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Why architecture? I was recently posed this question at a turkey day family gathering. I was asked by a person who I have never met before; from my significant others side of the family. I had to think quickly. And as I was explaining my story of how I came to a career in architecture, I was simultaneously wondering, what did make me want to pursue architecture, and what is it that still makes me want to work in this profession.

My story begins…

I was first interested in the profession of architecture out of necessity to fill in a blank on college applications. Prior to that time the career itself was a title not much else. That is not to say that I was not interested in architecture, but previous to my applying to college I was unaware of a medium that best utilized my talents. I was good at freehand drawings, and I even took a couple of drafting courses in high school. Combine that with my serious curiosity of how things are put together, and not just buildings, this curiosity can be fulfilled by the construction of a formula one car’s radio antenna, to the workings of a mouse trap. For lack of a better example the absent minded architect is inspired by all sorts of things. If they have some moving parts exposed and some mystery then I am engaged for hours.

It was not until I began my education at the University of Southern California that I started to understand what architecture really is. I am still in the infant stages of my understanding and in today’s modern culture; one should never feel done with their education.

The very first day of class, what became known simply as “studio”; my first instructor first words were in the form of what seemed like an easy question. “What do you think architecture is?” Every one of the 15 students had different ideas to respond to this. What we thought was an easy question was really a disguise that set us up for our complex road ahead. I truly can’t remember what my answer was, but I do remember what our instructor thoughts on the subject were. His answer to his question was that, architecture is about space. In essence architecture is not about the materials, or the building that is made from the materials as much as it is about the space that is created and defined by the materials. I’m sure this definition could be argued until the end of time, but for me it was my introduction and catalyst to my studies.