QUICK CHAT
Name and photo: Will Gardner
Where do you work? Guida Moseley Brown Architects
Current job title and function? Project Architect.
Why did you choose architecture as a profession? My father was a site engineer for the construction of the High Court and National Gallery, and was involved in much of the development of Canberra thereafter as well as large scale projects in the Middle East in the 60s. He would always tell me great stories about how things got built, the exotic places he worked in and the weird and wonderful characters her would meet during the construction process. There was great sense of accomplishment and pride in the way he talked about his work. I wanted to be fulfilled in my work in the same way, and given my interests and abilities, being an architect seemed like a natural fit.
What are you working on now? A new Parliament house in Samoa and have recently completed a full renovation and restoration of the 1952 Sulman Award winning Embassy of Sweden in Canberra.
Most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on and why? I like to think every project we work on is interesting and has a different set of equally complex challenges. I enjoy projects that touch upon different cultures where the resultant architecture becomes a representation of a cultural identity, a way of life and a collection of people’s ideals and aspirations.
Who is your role model? I have a great respect for former High Court judge Michael Kirby. He has great compassion for people, intelligence and wisdom. He proves that being true to oneself is most important in achieving with integrity.
Any advice for young architects just starting their career? Aim high
What is your favourite piece of art? Painting: Caravaggio – The Incredulity of St Thomas Sculpture: Bernini – Apollo and Daphne. I’ve always liked the classics.
What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the architectural profession? Our greatest challenge is maintaining the esteem and integrity of the profession into the future. What were once core services are slowly being taken away by self-proclaimed specialists or misappropriated by other building professionals, attesting to offer the same service and outcomes within the narrow context of their single discipline expertise. If the profession is to endure we must continue to fight for change that empowers and mandates the use of architects in the design, management and delivery of the built environment, and act in an equitable and fair manner to our peers within the profession. I would like to think this would improve the conditions across the broad spectrum of present day practitioners and ensure there are places for those aspiring to be architects in the future.
If you weren’t an architect, what do you think you would be doing? If I were to have chosen something else to study at university, it would probably have been some way related to cultural or ancient history. So it’s likely I would have been trying to pursuing a career in academia related to this, perhaps as an archaeologist or museum curator.
What is your most underrated talent? I’m pretty decent at life drawing.
What is the most used app on your phone? Bleacher Report. I like basketball.
What are you addicted to? Crime fiction books. Michael Connelly is a favourite at the moment.
What do you wish you were told before starting in this profession? That diplomacy is just as important as being able to do the work that produces the projects.
The world needs more: people that put the collective good above their own personal interests.
The World needs less: regulation inhibiting the organic development of society, its people, the environment and stifling people’s abilities to live their life as they choose.
November 2015