Tom Arbuckle
Today, Victoria University of Wellington student, Tom Arbuckle, is sharing his portfolio. We spoke to Tom about his use of analogue and digital techniques, his love for deconstructivism and how to keep sane when studying architecture in isolation!
You can see more of his portfolio here!
Kia Ora Tom! Thanks for sharing your work with us - it looks amazing! Out of curiousity, how would you say that the mediums and programs you use influence the design process that you utilise?
I tend to usually start my design process quite loosely with mediums such as paint, charcoal and pen allowing me to fire out quick ideas and slowly build up to something more. Usually at this stage I tend to bounce into the likes of Rhino and Grasshopper and build upon the ideas of what I sketched out.
I also make sure to try and continuously jump between digital and physical aspects to keep the project progressing in an interesting direction. This approach I think allows me to keep my work quite playful and loose allowing new ideas and work to be generated along the way instead of grounding myself to one idea. I’m also always trying to learn new softwares and mediums to add to my process!
Throughout your studies, how have you faced the challenges and obstacles of creativity and changing your approach to design?
I feel as though it is inevitable that you will run into creative blocks and challenges! Every architecture student I know including myself faces it, but I often find that at these points is where new ideas emerge and projects tend to evolve.
To help ease creative challenges and blocks I try to stop myself from getting too attached to ideas in my projects. This helps keep the project fluid to new ideas and approaches so that when I run into creative blocks I’m open to approaching the challenge in a different way than I may have planned. Also, looking for inspiration whether it's from artists, architects or other architecture schools helps heaps with reigniting my creative drive
Who inspires you to pursue architecture and why do you think they're so influential to your work in particular?
People that inspire me to pursue architecture, and a creative study in general, ranges from artist to architects. I find a lot of inspiration from the likes of Olafur Eliasson, Julie Mehretu, Wes Anderson, The Bartlett to name a few. The use of colour and playfulness in these peoples work tends to reflect its way into a lot of my projects! Also, I find heaps of inspiration from other architecture students and tutors. Being in the studio and seeing other students work and the masters work is hugely inspiring and motivating in regards to me pursuing architecture.
We love your use light and colour, what evocative qualities and approach does it add to your work?
So far through my bachelors degree I’ve enjoyed blending colours and light qualities within my projects. I have found that playing with the visual aspects and ideas of perception through architecture helps add an interesting layer to the built environment. Also, colour is always fun to mess around with and keeps stuff exciting!
You talked about deconstructivism, how do you challenge this notion of opposition towards the rationality of modernism?
I like the appeal of freedom that comes with the deconstructivist approach, and the ability to start with a simple idea and abstract it out into something much more. Which is seemingly opposite in fashion to the ideas of modernity where it's more of a rule based approach. I think pushing architecture beyond what may be considered the norm is important as it keeps architecture exciting and moving forward.
Do you have any advice for students starting out architecture and are navigating architecture during isolation?
I think my best advice for students starting out in architecture would be getting to know the people you study with! Your architecture friends tend to be the only people that understand the challenges of the degree haha!
And in regards to navigating architecture during isolation, keep in touch with other people in your class and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions!
Thank you Tom for sharing your amazing work with us! It was great hearing from you! Ka kite and all the best!
Write up by Fiona Yu, images contributed by Tom Arbuckle.
