Unlike my understanding of this firm that it is away from Trendy, the location of the office was QV (really trendy site!). It was very small for office, and in fact it was just a house in this apartment complex.
We 10 people all sat down on the floor of little room whose left side wall are covered with all books. Then, smiley face old men, Jim asked us what do you want to know today?
He started talking about their work, process, characteristics with full of humor....
Sketch showing his talk in tiny book keeping room.He first characterizes the office as very small, which allows to avoid repetitive job. Small office never done same thing.
Types of work
He said that he never looked for job by himself, and it usually comes, once you established the fame of his name. However, he told that it is just recent that he has so large amount of job along the today's economic prosperity. These are three types of works that Sinatra Murphy usually does.
He said that he never looked for job by himself, and it usually comes, once you established the fame of his name. However, he told that it is just recent that he has so large amount of job along the today's economic prosperity. These are three types of works that Sinatra Murphy usually does.
1. Australian Indigenous related work.
The firm has one project in a year. It is one of the most interesting project but it does not allow them to earn money.
Riawunna Aboriginal Studies Centre
(source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/riawunna.html)
2. Work to to eat.
It is mostly a residential type of work which allow the office financially keep going. But it does not mean rough work at all as the example shows it below.
Fielding Residence Landscape
(source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/fielding_residence.html)
3. Public art work.
This is also interesting project, and not typical landscape architecture work. To someone's question about the difference between art and landscape project, he answered that was determined by council. It is clearly shows his artistic driven approaches in his landscape design.
Light Fountain, Northern Gateway Project, Vic
(Source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/fielding_residence.html)
He insisted Humbleness as a significant element for Landscape architect.
"Once he chose a landscape architect as a profession, you've got be ready for humble life".
He meant that it is not for money, so that you can't expect to be a millionaire.
Process
The firm has one project in a year. It is one of the most interesting project but it does not allow them to earn money.
Riawunna Aboriginal Studies Centre(source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/riawunna.html)
2. Work to to eat.
It is mostly a residential type of work which allow the office financially keep going. But it does not mean rough work at all as the example shows it below.
Fielding Residence Landscape(source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/fielding_residence.html)
3. Public art work.
This is also interesting project, and not typical landscape architecture work. To someone's question about the difference between art and landscape project, he answered that was determined by council. It is clearly shows his artistic driven approaches in his landscape design.
Light Fountain, Northern Gateway Project, Vic(Source:http://www.sinatramurphy.com/html/fielding_residence.html)
He insisted Humbleness as a significant element for Landscape architect.
"Once he chose a landscape architect as a profession, you've got be ready for humble life".
He meant that it is not for money, so that you can't expect to be a millionaire.
Process
There are couples things he takes care through entire process of a project. He thinks those are important skills of landscape architect.
+Big picture in first hand.
It is important to see big picture (concept) of your design in first hand. (rough drawing without any details) Then, he starts taking care of bits of pieces which fill in the empty space of big picture, forming entire picture itself. The previous projects shows, for example, fen-shui, painting-like paving, self-maintenance etc...
Conceptual diagram that shows his design process.
It is important to see big picture (concept) of your design in first hand. (rough drawing without any details) Then, he starts taking care of bits of pieces which fill in the empty space of big picture, forming entire picture itself. The previous projects shows, for example, fen-shui, painting-like paving, self-maintenance etc...
Conceptual diagram that shows his design process.+Communication.
It is important to communicate the big picture with your clients in order to let them see what you see.
It is important to communicate the big picture with your clients in order to let them see what you see.
+Local
It is significant to use local materials, and local contractors as much as possible. But he admits its difficulty by mentioning about the cheap material from china and easier work with familiar contractor.
+Maintenance
He heavily emphasizes monthly maintenance in his project.
+Native plant
He describes the power of native plant, though he often uses exotic plants in his project. He kind of made fun of the recent rules about use of native plants; in fact he seems not to be constrained by the rule at all. In fact he usually indicates the "80% of native plant" on plan but it is really depending on how to plant and count. Yeah, certainly plants are counted in same way in regardless of its size and the location of planting.....
However, he insisted on the power you sometimes see in native plants when it is juxtaposed with certain plants, in terms of color and shape. He highly push us to play with this juxtaposition of plants in many different way without threatening its judgement- good or bad.
Moonah trees which he pointed out the distinctive australian tree as a example
(source: http://flickr.com/photos/christop/148548953/in/photostream/)
Q & A
Q1. What do you think of important goal which commonly landscape architect should have?
Essence
He often talks about more broader and abstract but essential elements rather than his specific way of dealing his business. This made me understand him as interesting man rather than a landscape architect. These are some of his talks that I found prominent in his stories.
- Belief system
He emphasizes the importance of story in local area, as many people find it distinctive characteristic in aboriginal culture. In fact, he wrote the book called "Listen to the people, Listen to the land" which composed of series of story from each different Aboriginal person.
"What is important is not story itself, but belief system within a story." Yes, its belief system are applied to everything in the local area.
- Long term
It is hard to recognize the quality of project. Usually it takes a lot of time to see it. The land and environmental system are cycled in massively long term. You have to wait long time to see if its good or not. I think it is important to establish your way of looking at project, rather than just running after project covered on magazine all the time.
- Emotion
He always made a lot of joke, making us laugh all the time. However, his eyes are full of tears once he started talking about his parents. I felt like to see invisible emotion coming up from his breast to the face. I found he was very emotional which i think created his artistic work very much.
This made me believed sensitivity towards invisible things such as feeling, atmosphere, nature ... as one of the most important element for landscape architect.
Jim Sinatra showing his art work. (he was saying no one like it...)
Special thanks to Jim.
It is significant to use local materials, and local contractors as much as possible. But he admits its difficulty by mentioning about the cheap material from china and easier work with familiar contractor.
+Maintenance
He heavily emphasizes monthly maintenance in his project.
+Native plant
He describes the power of native plant, though he often uses exotic plants in his project. He kind of made fun of the recent rules about use of native plants; in fact he seems not to be constrained by the rule at all. In fact he usually indicates the "80% of native plant" on plan but it is really depending on how to plant and count. Yeah, certainly plants are counted in same way in regardless of its size and the location of planting.....
However, he insisted on the power you sometimes see in native plants when it is juxtaposed with certain plants, in terms of color and shape. He highly push us to play with this juxtaposition of plants in many different way without threatening its judgement- good or bad.
Moonah trees which he pointed out the distinctive australian tree as a example(source: http://flickr.com/photos/christop/148548953/in/photostream/)
Q1. What do you think of important goal which commonly landscape architect should have?
Neutralizing.... He does not want to use the world like climate change, but he mentioned the do something positive if you did something bad about environment. Each should think about neutralizing environment condition.Q2.What are significant things to consider when you look for first job for student?
He first recommended the firm that has diverse project. It is too early to focus on a specific filed in Landscape architecture when you are young.
Secondly, he mentioned that "A designer don't look for designer." I understood that he meant we should find someone who you want to work on realization of hi/her idea. cut &fill -cut &fill.....
Essence
He often talks about more broader and abstract but essential elements rather than his specific way of dealing his business. This made me understand him as interesting man rather than a landscape architect. These are some of his talks that I found prominent in his stories.
- Belief system
He emphasizes the importance of story in local area, as many people find it distinctive characteristic in aboriginal culture. In fact, he wrote the book called "Listen to the people, Listen to the land" which composed of series of story from each different Aboriginal person.
"What is important is not story itself, but belief system within a story." Yes, its belief system are applied to everything in the local area.
- Long term
It is hard to recognize the quality of project. Usually it takes a lot of time to see it. The land and environmental system are cycled in massively long term. You have to wait long time to see if its good or not. I think it is important to establish your way of looking at project, rather than just running after project covered on magazine all the time.
- Emotion
He always made a lot of joke, making us laugh all the time. However, his eyes are full of tears once he started talking about his parents. I felt like to see invisible emotion coming up from his breast to the face. I found he was very emotional which i think created his artistic work very much.
This made me believed sensitivity towards invisible things such as feeling, atmosphere, nature ... as one of the most important element for landscape architect.
Jim Sinatra showing his art work. (he was saying no one like it...)
Special thanks to Jim.
2 comments:
Oh, what a great and useful teachings. I'm reading now a book called "Mutant Message Down Under" by Marlo Morgan. And I also heard great stories from a dancer about Nature where you live in Australia. I guess the environment really affects and influences the people. Now I see how your Study is really important. You seems to be in one of the best environment for you. I have no clue how Australia looks like, but somehow got further interest towards Australia. I'm looking forward on your works.
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