. As much as life is about cycles, so too, is architecture and the wider disciplines associated within the built environment. To really understand or immerse yourself in architecture, you’re really understanding and immersing yourself in life. If you look at the world around you, your immediate environment, you may start to wonder and ask questions such as, why do people do things this way, or that way? Why was this building built the way it was? And, Why is the purpose of that building or area now changing? This is the curiosity that leads to finding the answers and perhaps it extends beyond architecture itself.

Further to this, and after having spent time working in various architecture and Interior design studios, I began to see more to the meaning of this statement. It extends to the workings of practice as a business, as a design studio and the interwoven nature of issues and ideas that are within these realms. This is where the wider elements of life, culture, women and people overlap into architecture. The way design and the built environment responds to the changing lives of the collective and the diverse nature of people, culture and the environment. What we are now facing is the need to work together collectively to balance our needs with the cycles and movement of our natural environment.

So, I invite you to dive in deeper with me, to find new perspectives and participate in creating new and better ideas and outcomes for our collective world.

Architecture and life are always speaking to us. Stay open. Stay inspired. Stay connected.