OPN Architects’ Post

I concluded my time as a summer intern at Newman Architects, PC with a research presentation on the childhood home. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to dedicate part of my time toward independent research on a topic of my choice while working with Newman Architects, PC. Not only do I find this enriching, but this experience has also allowed me to interact and gain deeper relationships with colleagues by organizing sketching studies and getting advice about my materials. I took a personal approach to this research topic as I have felt a deep connection to the way my childhood home shaped the way I think as a designer and I wanted to understand this in a meaningful way. After I read the book "The Architecture of Happiness" in my home during covid, I was struck by its poetic writing about space, and saw my home in a new light. I felt I could write about my home in this way, the details such as the countertops influenced me in such a way as a child to feel space differently. I took on the task of studying architecture and psychology to find reasoning behind the way I interpret aspects of my home and how the ways I was inventive as a child shaped me as a designer now. One of the deliverables I chose to create was a drawing on mylar of my childhood home from memory, with layers of memories in every space, to view the spaces conceptually in a psychological way. I find this topic fascinating, I led the office to draw their childhood home from memory and it opened up new conversations and opinions that helped us think about the topic with a different perspective. #research #summerintern #architecture #spaceandemotion

Read our latest publication on Issuu: https://lnkd.in/dGr22aQX "Excited to share my architectural portfolio! A glimpse into my journey of designing impactful and sustainable spaces. Let’s connect!"

Dreaming Architecture: From Chicago to The World Is the American dream any different to the British dream or the German? I had a dream in Chicago in 1988; on my arrival, before starting as an architectural intern at Skidmore Owings & Merrill at 33 W Monroe. It was about looking for the building of Helmut Jahn; the Postmodernist Thompson Center. It was not to be found; but another building did appear that seemed to honour water. It was black ,lit with sunlight and showed dark greys in the shadow and greens from the reflection of the water. It was not until much later in my career/education that I stumbled on a similar construction, in a lecture at the Architectural Association. Peter Cook and Christine Hawley were presenting their Osaka Folly, built in 1990 in Japan. Of course I did go to the Thompson Center, where they issued my Social Security Card. I was taken that the vast space that escaped the laws of fire protection, due to it being a governmental building. It too had taken the lives of 5 construction workers. A cable lowering a bucket carrying six construction workers at the building site broke, hurling five of them 80 feet to their deaths and seriously injuring the sixth. I had a dream that I could understand architecture and become an architect. #ArchitectureDreams #AmericanDream #BritishDream #GermanDream #ChicagoArchitecture #SkidmoreOwingsMerrill #HelmutJahn #ThompsonCenter #PeterCook #ChristineHawley #OsakaFolly #ArchitecturalJourney #DreamsAndBuildings #ArchitecturalInternship #PostmodernArchitecture #BuildingDreams #ArchitectLife #ArchitecturalInspiration #UrbanDesign #ArchitectureLovers #ArchitecturalHistory #ConstructionStories #ArchitecturalPassion #DreamToArchitect #CityScapes

{LANDSCAPE INNOVATORS COMPETITION} Entries are now open to landscape architects, students and inter-disciplinary collaborators to propose innovations that transform landscape architecture practice. The competition is part of the 2024 AILA Innovation Symposium: Embracing Change to be held in October in Naarm/Melbourne. The brief is to create a 2-minute video proposing an innovation that will transform landscape architecture. Thanks to Competition Partner, Place Intelligence ®, we have a great prize on offer for our Innovator of the Year, a $10,000 Studio Subscription to Place Intelligence and a Student Category Prize of a two-week summer internship opportunity. Entries close Friday 4 October. For more information on the competition visit the link in our bio or https://ow.ly/efbL50Tf00O Innovation can be interpreted, critiqued and creatively expressed. This can be done within – or go beyond- the conventional definition of innovation as ‘the implementation of a product or process that is new to a social system with the aim of advancing performance.’ Explore applications in landscape architecture, such as the economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions of practice and discourse. The competition contributes to the dialogue by engaging the wide spectrum of practitioners that shape landscapes. Inspired by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) ‘Game Changers’, the competition challenges practitioners to articulate an existing, prospective or speculative innovation.

NEW BLOG POST // A year of firsts: life as a graduate student & intern Keely Ashton, our Architectural Intern, reflects on balancing the first year of her Master’s program with her role at Shelter! 🎓✍️ Read the full post below:

Who is the STUDIO FIRST online summer program for? 1. You have a four-year undergraduate degree in any field, or are currently enrolled, but wonder whether architecture and design are the career for you. 2. Students already in architecture, environmental design, conservation, or urban design, who are applying to graduate programs to gain a professional degree. You may need to improve your portfolio or augment your design studies. 3. International students who want to learn how to create a suitable portfolio for application to schools in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. 4. Students with a three-year undergraduate degree or highly motivated high school students preparing to apply to undergraduate studies in architecture. 5. Students who have already been accepted to the MArch 1 program and want to shorten the learning curve in the first year. 6. Anybody wishing to explore an interest in architecture and developing new ways of thinking, seeing, and making. We have a few spots left in the May-June online session. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dbN9XEAf

Hello, I just thought about sharing a project I did for an internship opportunity last year. It is a conceptual design of a shading unit inspired by nature. Utilizing the biomimicry concept to respond to our climate actively, this conceptual design stands as a testament to our intrinsic connection with the natural world. As a tutor in the graduation project staff team in my department this year, I found that a lot of students are exploring the various possibilities of designing the envelope of their buildings in response to different aspects, especially the climatic one. So, I think this might be inspiring. I believe, as architects, we are not merely creators but also humble students of nature's grandeur. We should listen more to its whispers and weave its wisdom into our creations. Enjoy the Project… #Biomimicry #SustainableArchitecture #EnvironmentalDesign #NatureInspired #BuildingEnvelope #ClimateResponsive #InnovativeDesign #EnergyEfficiency #ConceptualDesign #ArchitecturalInnovation #GraduationProject #ArchitectureEducation #Tutor # TeachingAssistant #Mentorship #StudentProjects #ArchitecturalDesign #DesignEducation #ArchitectureStudents #EducationalSupport #Graduation2024

LANDSCAPE INNOVATORS COMPETITION Entries are now open to landscape architects, students and inter-disciplinary collaborators to propose innovations that transform landscape architecture practice. The competition is part of the 2024 AILA Innovation Symposium: Embracing Change to be held in Fri 25th October in Naarm/Melbourne. The brief is to create a 2-minute video proposing an innovation that will transform landscape architecture. Thanks to Competition Partner, Place Intelligence ® we have a great prize on offer for our Innovator of the Year, a $10,000 Studio Subscription to Place Intelligence and a Student Category Prize of a two-week summer internship opportunity. Entries close Friday 4 October, 5pm. For more information on the competition visit the link https://ow.ly/efbL50Tf00O Innovation can be interpreted, critiqued and creatively expressed. This can be done within – or go beyond- the conventional definition of innovation as ‘the implementation of a product or process that is new to a social system with the aim of advancing performance.’ Explore applications in landscape architecture, such as the economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions of practice and discourse. The competition contributes to the dialogue by engaging the wide spectrum of practitioners that shape landscapes. Inspired by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) ‘Game Changers’, the competition challenges practitioners to articulate an existing, prospective or speculative innovation.

I didn't want to be an architect. Not because I knew any better; I just didn't know it was a possibility. As an immigrant growing up in suburbia, I had no exposure to architects or the profession. Zero. The structure of our built environment just seemed like one of those things you take for granted, with all of its benefits and flaws. Not something that people actively worked on. But I kept following my love for art and math (perhaps after my very first love, sport, proved out of reach quickly), and the specter of the profession of architect kept hovering beside me. After years of working a low-level office job in San Francisco after college, I applied to graduate architecture school. I promptly got denied by all I applied to. Apparently, that only made me want it more, so I took some courses by night at the local community college and applied again. That time I got in almost everywhere I applied. I don't hold it against the places that I didn't get into; but I remember them ;) Architecture graduate school was like a cold plunge--in all of the best and worst ways. I then spent the remainder of my 20s, 30s, and into my 40s working in architecture offices and projects on both coasts, in projects that were S, M, L, and XL, and never coming anywhere near a limit for what I thought one could learn. I left the day-to-day practice of architecture only because I saw an opportunity to do better what I believe lay at the very heart of the profession, and the very heart of those who work in it: the desire to make the world a bit better. There are messages all around us today that tries to make us forget, ignore, or distract us from the fact that the physical, built environment around has a big impact on our lives. But the physical world matters. And it will matter forever. The built environment has everything to do with you, me, and us. Then, now, and in the future. Architects are among the many of us who dedicate their energy and lives towards an idea of making it better. This is worth supporting. #HappyWorldArchitectureDay #urbanform #technologyforbetterbuildingsandcities

Applying to architecture schools is often viewed as a formidable challenge, and rightly so. The application process is rigorous, demanding a blend of creative portfolio work, strong academic records, and compelling personal statements. However, for those like Zhechen Shao, a dedicated student from Pratt Institute's architecture program, the demanding entry barriers are just the beginning of a thrilling journey that opens up boundless opportunities within the profession. Zhechen, like many others, initially found the application phase daunting. The requirement to showcase a unique architectural vision through a portfolio, coupled with the pressure of competing against numerous talented applicants, can seem overwhelming. However, Zhechen’s experience illustrates that perseverance through this phase is crucial. Once accepted into a prestigious institution like Pratt, students find themselves in an environment that fosters innovation, nurtures creativity, and encourages exploration beyond conventional boundaries. The architecture program at Pratt, known for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on sustainable and forward-thinking design, was the perfect setting for Zhechen to flourish. Here, he was not just trained in the technicalities of building and design but also encouraged to think about architecture in its social, cultural, and ecological contexts. This holistic education is what sets architecture school graduates apart, readying them for a profession that increasingly demands a balance of practical skills and visionary thinking. For Zhechen and his peers, the successful navigation of architecture school’s challenges was a gateway to a world of possibilities. Internships with leading architectural firms, participation in exclusive workshops, and opportunities to work on real-life projects are just some of the avenues that opened up. Each of these experiences broadened his understanding and appreciation of architecture, enabling him to make significant contributions to the field. https://lnkd.in/deiuurUP