It is the fifth time I presented in front of an audience. It feels better and better every time, even if at the end, I always promise myself: never again!
So why I go back, on stage, you might ask. The answer is: I think I have something to share, and some knowledge it is worth passing along.
Like what I learned from my Grandma, in terms of design. The title might seems just ridiculous, but these are actually design lessons she gave me, as we were sawing together, cooking together, exploring the woods nearby her place. These are lessons that, I believe, made me a better person, and a better architect.
Here they are, published here, ready to be shared once more:
The following are true
design (not "fashion" design) lessons that I learned by living with my
Grandma. My grandma was my first university and mentor. In a way even like a
client. Which never pays...
Her name is Margherita, which means “daisy”, and this is the first design lesson she taught me: say what you mean, mean what you say. Translated to design: do it right, now, without unnecessary BS. That’s her in 1928
Most important: do it strong! Built to resist! Because life is tough and there is no money to buy it/do it again. Please note the inaccessible path that Grandma, in her 80s, was walking with moccasins.
But Grandma is also a poet: she sees beauty, and she appreciates it. In particular when it’s free, like the flowers in her garden. Those flowers are weeds, but she is not judgmental. She believe in the honesty of design.
She gives me design lessons
for real,
when we saw together. I learned to be
precise with her. Shouting at me. I learned to saw straight even after a glass
of wine, and I feel I became adult when she shared with me her secret
“invisible stitch”. No slide for that!
She taught me about the true Italian design, the one from war time, that uses less and gives you more. She taught me how to be creative, when you should just be crying. She taught me to be and design strong stuff.
To do so, start by using few and simple ingredients. Like her lunches: butter with salt and one egg. Good design is about simplicity. The challenge is to use just what you need, in the right way. No space for treats of fake stuff.
Then it’s important to always have a good idea of the overall context. Like her: from the window of her bathroom, she knows everything is happening in the village, and when. Always keep the big picture in mind, without loosing the final goal though!
But don’t forget the details! Always go deeper in your intellectual research, and make sure to check and double check the small components of your projects. Peep in every hole, touch every piece, hear every noise.
Also: make the best of your tools! If you don’t have a big beach umbrella, use two smaller umbrellas, and cover only the necessary. There she was actually threatening me to NOT take the pic. The labial is vulgar Italian.
I love her persistence in pursuing quality. Here she was re-writing nicely for the second time something in Italian, that she would have read to Eric, in Italian, even if he doesn’t speak Italian. I made a video with subtitles in English.
I added this just because it cranks me up. My grandma is not easy to deal with, or to learn from. I am the only one allowed to get close and learn the deepest secrets. Sometimes I get myself go a but too far with the confidence…
Another thing I learned from Grandma is to always add your personal touch. Now, she is obsessed with snowmen and she always wants one in her balcony. Even when it doesn snow. She waits until we are done with it, then she adds the bottle of red wine. Always different, always empty.
This is about flexibility: always be flexible in your
design process, because you will have to adapt it to every context. Grandma for
example, can take a nap even standing, if necessary. Then says: I am thinking.
Speaking of thinking: she taught me what I call the “lateral thinking”. I use that every day. Approach every object for its inherent qualities and not for the supposed use. Supposed by whom, btw? This is a bath mat, that can become a blanket when you are cold.
Designing with her, and cooking sausages, I also learned the importance of team working, and how to collaborate with people. It doesn’t matter what is the task, share your space with the others. Smile even! (But get the sharpest knifes of all!)
But Grandma doesn’t need many sharp tools: her hands are dangerous enough. And deadly precise! Here she is performing a highly skilled salad cleaning. Unconcerned by the pile of wood that is an her right. And she is working on the floor…
Your hands are all you need, and never blame the tools if you do a mistake. Other than your hands, you need energy, and she has energy to sell. Here she is with my sister, on our swing, no longer than two years ago, in the same garden of the free flowers.
One day I was going to cut the grass. We were
moving all the chairs and tables away. She didn’t want help, as I was prepping
the mower, and I could only take this pic of how cool she is. SHE is built to resist.
As a young architectural designer, I still have a lot to learn, but I am grateful for what she taught me so far. She has always inspired me and has made me a better architect, in a way. She will turn 89 on Saturday and this is my present for her.
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I know a video will be online, at some point. As soon as that is ready, I will post it here.
Now go design something!
