Inspiration Profile - Justin and Louise Wright

Hooray - it is Friday once again. Are you all surviving the mad rush towards Christmas? One more week of work to go for us lot down under.
Now for this week's Inspiration Profile - they are on the cover of the latest HOME New Zealand magazine and were studying Architecture at the same time as I was at Design school. How far they have come since then! Enjoy the profile of architects Justin and Louise Wright from Assembly Architects Ltd. Happy Friday all.



Louise and Justin Wright - Assembly Architects Ltd.

Louise on the cover of the latest HOME New Zealand magazine.

Name: Louise and Justin Wright

What do you do: We are architects, together we run the boutique architecture practice Assembly Architects Ltd. We are also parents to 3 young children. We have been in the architecture profession for 12 years, Assembly just turned 7, and our kids are 5 and 3 and 3 (nearly 4 and 4).

Where do you live: We live in Arrowtown in the Queenstown Lakes District of the South Island of New Zealand. Close to mountains, rivers and lakes.

What are you working on: A massive range of projects right now. New houses in Queenstown, Wanaka, Wairarapa and Mangaweka, and prefabricated marae building projects for Tuwharetoa. Our work at the moment encompasses a range of construction types from primitive rammed earth to cutting edge prefabrication techniques. We love the environmental performance and the aesthetic of the earth, it brings a lovely weight, sense of permanence and timeless quality to a space. And prefabrication allows us to deliver buildings such as the marae and classroom in an ultra-fast time frame.

Kamalas Pavilion, Wellington Zoo.

The Arrow Private Hotel, Arrowtown

 

Who/what inspires me: We have a passion for architecture and good design. Inspiration on the other hand, comes at unlikely moments. From seeing a hay bale in a landscape or a texture in stone, the patina of aged timber and metals, an effect of light on water, or a particular tree or garden - when it is right and appropriate we apply those moments of inspiration to opportunities in projects. In some projects we can look back and identify the one catalyst or trigger of inspiration that drove the ideas.

Storing ideas happens with sketching and drawing, photography, instagram, pinterest and sometimes memory - long may that last.

Feeding the passion comes with talking, sharing ideas, reading books, magazines and blogs, travelling and of course working. Doing what we do and then seeing the end result realised.

We work bestwhen in the flow - that full immersion state when our energy is concentrated on the project - it’s all clicking in to place and we are enjoying it. Often there aren’t enough hours in the day and our work carries on into the night shift. Morning coffees are essential, and we always have a good lunch. Though we work side by side we work fairly independently in the mornings, and save up our discussions for the lunch break, or for after work drinks. When the kids are home we are either with them together or taking turns to be at work.

What I do when I’m stuck for inspiration: If the energy and passion for a project is waning we talk, go for a walk, get down to the water, or stop and have a coffee. We love the river for fishing and playing with our kids. They can sit and make rock piles or dams for hours. It’s a good space to think and process ideas. The kids will be getting gold pans this Christmas.

House in Butel Park, Queenstown

New House, Wellington - exterior courtyard.

The best advice I have been given is: Work with people who are excited by and committed to a great design outcome for their project.

My latest discovery is: Always posted to Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Pinterest.

Books that I get inspiration from: Most of the ones on our shelves and plenty more on the wish list. We love books as objects and for their content. Lou reads and re-reads novels, collects them, gives them away, sometimes buys them back again. We love architecture books, idea books, and big fat photographic cook books. Justin designed the Stackweave bookshelf, we have a few of those yet to fill.

Thorndon Villa, Wellington with Stackweave bookshelves in the dining area.

 

Britomart Showcase, Auckland, with Cheshire Architects Ltd.

 

Magazines that inspire me: Detail. Dwell.

Blogs that we enjoy: Architecture blogs Architizer,Archdaily, Dezeen etc. Online extensions to magazines such as Home and Urbis, Denizen, miss minty herself, and basically the leap-frog journey of random link ability that blogs provide.

Our favourite room at home is: The one with the sun in it. Morning sun to wake up to, evening sun in the living room to unwind.

Our office is: In a bright white attic above the house. It gets too much sun for the computer screens, but it’s a total luxury to be able to work from home.

What am I looking forward to:Building our own house (soon), going fly fishing (soon) and having a holiday with family and friends (not soon enough).

See more of Assembly Architects Ltd's work here, read their blog, follow them on Facebook, check out their pinterest boards or tweet with them on Twitter. Phew!

Villa Renovation, Wellington.

All photographs are used with permission by Assembly Architects Ltd.

Inspiration Profile - Jaime Diaz-Berrio

Welcome to this week's Inspiration Profile -  his name is Jaime Diaz-Berrio, an architect and photographer from Melbourne, Australia. Several weeks ago, Jaime sent me a lovely email asking me if I knew about the following of blog readers that I have in Melbourne? That was great to hear and hello to you all! Thanks for reading and enjoy today's profile.



Jaime Diaz-Berrio

RACV Healesville Country Club by SJB Architects

Name: Jaime Diaz-Berrio

What do you do: I am an architect and photographer. Originally from Mexico, I trained in architecture and have worked in Mexico and Australia designing residential, commercial and industrial spaces since 2001.

Photography has always been a hobby of mine and in 2008 I began photographing the work of other architects and interior designers as a side business. A few months ago I took the plunge and made it my main focus.

I currently share my time between architecture, architectural photography and abstract photography.

Where do you live: Melbourne, Australia

What are you working on: At the moment I am working on a new series of images taken on my last overseas trip which will hopefully form my first solo exhibition.

I take a lot of pleasure from walking around the built environment with a camera in hand and taking small parts of it with me, collecting portions of buildings that can later be put back together in a different light, sometimes pieces of the same building, sometimes of unrelated subjects and then re-composing them together. 

Merricks Residence by SJB Architects & SJB Interiors



 

 

Who/what inspires me: Travel, experiencing new cities, visiting the buildings designed by architects that I admire (I’ve dragged my lovely wife to very remote places over the years...)

I recently found a quote by an important Mexican architect, Luis Barragan, that has reinforced the importance of travel for me: “Don’t ask me about this building or that one. Don’t look at what I do. See what I saw.”

Other inspirations are:
Good, simple, well considered and timeless design in any of its multiple branches (architectural, interior, industrial, furniture etc).

In architecture, I find Peter Zumthor’s work in a league of its own, he is one of the few architects that manage to truly move all of your senses when you visit one of his buildings.

In photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s images are always inspiring.

I work best: Around sunset, between the time when the light turns golden and about 20 minutes after the sun sets. Buildings seem to come alive. Sunrise is also very special, but I struggle to get out of bed that early!

What I do when I’m stuck for inspiration: I go for a walk with my camera; it is amazing how I end up relaxing after a few minutes of looking through the viewfinder. It seems to eliminate all distractions and allows me to focus on what I am looking for.

The best advice I have been given is: Whilst in my second year in University, a very respected architect in Mexico told me that I should work for somebody whose work I admire very much because at that age I would probably work very long hours and have a very small salary so I should at least enjoy the work. I worked for him for the next five years and still consider him my greatest mentor who taught me what I consider the most important element in both architecture and photography: strong composition.

My latest discovery is: A love for good dark chocolate! (70% Green & Black’s Organic)

Decontra House by Fitt de Felice

McCrae House by SJB Architects



Prahan House by SJB Interiors

Books that I get inspiration from: Classic architectural books are a beautiful source of inspiration, I particularly enjoy books on Alvaro Siza, Alvar Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn, Eero Saarinen and Peter Zumthor among others.

Magazines that inspire me: It’s always a pleasure when the Architectural Review (UK) shows up in the mail box. I also enjoy C+A and Mark.

Blogs that I enjoy: dezeen, archdaily, Contemporist, The Cool Hunter, Joe’s nyc.

My favourite room at home is: The lounge room, it’s a simple, calm room filled with sunlight during most of the day and a view to our small, green courtyard. A very peaceful and quiet place. 

My office is: At home for the moment but a couple of local cafes have also become satellite offices, I enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and being surrounded by people - a good coffee also doesn’t hurt! Favourites are Monk Bodhi Dharma & Spout in St Kilda East.

What am I looking forward to: Finding a balance between my three passions: architecture, architectural photography and abstract photography.

And why not, another long trip with Sara (and her patience!).

If you would like to learn more about Jaime, please see his website here.

Market Street Apartment by SJB Interiors

 
All photographs are by, and used with permission from, Jaime Diaz-Berrio.

Outtakes from HOME New Zealand

A minimal living area overlooking Auckland's cityscape by Andrew Patterson. Photograph by Simon Devitt.

A farmhouse near Nelson by Wellington architects, Tennent + Brown Architects and landscape design by Wellington's Wraight & Associates. Photograph by Jason Rothenburg.

An Auckland cottage renovation by architect, Pamela Ingram - the poem on the wall is by A.R.D Fairburn. Photograph by Patrick Reynolds.

A chic living area in this new home by Hillery Taylor Architects, located in North Shore, Auckland. Photograph by Simon Devitt.

A teenager's hub in an addition by architect Jeremy Smith. Photograph by Patrick Reynolds.

A feather cloak inspired facade by Andrew Patterson in Ponsonby, Auckland. Photograph by Simon Devitt.

A log cabin in New York state's Adirondack Mountains designed and built by New Zealander ex-pat Adrian van Schie and wife Alexandra Perce-van Schie. Sons Huck and Tana play by the fireplace.  Photograph by Emily Andrews.

I love seeing these outtakes from HOME New Zealand magazine - they distill, in a range of single images, the great variety of New Zealand architecture and design. Keep up the good work HOME New Zealand.

PS - if you are not receiving my posts via email, it is because there seems to be a fault in the subscription process. My apologies and I would appreciate it greatly if you could re-apply to get it working again. Thanks.
Photographs via HOME New Zealand FB page.

Living Architecture - The Shingle House




The Shingle House is located by a beach in Dungeness, Kent.

 

The house, designed by NORD, is clad in tarred black shingles.



I have been noticing and reading the coverage (as seen in Dezeen, Remodelista and Wallpaper) about the popular Living Architecture, a social enterprise who are embracing the idea of "holidays in modern architecture".
The brain child of Alain be Botton, Living Architecture offers a chance to rent holiday homes designed by talented architects/designers and are placed in picturesque locations around Britain - what an amazing idea.
Some homes are still in development, including one designed by awesome Peter Zumthor, however, the Shingle House in Kent by Scottish company NORD Architecture is one that is getting lots of attention. Not hard to see why. Beam me there right now...



The stunning interiors are clad in white painted wooden panels.





Loving the hooks on the walls located throughout the house.



All photographs via Dezeen.

Pretty Architectural Models



1/100 Paper model set no. 11 Cherry Blossom from Upon a Fold.



Designed by Terada Mokei, these cute models are 1:100 scale.



The models flat packed - ready for assembling.



1/100 Paper model set no. 10 Street Tree



Architectural models are not usually as pretty as these ones! I'm enjoying these spring-like scenes as we venture into our Winter season. Have a good weekend everyone.
Photographs via Upon a Fold.

Skating Shelters



Winnipeg Skating Shelters by Patkau Architects



Plywood flooring and seating inside.



A skater taking a break from the freezing wind.

I have been admiring these elegant temporary plywood shelters designed by Patkau Architects from Canada. Located by a skating trail on a frozen river in Winnipeg, "they stand with their backs to the wind like buffalo, seeming to have life and purpose as they huddle together shielding each other from the elements." The shelters are made with two layers of flexible plywood over a timber frame - with plywood flooring and seating inside. Not only do these shelters function as a reprieve from the freezing wind, they are also an unique architectural sculpture in the landscape. Photographs via Dezeen and quote from Patkau.

Meridian First Light House - Solar Decathlon 2011



Victoria University's design for the Solar Decathlon 2011. 



Building in progress - this is Day 7.



The Meridian Firstlight house on the Wellington waterfront.




Closer up - Day 9.

There is an exciting sight down on the Wellington waterfront right now - it is the Victoria University's Meridian First Light House for the US Department of Solar Energy Decathlon 2011. They have been selected as one of 20 University teams around the world and the only one ever from the Southern hemisphere to compete. Awesome. Their challenge was to "design, build and operate a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive solar-powered house." Right now they are building the actual house (and getting some attention) on the Wellington waterfront - a practice run if you like, before packing up the house and sending it over to Washington D.C. This project has been 2 years in the making and I wish them all the best. Read more about it here and here.
If you're in Wellington, check out the viewing this weekend.
Photographs via Firstlight House Facebook page.