{"id":3901,"date":"2014-02-14T22:38:01","date_gmt":"2014-02-14T22:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/?p=3901"},"modified":"2014-02-14T22:38:01","modified_gmt":"2014-02-14T22:38:01","slug":"architects-who-build-interview-with-oliver-steele","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/architects-who-build-interview-with-oliver-steele\/","title":{"rendered":"Architects who Build \u2013 Interview with Oliver Steele"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oliver Steele is the founder of Sydney based Architecture & building practice Steele Associates<\/a>. As both a registered Architect and licensed Builder, Oliver does not separate Architecture or design from the craft of building.<\/p>\n

I recently interviewed Oliver who contributed to an article entitled \u2018Why Architects Need To Get Back Onto The Construction Site<\/i><\/a>\u2019. Below is my full interview with Oliver who talks about his experience of working within the dual industries of Architecture and building.<\/p>\n

An interview with Clinton Cole founder of CplusC<\/a>, also a successful Architect and Builder can be found here<\/a>. Both Clinton and Oliver raise a number of interesting questions, themes, opportunities, advantages and liabilities that exist when operating in his unique position.<\/p>\n

LB: Rather than separating the two trades, why do you practice as both an Architect and Builder?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OS: By the end of high school I knew I wanted to do something around design and sustainability. I\u2019d written off architecture because I was terrible at maths (in my last test I answered every question and got zero\u2026) but I now realize this was because it was taught in such an abstract way, I couldn\u2019t pin the concepts to anything. I have quite strong views on mathematics education, but that\u2019s another story.<\/p>\n

About two hours after my last HSC exam, a friend called me and said his Mums friends son was building a house and wanted a labourer for a day tomorrow. Was I interested? I had nothing better to do and turned up the next morning to do 12 hours of hard work which I loved. Dan, my boss had studied three years of architecture and was building this pair of houses he\u2019d designed for his eccentric parents in Vine St, Chippendale. He didn\u2019t know much about building, so over the next year, we figured it out together. I still can\u2019t believe I survived that year. Hanging one handed from a tree I was cutting down with a circular saw (with the guard tied back because it annoyed Dan) buzzing furiously in the other hand, installing 60kg lintels on milk crates balancing on a 200mm wide wall with a 3 story drop below us, and having Dan drop a sheet of formply three stories about a foot from my head were some of the highlights.<\/p>\n

During those heady times I decided I wanted to design, build and develop benchmark sustainable properties to demonstrate to the development industry that environmental and economic prerogatives can co-exist, even complement each other. The dream hasn\u2019t changed, its just taken a lot longer than I had anticipated with various distractions along the way.<\/p>\n

\"architects-who-build-steele-associates-utz-sanby-architects2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Architect:\u00a0Utz Sanby Architects<\/a>, Builder:\u00a0Steele Associates<\/a>.\u00a0Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n

LB: Can you describe your work and the most rewarding aspect operating in both Architecture and building?<\/strong><\/p>\n

OS: My work can be loosely divided into 4 categories. Design, construction, people, and money. What I enjoy most about each is:<\/p>\n

Design: This is the creative stimulation I feel so lucky t have as part of my job. Architects tend to bemoan their lot, but how much fun is this?\u00a0Construction: Such a joy to be a part of making something so tangible, especially when you\u2019re pushing boundaries and it works beautifully.\u00a0People: work will never be dull when they\u2019re involved. I really value many of the relationships I\u2019ve formed through work.\u00a0Money: To me, it\u2019s a tool, a means not an end. Money is distilled energy that can be released in almost any form (except love, of course) and I enjoy doing things I believe in with money.<\/p>\n

My favourite project is 88 Angel St Newtown. This is my first development project we\u2019ve designed and will build and market. It\u2019s a manifestation of my original dream \u2013 18 years on\u2026<\/p>\n

\"architects-who-build-steele-associates-88-Angel-St-exterior\"<\/a><\/p>\n

88 Angel Street, Exterior Rendering<\/p>\n

\"architects-who-build-steele-associates-88-Angel-St-Interior-\"<\/a><\/p>\n

88 Angel Street, Interior Rendering<\/p>\n

LB: What are the advantages and disadvantages of both designing and building?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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OS: It has always seemed unusual to me that its considered unusual to do both. I\u2019ve learned a lot about building from designing, and a lot about designing from building. Having someone else build something I\u2019ve designed would feel like giving a baby up for adoption.<\/p>\n

LB. In what way do you hope your work contributes to the practice and perception of Architecture?<\/strong><\/p>\n

OS: Ultimately, I\u2019d like to have a positive impact on the way the development industry approaches sustainability. We\u2019re seeing a growing focus on \u2018sustainable\u2019 (must be careful how we use this word) office space because of the financial premium the market is offering. This comes for a recognition of the value of healthier spaces to work in. The residential sector is still largely compliance driven. I\u2019d like to help turn this around to see developers (who pull architects and builders\u2019 strings) pushing for real sustainability in planning and design. The industry is driven by money (dislike it or hate it), so recognition by the market of the value of good environmental design will make it economically sustainable. Wonderful things like a price on carbon are crucial for this process to gain momentum.<\/p>\n

\"architects-who-build-steele-associates-utz-sanby-architects\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Architect:\u00a0Utz Sanby Architects<\/a>, Builder: Steele Associates<\/a>. Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n

LB. Given your unique position, how do you think Steele Associates is perceived in the industry both in Architecture and building?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OS: I\u2019m not sure I can really say. I suppose it\u2019s a bit of a half-caste scenario. Architects see me more as a builder, and builders see me more as an architect. I\u2019ve never been one to fit in, though, so no surprises here.<\/p>\n

LB. How do you see the future for the education of Architecture?<\/b><\/p>\n

The trend of the last 20 years has been to put greater and greater emphasis on the students initiative by reducing contact hours rather than \u2018spoon-feeding\u2019 with frequent lectures and tutorials. Of course the motivation for this is financial, not educational. However, there\u2019s a strong argument that technology such as online videos of lectures etc. does render the physical institution less relevant. I reckon physical meetings of students and staff will be reduced to direct interactive sessions such as group discussions, juries and social events as physical proximity becomes more and more about body language than effective dissemination of information.<\/p>\n

\"architects-who-build-steele-associates-ubureau-srh\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Architect:\u00a0Bureau SRH<\/a>, Builder:\u00a0Steele Associates<\/a>.\u00a0Image Source<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

LB. You currently operate primarily in the realm of residential works. With the understanding that your buildings inform your Architecture and your Architecture informs your building where do you hope to take Steele Associates?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

OS: I\u2019d love to do a rammed earth shopping centre, naturally lit and self-sufficient in energy and water. Ando and Calatrava can join the design team if they like.<\/p>\n

LB. Where do you see the architectural industry heading in Australia?<\/b><\/p>\n

OS: I see the industry as at risk of being increasingly marginalised and focussed on designing the project as a series of digital \u2018artists impression\u2019 style models and images for the purpose of approval by authorities and other stakeholders. There\u2019s every chance that architects\u2019 involvement with construction documentation and detailing will continue to decline, and an architects\u2019 involvement with the actual construction process will be a rarity.There\u2019s also a growing place for architects as the \u2018GPs\u2019 of design being the node for care of the patient (building), referring to specialists (engineers, project managers and other consultants) for more detailed work.But who can say what the future holds? Perhaps trends will change and architecture will be able to successfully build a stronger role in bringing quality to a greater proportion of buildings.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to thank Oliver for participating in the interview. If you\u2019re interested in getting in touch or finding out more about Steele\u00a0Associates, visit their\u00a0<\/b>website<\/b>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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If you are interested in being interviewed and featured on archi-ninja, please\u00a0<\/b>contact me<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Oliver Steele is the founder of Sydney based Architecture & building practice Steele Associates. As both a registered Architect and licensed Builder, Oliver does not separate Architecture or design from the craft of building. I recently interviewed Oliver who contributed to an article entitled \u2018Why Architects Need To Get Back Onto The Construction Site\u2019. Below […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3901"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3901"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4027,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3901\/revisions\/4027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archi-ninja.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}