Camilla Block x Qianyi Lim
‘If you can see it, if it arrests your pace in some way, then you notice it's not just part of the peripheral backdrop of life. That is part of our job – to just be visible enough to arrest attention.’
Camilla Block and Qianyi Lim reflect on their experiences as architects in this episode of The Age We’re In. During their conversation they emphasise the intensity of the profession along with the advantages and joys of collaboration. Both share a commitment to creating inclusive and captivating spaces that nurture a sense of belonging.
‘When I was about nine, I came to Sydney. We came to see the Opera House. I remember that profound feeling of thinking, wow, like, what the hell is that? It didn't seem like anything I'd ever seen before.’
‘We like to have fun. Maybe it sounds simplistic, but I think this talks more about designing spaces for people to have fun. That's also about being inclusive: designing for a wide spectrum of people. That can come down to the form, the materiality, colour and texture of a building, and how that encourages people to feel like they're part of it and they belong there. ’
‘The three of us are a bit like a tripod and we take turns to sort of tip and stabilise. We work really hard at that early conceptual stage to test a lot of different ways of doing things.’
‘There's been a lot of research that shows the mutual benefits between young and old, and bringing these opposite ends of a population together.’
‘To build that sort of community and connection, it's not the way we think. We think about our houses like Americans. My lot, my land, and anything that feels shared often becomes quite vexed.’
‘There's always a garden. Whenever you build something solid, there's a companion outdoor void that goes with it.’
Speakers
Camilla Block graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) in 1991 and joined Neil Durbach in practice in 1992. In 1998 they established Durbach Block Architects and Camilla has been a design principal for all of the practice’s major projects. She has also taught, lectured, exhibited, judged awards and been published nationally and internationally.
Qianyi Lim co-founded Sibling Architecture in Melbourne in 2012 and then established the Sydney studio in 2017. She is interested in creating inclusive and equitable environments that are ecologically sustainable and culturally enriching for diverse communities. Qianyi is also an architectural educator and critic, working as an Associate Professor of Practice (Architecture) at the University of Sydney, a panel member on the NSW State Design Review Panel and a juror at the NSW Australian Institute of Architects Awards.
About
The Age We’re In brings together practitioners, scientists and researchers at different stages of their careers to share ideas and responses to global issues. These conversations highlight the common ground of how and why they pursue their practise and explore challenges and opportunities in their industries.
