13. Gruntvigs Church
While researching a little bit for my recent trip to Copenhagen it became clear how much interesting architecture the city contained- it’s positively bursting at the seams with interesting buildings and spaces. Amongst this research, an image of a church kept reappearing, with a brightness and simplicity reminiscent of a film, magical looking enough to be from Harry Potter. Upon delving a little deeper, I found that the church was called “Grundtvigs Kirke” (Grundtvigs Church), and that it was located relatively close to the centre of Copenhagen.
Grundtvigs Kirke was built to commemorate N. F. S. Grundtvig, a writer, poet, priest and reformer. It has been really interesting to learn about this figure in Danish history, who I had never heard of until this point. More about him and his history can be found here, but for now- back to the building made in his memory.
The church was designed by architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint, and the project was continued by his son Kaare Klint upon Peder’s death. The church was completed in 1940.
Interior of Grundtvigs church
The church is Gothic style, and inside brings in all of the height and light characteristic of that style of architecture, with the mathematical symmetry and harmony. The simple use of yellow brick as the material throughout, and the lack of ornamentation within the church makes for a very peaceful atmosphere. Where many churches feature pews, Grundtvigs Kirke features individual chairs, arranged in rows- but clearly able to be moved- almost a reminder that the skeleton of the church will remain. These chairs were also designed by Kaare Klint and feature a “pocket” at the back to hold bibles, hymn and psalm books.
The following gallery highlights the striking exterior, the beauty of the interior, the restraint in materials, and the stunning light inside the church- and I’ll let these pictures paint my words for me:
Overall, Grundtvigs church was a beautifully executed example of material restraint. This minimal approach of simply utilising the Danish yellow bricks allows the brickwork itself to stand out, and the light within the church to take the focus. The simple chairs within the interior contribute to this, without being fixed or heavy. The form of the church, patterns of brickwork and light coming in are the feature- and an ethereal atmosphere pervades within, creating a very peaceful and contemplative place.
12: Sense of Home
As a student of architecture, I have immense passion for spaces. Architects will design a broad range of buildings, public spaces, and urban environments- from libraries to micro-apartments, to public toilet blocks. In all of these projects, an immense amount of time is spent ensuring the detailing and resolution of each project, preferably in accordance with the relevant legislation. In each project, I believe that no matter the typology, an architect is designing a home- whether the library, a home for books; apartment, a home for people; a home for business; a home for education; and so on. As someone within the built environment industry, I have a huge interest in a “Sense of Home” and look forward to exploring my interpretation of this a little bit.
I would define a sense of home as a feeling, and psychological experience- more so than any specific location- although that does play an enormous role in establishing a sense of home. As I have experienced it, a sense of home is a feeling of being grounded, having roots, belonging. In the classic Australian dream*, the desire is a quarter acre block in the suburbs, with a detached house and garage for the car, a hills-hoist (washing line) and barbeque in the backyard. As a millennial, this “dream” seems grossly misplaced when taking into account the affordability, or lack thereof, of housing in Sydney. However, that is not the point of this blog post- and plenty of fuel for another.
A sense of home to me is predominantly a psychological and emotional place- it’s finding a sense of curiosity, creativity and freedom. Having just finished reading “Surely you’re joking Mr. Feynman”, the final paragraph stuck out as the perfect summary of the feeling, and desire that I have that connects a sense of home with my values.
“So I have just one wish for you – the good luck to be somewhere where you are free to maintain the kind of integrity I have described, and where you do not feel forced by a need to maintain your position in the organization, or financial support, or so on, to lose your integrity. May you have that freedom.” – Richard P. Feynman
In terms of physical space, having moved homes a lot in the past 3 years- including spending several months in both Germany and Sweden, I’ve developed a few things that connect to a sense of home. These are additive to the spaces that I find myself in, and easily removable when I depart. They include plants (bonus for Australian natives), a tub of Vegemite, some favourite books, cooking, earl grey tea, cosy blankets/jumpers, and a journal to write my way through the experiences.
My plant-filled windowsill in Sydney, which gets morning sun.
I feel that the challenge as an architect is to design these “homes” (not strictly restricted to residential), so that it isn’t only bricks and mortar, but feelings and balance created in the space- to make it an inviting and comfortable place to be. Being in Scandinavia at the moment has been interesting to observe, as the climate means that it isn’t as easy to just go outside- as it is in Australia. There is more of a focus on creating a cosy, homey environment, and lighting (candles and warm light) play a large part in this. This attention to minute details makes for a cohesive and welcoming space, that works despite the extreme seasonal changes in the external climate.
A Sense of home is something that I am grappling with, as a concept and in practice. I recently saw the following quote via Sarah Wigglesworth Architects “A practice that makes extraordinary places for the everyday life, believing that good design in all its aspects can foster social wellbeing and a sustainable future”, which provides an clear summary of the point I’m trying to make- that these spaces designed from within a studio will ultimately impact people’s daily life- and rather than just saying “design responsibly” or “do a good job”, I think it’s important for architects to retain their sense of humanity, to connect to the space and visualize it as the user throughout. In this manner, social wellbeing can be fostered, through careful design.
Over the next few weeks, in between studying Swedish, I will be revisiting the Alice St Terrace project. I will be exploring this sense of home through the project- and attempting to apply these principles practically.
Until next week!
AP
11: Copenhagen
Last week I took a short trip to Copenhagen- excited to see the attention to detail in design, modernist and minimal style, enormous variety of chairs, and palace with a Princess from Australia. My initial impression was being struck by the way that contemporary and more classical/historical building exist in harmony with each other- often complementing in a manner that highlights their individual architectural qualities, including the colour, materiality and form.
Denmark has always been on my radar as somewhere to eventually visit, perhaps in part due to the Sydney Opera House- designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. I hadn’t expected that when I’d get there, there would be such a interesting and innovative approaches architecture all in close proximity, and so densely. The Danish Architecture Center (DAC) does a remarkable job of bringing this together, including a map of the city that gives a notification whenever you approach notable buildings, with information and insights about it. The DAC became integral to my stay in Copenhagen very quickly- being an accessible and centrally located, within the landmark BLOX building that invites anyone who enters to discover more about architecture in Copenhagen and Denmark.
BLOX building, housing the Danish Architecture Centre.
The Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) is a cohesive and innovative collection of information, education and design- it hosts various exhibitions, tours and talks. During my visit, an exhibition by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) was taking place- entitled “Formgiving”. The layout of the gallery, consideration of the space and detail of the work. The exhibition was organized around 10 gifts that these exhibited projects give. This is summarized as “The gift is the world changing power of formgiving”- BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. I was blown away by the exhibition and the broad variety of projects contained within. I left feeling incredibly inspired and excited about architecture, and my role within the industry- as it evolves in the future.
Having spent the better part of 4 hours at the DAC for the exhibition, I decided to return the next day for a contemporary architecture walking tour- entitled “Copenhagen- capital of cool”, which took the participants out to Ørestad to explore some of the contemporary architecture in the area, and the development and planning of the area. The tour was led by a brilliant young woman, studying Architecture in Copenhagen- who guided the tour through the key ideas and buildings in a really engaging manner. I enjoyed the tour greatly, so the next day I ended up on architecture walking tour 2.0 - exploring the historical aspect of Copenhagen, based centrally and exploring different periods of time, what was happening in Denmark and the world, and how the architecture manifested around that.
Seeing such a variety of architecture, the space for different ideas to come into fruition, and the amount of innovative, environmentally driven, socially minded architecture was invigorating. Drawing comparisons to my experience within Sydney- which feels like a developer driven, endlessly expensive rat-race, it was brilliant to see cities designed with biking as a central activity. To see housing designed to encourage social interaction. To see materials and designs not only responding to the climate, but finding innovative ways to be carbon neutral, to reuse materials, and to be experimental in the forms in which these architectures manifest.
Copenhagen reinvigorated my interest and love of architecture. It inspired me further to pursue further studies in a context that challenges and develops skills. The city made me feel more of what a liveable city has the potential to be- and reminds me of one of my favourite TEDtalks, given by Amanda Burden- where she finishes by saying “I believe that a successful city is like a fabulous party. People stay because they are having a great time”. Copenhagen was a bike-filled, diverse and beautiful example of a city, which I feel as though I could spend so much more time getting to know.
Until next week!
AP
For more photos from my time in Copenhagen, click here. For information about BLOX (the building housing the DAC), click here. For the Danish Architecture centre, click here- and for Amanda Burdens “How Public Spaces Make Cities Work” TEDtalk, click here.
10: Reading
In the past year or so, I’ve been rediscovering my love of reading. As a child, I could get lost in books easily, often finishing a book at 4am because it was simply “too good to put down”. Through high school and university, most of the reading that I was doing was mandatory, and there were more external demands on my time. The pleasure of reading simply because I wanted to faded, and it became more of a task.
It’s been a gradual process to build reading into my life and daily routines more. One quick way that I’ve been working on this is always having a book with me and reading while I’m on public transport- if only for 10 minutes. This year, I’ve also been lucky enough to be able to travel a lot, and for extended periods- some exploring of home soil in Australia, and some through Scandinavia (currently underway), and this has given ample time for my mind to relax and be able to absorb new ideas, information and thoughts.
As I read more, I’ve found my curiosity growing as a flow-on effect. This makes me want to read even more, and learn more, and so the cycle continues. I am currently reading “Atomic Habits”, and really enjoying that the content is about building habits- while I’m building more regularity into how much I’m reading. Some of the books that I’ve also been reading in the past year that have really stuck out to me I’ve put together into the following collage:
Collage and images with hands are my own, all other images sourced from google.
This process of re-learning the magic of reading has been hugely rewarding, and the thoughts and information I’ve been gaining from this has been amazing. While over here (predominantly in Sweden, my partners home country), I have been learning some Swedish, and will be taking an intensive language course starting soon. I’m excited about this- however often find that formal language classes can be quite dry and uninspiring. So, in the spirit of making the language learning process more enjoyable, I picked up a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, one of my enduring favourites- in Swedish. Reading “Harry Potter och de Vises Sten” has been hilarious, and good fun.
Reading much more in the past year has really been sparking so much more enjoyment in my life. Taking in so much information has also been making me reflect a lot more- partially as a balance to digest all of the information. This often manifests as writing a journal, which continually remains one of my best strategies to relax, unwind and sift through my mind. This blog is an extension of that, and a more refined version of some of these reflections and thoughts.
Until next time!
AP
9: Kolumba
Around this time last year, I was in Germany finishing up my semester abroad of student exchange. In one of my last weekends, I was able to visit a German friend (who I’d met bartending with in Sydney), and visit her home/stay with her in Cologne.
While there, we rode around the city and explored many things, ate great food, and caught up on time passed. One of the standouts was getting to see the Kolumba museum, designed by Peter Zumthor- which I’d actually never heard of until I was inside the museum.
For a bit of context and history, Kolumba is the art museum of the Archdiocese of Cologne which was extablished in 1853. The site incorporates archeological ruins from roman and medieval periods, the remains of a gothic church and the 1950 chapel for the “Madonna of the Ruins” by Gottfried Böhm- which had been built after the second world war, when most of Cologne had been left in ruins.
Kolumba pulls together this patchwork of history with a beautiful, pared back material palette. The physical connections of different time periods by Zumthor are a reminder of the historical events that have occurred in Cologne, yet the museum does not convey any overt reminder of pain or guilt. It feels incredibly still and reflective- reminding you of history through the integration of ruins with the contemporary built form with balance.
Initially, the building felt like a big patchwork- a place where so many things were being pulled together, with the dappled light from the patterned brickwork filtering through consistently. Entering the courtyard was the moment where the true magic of the building started to reveal itself more, and felt like an oasis within.
Courtyard within Kolumba
While the museum is designed to house the collections, and I did enjoy them, the building itself was what primarily captured my attention and has stuck in my memory. Throughout, the palette is pared back- predominantly grey. I was stuck by the stairs, which appear almost floating within the wall, and the windows- built into the circulation of the museum to allow striking glimpses to the cityscape and cathedral, then draw the visitor back into the smaller scale of the next room and exhibition.
The windows are softened with silky curtains in a gradient of greys- creating a soft transition between the solid walls and changing vistas outside. As the path continues through the museum, the reading room appears within the simple grey- an entirely timber clad, warm room where visitors pause to take a break on leather armchairs with tall backs. The height of the room seems monumental, and the transition between the cool greys of the museum into this room is unassuming, a break in the wall with timber cladding.
Despite being there over a year ago, Kolumba still stands out to me as a favourite space and building to be in and explore. I look forward to returning someday, as the first visit was magical.
Until next time
AP
8: Norway and Hiking
This blog is coming from my first trip in Scandinavia, where I’m based in Sweden for a little while, and taking the opportunity to explore around as much as possible- both within Sweden and neighbouring countries. It’s been wonderful to have a change of scene and pace, and to embrace all of the experiences that come hand in hand.
Last weekend, I was on a trip to Norway to go hiking with a group of friends. Being on the road and seeing the changes of scenery to mind-blowing mountains and fjords was breathtaking. The typical houses with their cladding painted in red and white, or yellow and white, pop out in the landscape. It was a very cosy roadtrip from Sweden, with good conversations and music- and some little stops at antique/thrift shops along the way for a look.
The hiking was varied- but there were three main hikes. The first afternoon (post a quick settle-in to the cabin) hike led to the top of a waterfall- where a few of the group had a swim in the icy Norwegian water. It was so cold, but the response of the body feels incredible- there’s an intense alertness and warmth afterwards as the body adjusts.
The second day was a far longer hike, where I was lucky enough to be able to pat lots of adorable dogs. This was a more intense mountain, with snow on it still. Having a coffee at the summit while looking out at the view was perfect. That coffee was one of the most enjoyable that I’ve had for a while- despite the fact that it was the polar opposite of what I’d order regularly back in Sydney. The final big hike led us up another mountain, this time we had camp stoves ready to cook up a big lunch with a breathtaking view (pictured). Fresh air made that food taste like one of the finest dishes of my travels.
lunch spot up the mountain
Throughout all of this hiking there was plenty of time to reflect, to practice Swedish pronunciation and words, and to just be still- taking in the surroundings and feeling the breath in my body. Being outside so much, moving and eating gave so much space, and allowed me to sift through a lot of thoughts to be able to keep moving forward. It was also really inspiring to see how much Swedes make the most of their summer- spending every possible second of sunshine hours outside.
It’s been some time since I’ve sat down to write a blog, and it’s not for a lack of inspiration- rather an overwhelming amount of changes and experiences that have been taking place. Rather than writing here, I’ve been journaling a lot to clear my head, and undergoing a process of self-reflection. I’m feeling a lot more centred and enjoying the way in which these changes have been shaping my everyday experiences, as I navigate these new spaces and moments.
It’s also great to get back into the traveller’s mindset- where everything is new, words on signs are unfamiliar, products in the supermarket have never been seen before. Despite being here on holidays, I’m not keen on “bumming around”. Taking the opportunity of being here to explore more architecture, language, places and meet people, and really enjoying working on personal projects- from building up this blog and website, to researching and planning postgraduate studies.
Until next time!
AP
More photos from the Norway trip can be found here.
7: Chronicles of a procrasti-baker
Throughout high school and university, whenever an exam or submission was coming up, the aromas of baking filled the house. My family knew something was stressing me out when plates of scones, banana bread, lemon cake or chocolate brownies appeared magically - although there were never complaints.
If it wasn’t baking sweet treats, it was cooking something hearty and cosy- the colder the weather the better for this. While cooking, my brain switches off, and is able to focus just on the food. Everything slows down, the food will take as long as it needs to, no matter how many other things are happening- and it forces me to relax, and stop stressing- if only while the pot is on the stove.
Cooking is something that allows me to calm down and feel more connected. I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where there was always fresh, healthy, good quality food and home cooking. Coming from a Spanish background, the food is often quite simple but very labour intensive and time consuming.
Despite the fact that I’ve moved several times since those high school procrasti-baking days, wherever I’ve been, when there is olive oil, I can breathe a sigh of relief (Bonus points for smashed avo, I am an Australian millennial after all*). I could write praises to the heavens for olive oil all day. To get to the point though- it forms the base of the meals that my grandmother, mother and I make. It is always present in the pantry- in an enormous 5L tin (with a backup so that it never runs out).
Olive oil is a base, but those meals are combined with the appreciation of mealtime that has been instilled in me for as long as I can remember. As a child, we were never allowed to have any distractions at dinner- every day was a sit-down family meal- at the dining table. Since those days of discipline, it’s the meals shared with old and new friends, and the Sobremesa* that these lead to that create a true sense of connection- be it to people or places. Sharing a meal is one of my favourite ways to get to know someone, to make friends, to chat, and to relax.
Family breakfast in Madrid, with my sister, great-aunt and great-uncle.
At university, a tutor once said to my class, “If you’re a chef, you can also be an architect”. I’d be impressed at the person who could fit both careers in- they are both known for long hours, however I do understand the way that a meal coming together can echo the way that a building does the same- without a solid foundation, quality materials and care- it simply won’t work. Essentially though, both are about people.
Food is essential to survival. Cooking is a balm to my soul.
Until next time*
AP
*1. If you haven’t heard the jokes about housing affordability in australia / smashed avo toast- here’s a nice article to start off with: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-drink/millenials-react-to-bernard-salts-attack-on-smashed-avo/news-story/a0e8473f9e80663d7569364930aa0321
*2. “Sobremesa is the leisurely time after we have finished eating, before we get up from the table. Time spent in conversation, digesting, relaxing, enjoying. Certainly not rushing. Not reserved for weekends -though it can be longest on Sundays- even weekday and business meals have their own sobremesa. For Mediterraneans, how we eat is as important as what we eat.”- defined by: https://sobremesa.life/about
*3. By next time, i’ll probably still be eating the mountain of roasted vegetables and banana cake I made last night, while procrasti-baking from life admin.
6: On the road
The other week, I received a message that brought an enormous smile to my face - “Wondering what you were up to on Easter Long weekend. Want to plan a get the f**k out of the city trip?”
That message came from a close friend, and the phrase has been used as the catalyst for many trips down the south coast, to a daggy little parked caravan my family has in a caravan park down the south coast- known simply as “the van”, an incredibly dear place to me and those that have visited.
As most Australians know, a long weekend or school holiday means a getaway. It also means traffic, and a lot of it. Being on the road and moving away from the city (however slowly that movement may be), allowing the landscape to change has a particular brand of peace to it.
There are the regular journeys, familiar in their roads and comforting in the sense of a “return”. The smells of the ocean as the car moves towards the van or the crisper air returning to my childhood home in the blue mountains. On these journeys, a sense of warm familiarity is present. The van is particularly special in this regard- with no tv, limited phone connection, and a very simple setup, there is time in abundance for reading, eating outside, the ocean, the rock pools and thoughts. It has been one of my favourite places since childhood.
Exploring Mermaids- rock pool at the van . Image take by my friend, KF.
The sensation of this is put perfectly by Alain de Botton, whose book “The Art of Travel” I read earlier this year.
“Journeys are the midwives of thought. Few places are more conducive to internal conversations than a moving plane, ship or train. There is an almost quaint correlation between what is in front of our eyes and the thoughts we are able to have in our heads: large thoughts at times requiring large views, new thoughts new places. Introspective reflections which are liable to stall are helped along by the flow of the landscape. The mind may be reluctant to think properly when thinking is all it is supposed to do.
At the end of hours of train-dreaming, we may feel we have been returned to ourselves - that is, brought back into contact with emotions and ideas of importance to us. It is not necessarily at home that we best encounter our true selves. The furniture insists that we cannot change because it does not; the domestic setting keeps us tethered to the person we are in ordinary life, but who may not be who we essentially are.”
Those few days away- this time to the country, were so restful and relaxing. Between the easter egg hunts, being surrounded by beautiful animals, and laughing away with friends- it was a much needed break in the regular rhythms and routines.
Until next week!
AP
Note: Having just moved house again, my scheduling of weekly blogs has been thrown out the window. Hence the “weeks” have been a bit longer and thrown out of routine. Working on this.
5: Graduation
Last week was the graduation ceremony for my Bachelor’s degree, and a reunion with all of my university colleagues. It was incredibly exciting to have a Harry-Potter moment in the University of Sydney’s Great Hall, and to accept my official degree.
My cohort of graduates leaving the Great Hall
During the graduation ceremony, there were a few speeches- from academic staff and special guests. While all were memorable- the one that really sticks in my memory asked us to go forward with the values of the university, in particular, those of integrity and tolerance.
Considering these values in the context of moving onto the next adventures life holds, I aim to continue to make decisions that are in line with my values, including those above, and be honest in doing so.
Looking forward, I have been researching different master’s programs- both in Australia and Internationally. After the experience of student exchange in my undergraduate degree and comparing the method of teaching and learning with that of my home university, there are pro’s and con’s to both. While overseas however, I found myself far more challenged than I would have been in the context of home.
This is certainly in part due to the fact that I had ended up in a nation whose language I barely spoke, whose customs I struggled to grasp, and whose freezing temperatures (I arrived in -11°) came in stark contrast to the Australian summer I had left behind. These external features combined with different teaching methodologies and styles of working, pushed me in a manner I had never experienced in the relative comfort of Australia, and within the safety of a study program that I understood well.
The manner with which my professors and tutors in Stuttgart pushed curiosity was marvellous, and difficult to grasp initially. This was particularly apparent in terms of my studio, where a casual discussion with a close friend and my tutor about interests turned into a joke about my love of plants and became the basis of my project and investigation through the semester.
In a project driven by curiosity and personal interest, not simply a rigid brief with a checklist of requirements, I was forced to think in a manner that a checklist sometimes does not require. Where this checklist can generate beautiful work outputs, it can also strangle the creativity behind them- the points are fulfilled simply because each of them equates to a certain percentage of the overall grade for that subject. It allows for easier project management and organisation.
And so, in the pursuit of the next challenges to come, this little reflection of those that I’m leaving behind are a little reminder to stay true to curiosity and learning, as I move toward furthering my studies and experiences.
Until next week!
AP
4: Conversation and Coconuts
When I was little, my father would always laugh at how much I chattered away, especially if I swallowed pool water- when he would laughingly tell me “I thought I’d taught you not to talk underwater”
As the years have passed by, the importance of conversations and dialogue in every aspect of my life- from university, professional and personal, has been centric to my ability to express myself.
This dialogue is an integral part of the university architecture studio- a constant melting pot of creativity, experimentation and ideas. This should not simply die off once that period of study has ended.
These dialogues and conversations allow constant exposure to new ideas, challenges, and thoughts. The simple fact that a conversation is shared allows for exposure to another person’s life experience. That fact alone contains a world of possibility. It may be that you live an incredibly similar life, have the same ideas, and remain flatly unchallenged. It can also be a great teacher and growth factor.
Linking through to the values that I started to express last week: I appreciate relationships with other people; communication, honestly, trust, laughter. All of these things are fostered greatly by conversation. Spending time studying abroad in Germany- where (in my experience) there is less chit-chat and fluff, and far more real, deep conversation has given me even more of a perspective on the value of conversation for any kind of growth, be it personal or professional.
These conversations have different cultural undertones and etiquettes- and having the opportunity to study abroad allowed for a really valuable insight into German culture, as well as the distance to reflect on the multiculturalism present in Australian culture.
Here in Australia, we are spoilt for choice in our food options, while privileged enough to have constant exposure to different ideas, beliefs, customs and religions. This can (and often does) manifest negatively into hatred, racism and intolerance. Having these conversations however, allows an understanding and respect to evolve between individuals and cultures.
I have tremendous admiration for German culture- for the no nonsense, brutally honest approach that they have to life. The stereotype that much of the world holds however, is that Germans are cold and unapproachable. There is no easy “How-To” guide on cross-cultural understanding, however there is more research and implementation of cultural competence, one of the key aspects of which is listening.
And while there is no “How-To” guide, it helps just to keep things simple. The following image, from intercultural training that I undertook while studying abroad, may provide some idea of the German culture- when you consider Germans as Coconuts, tough to crack. The image divided these “coconuts” into species, with some key characteristics.
German coconut species, own drawing.
I believe that conversations and dialogues can spark change in the world- with a balance of talking, but more importantly, listening. From the small things- conversations with Uber drivers from other parts of the world or builders on site for the projects designed at work, a respect and understanding grows, allowing for collaboration at a local, national or international scale.
Until next week!
AP