ArchitectureAP Symposium with Terrain Architects

This week is your last week to snap up discounted early-bird tickets for the ArchitectureAP Symposium presented by Architecture Media which will be held at SLQ on Friday 4 March. Among the international guests speaking at the symposium is the team from Terrain Architects - Ikko Kobayashi and Fumi Kashimura who practice in Japan and Uganda.

Learn more about this intrepid design duo and where they derive the inspiration for their design work.

Ikko Kobayashi and Fumi Kashimura

Tell us a little about your background, and what originally led you to architecture?

Ikko grew up in a countryside in Hyogo where old temples and houses remain. His childhood dream of becoming a carpenter might have led to enter a technical university to learn architecture. Fumi was raised with music and art in her environment which influenced her to be a creative individual and to go to an art university. We met at the Master Course of Architecture in Tokyo University of the Arts.

Can you give us a little insight into what a normal work day looks like for you?

Our working style is nomadic, especially when we are in Africa. Scheduling is difficult because of unstable electricity, capricious climate and unpunctual people. When electricity is on, we work with computers and smartphones like how we work in Japan. When power gets down, we get a chance to draw by hand, hang around to get ideas or go out somewhere with electricity. Internet is essential for us to communicate with each other since we usually work in separate places.

What are some daily office rituals or habits you employ to enhance your productivity and creativity?

We don’t have any daily particular rituals, but drinking African coffee is an essential habit especially when we are away from Africa. Coffee stretches our imagination to the place and people who produce it. We also like Indonesian coffee and Latin American coffee – we prefer dark roasted beans.

What principles inform your work?

'Ask terrain' is our principle. We try to consider what kind of places can be on in a community, climate and culture using local materials and local builders.

Where do you go for design inspiration?

To get design inspirations, we go out and see the lively and chaotic towns in Asia and Africa which are our favorites because we get to find ideas from ordinary and anonymous houses, sheds and huts.

What has been a career highlight for you so far?

It always feels good to finish any project and to see people start using the space, but being on slope, we haven’t realized our career highlights yet.

Which Australian or international architecture people, practices, designers or similar do you admire?

We admire Ross Langdon. His way of thinking about architect’s role in Africa and his contribution through architecture encourage us to be present.

What can attendees to APAF expect to hear and see?

We wish to share architectural ideas with other attendees to solve indigenous people’s problems that occur in the world.

It is definitely not one to miss  for architecture professionals who will earn 6.5 CPD points for attending the one-day event during the Asia Pacific Architecture Forum.

When: Friday 4 March

Where: SLQ Auditorium 1, level 2 | SLQ

Cost: $400 early bird| $450 after 5 Feb * (price includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea)

*Attendees also receive 10% off at the State Library of Queensland bookshop and pop-up bookshop!

Book Here

Program of all other APAF events here