Name and photo: Alastair MacCallum (FRAIA)
Where do you work? AMC Architecture
Current job title and function? Founding Director / Design Director
Why did you choose architecture as a profession? I love to draw and my Art teacher, who was an inspiration for all of those studying art at my school, suggested Architecture
What are you working on now? Too many things……. A range of adaptive reuse, retirement living, education, community, commercial and government projects…. and a coast house – all of which are interesting.
Most challenging or interesting project you’ve ever worked on and why? They are all challenging and they are all interesting. The Bradman Pavilion at Manuka Oval was a challenge because of the competing technical issues of sight lines, change room requirements for players and umpires, keeping the broadcasters and camera men happy, fitting into a heritage precinct with a contemporary building and working to a very tight budget. But keeping my wife happy with my own house was also a challenge.
Who is your role model? I love the sheer strength of Louis Kahn’s work, the inventiveness and continued development of le Corbusier, the way that Frank Llyod Wrights work draws on nature and sits so beautifully in its setting, Roy Grounds for buildings that feel new yet Australian, Enrico Taglietti for his commitment to Canberra and the legacy of wonderful buildings that contribute so much to our city fabric and Frank Gehry for sheer inventiveness and fearlessness.
Any advice for young architects just starting their career? If you want to be an architect (and you need to be sure) you will love it but you need to be prepared to work hard as it is a complicated profession to master. You also need to be a team player – it takes more than one mind to get the final building intact.
What is your favourite piece of art? The Balcony 2 by Brett Whiteley
What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the architectural profession? Retaining a role in all components of the project from briefing to construction. Protecting our role as leaders – hubs in the complex wheel of designing and delivering high quality buildings and the built environment
If you weren’t an architect, what do you think you would be doing? Drawing something anyway
What is your most underrated talent? My driving skills
What is the most used app on your phone? It was angry birds for a while when my kids seemed to never go to sleep and it was my turn to sit (forever) in their room
What are you addicted to? Apples
What do you wish you were told before starting in this profession? How hard you have to work
The world needs more of ………………… a predisposition to unreservedly trust each other
The World needs less of …………………. a fearful position