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28/10/13 Architects Who Listen - Point of View - September 2013

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Architects Who ListenSherin Wing

(page 2 of 2)

Buddhist Meditation Metta Vihara, Bureau SLA.

Courtesy www.bureausla.nl

Of course, there are many ways of listening. During an interview with Michael Rotondi ofRoto

Architecture on his work in sacred spaces, he noted that listening is an activity that engages him

completely. The first thing was to stop thinking about designing a signature architecture, he said.

Instead I try to listen to whomever Im working with and then try to jump over my own shadow when

Im designing.

POINT OF VIEW / SEPTEMBER 2013 / ARCHITECTS WHO LISTEN

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I love people. I love listening to their stories. You get a lot more information from people when you

ask questions to listen and not turn everything into your own story. Like you listen and say oh, that

reminds me of the time, and youre off talking about yourself. If you really want to learn, thats the

last thing you want to do is talk about yourself. So when I was working with American Indians, the

elders made it clear that I was there to listen to their stories and convert their stories into buildings.

Xiyuan Monastery Universi ty, Suzhou, Roto Architecture.

Courtesy Michael Rotondi

This, then, is the key. Listening to the clients needs for such practical information as to how spaces

will be used and cost limitations, to more abstract information such as philosophies and cultural

narratives, are essential to shaping each of these architects work. One, particular style of listening

is not more effective than another, but what repeatedly arises in each of their explanations is that

they follow some of the basics of empathizing with others. The results? These projects expresses

less the architects style, more the needs of their clients--in utterly unique ways.

Sherin Wingwrites on social issues as well as topics in architecture, urbanism, and design. She is

a frequent contributor toArchinect,Architect Magazine and other publications. She is also co-

author ofThe Real Architects Handbook. She received her PhD from UCLA. Follow Sherin on

Twitter at@SherinWing.

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