Tadao Ando once seriously quoted: “I would like my architecture to inspire, people to use their own resources, to move into the future.” I, on the other hand, casually conclude: “regardless of whether it be architectural mimicry or not … whenever we design, always make sure it will be a ‘knock out of the park’ — for it may be the only architecture other people see and read.
Many archi-grads have pursued alternative career paths. In fact many people end up working in fields completely unrelated to their degrees. Products of architecture school have gone into business, entrepreneurship, real estate, construction, furniture making, graphic or digital designer, animation, and even the culinary arts and clothing line. Surely there are a lot of other ways to carve out a career and make a living.
“Not what we say about our blessings but how we utilize them is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” – W.T. Purkiser
Life is just too short to take everything too seriously and not to laugh along the way. I for one am a huge proponent of infusing razor sharp humour into daily conversations, whether casual or much more work-related. I may have that stern look of stoicism but acquaintances know that I am a high-spirited person and, when in my element, quick at a repartee.
To adapt and improv on Balenciaga’s words:- ‘an architect must be a couturier for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for colour, a musician for harmony, a philosopher for temperance. Self-denial, self-control, self-discipline — characteristics of a professional that practices temperance.
It’s easy to quit. And boy is it much more difficult to keep going when tough situations stand before us like an impenetrable wall. But it’s at this point that fortitude drives and success surfaces.