↑ Sketch of John LautnerWe love technology, and we use the best digital architecture tools available, but there is something missing. Apart from the fringes, we believe our industry has lost it’s way. We used to create beauty with our hands, but now standardise things to suit industrial manufacturing. Everything used to be formed to the human scale, but now things are scaled to machines.
In some fields, technology has liberated creators e.g. allowing musicians and authors to self publish, but for most we believe, it promotes a level of unhappiness.
We’re all searching for that special feeling of belonging and security, but we stare at screens all day, and this creates stress and anxiety. In contrast, working with our hands promotes a deep sense of satisfaction and joy, as any true craftsperson, or artist will attest.
We believe AI is about to take us further down this path. We are keen to keep up with the kids and ride this wave, but we don’t want to loose our souls in the process.
As a detox we can slowly dial back our screen usage, and focus more on analog modes of creation. We can draw, paint, write, and play music to keep us off TV. This may be one of the best, most life affirming paths, and we will be much happier as a result.
Don’t get me wrong, technology is great. It allows the next generation to grow their own bit of the future, but we also need to keep in touch with our roots.
We think the best architecture was made prior to the advent of the personal computer, and we want to adopt this analog technology ourselves. We want to learn the ways of the ancients before they are lost to the passages of time.
Working at both ends of the technology spectrum will, we believe, provide perspective, and help us connect with the roots of our ancient craft.
We will be offering a hand made service to our clients upon request. In addition to our full technology equipped practice, we will offer:
● Watercolour perspective views
● Watercolour scale plans and elevations
● Fired clay models
Our vision, is to offer our clients a taste of a fully handmade service from the past. An amalgamation of historic vernacular, and modern permaculture traditions. We can be a stepping stone to their rural future. Or alternatively, we can help city dwellers nurture that special feeling of home, security, and path, with an intervention to, or the creation of a new natural space.
To sum up this philosophy, it's quality, not quantity we seek. Fewer, smaller things, made better, and we believe, this is the path forward.
The sketch above is of John Lautner. One of the greats, who produced beautiful architecture by hand, in the not so distant past, prior to our industries adoption of digital technology.
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