Will Gorton
Victoria University of Wellington
Straight out of the May Design Review at Victoria University of Wellington we catch up with Will “printer” Gorton to find out more about his process of ‘drawing out’ through an exploration at different scales. And his affection for journeying back to the deep south of New Zealand… if not for the cheese rolls then for his interest in desolate and forgotten buildings that have rich history. Read on for more…
SANNZ: In 20 words, what is your thesis about?
Will Gorton: My thesis is looking at place development through using site as an active catalyst for architecture for isolated and complicated areas like the southern town, Bluff.
SANNZ: Bluff… why Bluff?
Will: I’m originally from Invercargill, but I’ve always had a sense of wonder for small fishing towns in New Zealand. Also I’ve wanted to apply what I’ve learnt at architecture school to my home area.
SANNZ: And what do you think of the architecture and/or built environment down there now, or historically?
Will: Some people don’t find the built environment very exciting down south. For me I’ve always had an interest in desolate and forgotten buildings that have rich history.
SANNZ: A little aside… do you like the famous deep south cheese rolls?
Will: Yeah, they’re beaut!
SANNZ: Who is your supervisor and why did you choose to work with him/her?
Will: My main supervisor is Simon Twose, with occasional supervision from Jan Smitheram. I chose to work with Simon because he comes up with the strangest but constructive answers to my questions. And whenever you ramble on about archi-chat for a good 10 minutes, he finds a good way to construct it down into one sentence. He makes you realise that architecture isn’t that complicated as we have a tendency to try to be the great philosophers of the 21st century. It’s also good to have a perspective from both Jan and Simon’s point of view.
SANNZ: That’s a pretty impressive model you’ve made Will, can you tell us a little bit about it… why you made it and what you’re doing with it?
Will: Essentially my thesis is a process that looks at three scales: the installation, domestic and public scale. The “impressive model” comes under the installation stage which was a good start to the process that has given me a way into approaching the thesis. The model, or how I perceive it, is a drawing machine that has a parametric mechanical movement to it. There are 20 mechanical sections that shape and draw a single vertical surface. The manipulation of the surface offers possibilities for extraction and inspiration for the domestic scale.
SANNZ: So how does the drawing process work in with this?
Will: The drawing process is an interpretation and a reflection on what the machine creates and draws. It’s interesting, I have never created a model first and based my drawings around it. The purpose of the drawings for me is to have the freedom to experiment and realise new possibilities for the site.
SANNZ: When you started your Masters just over a year ago, did you think your thesis would take this direction?
Will: God no, I still can’t believe I’m looking at my home area for my thesis. In saying that, it has been fun to take an area that is so familiar to me and look it from an experimental architectural point of view.
SANNZ: What are your plans for next year?
Will: Plans for next year are unknown. I want to try to knock this thesis bastard off first and then decide my fate in the real world.
SANNZ: Do you work while studying?
Will: I do not work while studying. Architecture is life.
SANNZ: What music or artist has helped you get through architecture school?
Will: Spotify Discovery keeps me trucking along most of the time. But when it gets into crunch time, some nasty Trap music keeps me going.
SANNZ: What coffee has fuelled your degree and where from?
Will: The dirty Midnight Espresso coffee has kept me going for the last 5 years, with the occasional from Raglan Roast.
