I want to be an architect - a smart architect, a responsible architect. What does that mean? I want to design structures that make sense - that use ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness to create a healthy, comfortable, and happy environment for all the people who experience them. Structures that do not blemish the earth but rather grow and evolve and act as steadfast guardians of resources that are too precious to waste.
Why use new materials when you don't have to? From reclaimed building materials, like wood and window panes, to recycled plastics and glass that can become countertops and siding. It's all already there. Why use air conditioning when a building can be cooled through natural ventilation? Why use heating when a constant source of heat is readily available just outside the front door. Sun = heat + light + happiness. Why put up a structure that will only last 10-15 years before being torn down into waste? I know that these can be considered "extreme" ideas, but they all echo one thing - it all comes down to smart design. It is possible to design and build a structure that doesn't use materials that are in limited supply or that have to be shipped from far off places. It is possible to design a house that can be cooled and heated and lighted naturally, without using energy. And it is possible to design a building that evolves with its occupants for 50-100 years or more, and still function as well as it did when it was first built. Perhaps this harks the narcissistic nature of architecture - to design and build an epitaph that can last through the ages. But I don't want accolades nor notoriety. I just want to do what's right.
It's a little math, a little physics, and a whole lot of common sense. An ex-boyfriend once told me that I may be smart, but that I lack common sense. Obviously he was right about one thing - I was smart to break up with him.
Where am I now? 2 weeks ago I quit my job to gain clarity on where my life should be going. My goal is to be accepted into an architecture program with an ecological focus (aka "green architecture" or "sustainable design") for Fall 2008. I have no income. I'll be attending the Academy of Art part-time to gain the skills I need to create a stellar portfolio. I'll be living off Financial Aid. I have an undergrad degree in Integrative Biology and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley. I have no design experience. I'll be looking for internships with eco-archictects. I'll be researching, visiting, and applying to schools. In essence, I'm living my dream.
