Tyler MacNeal – Personal Statement

The most rewarding pursuits in the architectural field for me relate to public interest design and a deeper understanding of material and assemblies. As the role of the architect diminishes and the clarity of their importance fades away in the public eye, the architectural profession needs to redefine the relevance of design. This is why I am investing my future explorations, career goals and interests in public interest design and a deeper understanding of material; because I feel these paths can have a huge impact on making architecture relevant again. Architecture affects everyone but is not designed for everyone. As I progress through school I become less interested in elite architecture and more interested in design thinking that works with communities in need. As the field of architecture shifts to redefine itself I feel it’s important for design to serve everyone’s voice in a community. Beautiful, efficient, affordable and aesthetic design can reach everyone; domestic practices of public interest design are worth pursuing after graduation. I would ideally like to design and build locally with our communities in need while simultaneously sharing ideas with global communities. Working across the spectrum of the creative design field is important; it is no longer limited to architect but shifted to a creative design thinker.

The architect’s role has diminished from the time when they were considered the master builder. I am interested in pursuing a knowledge of material and assembly because it is a crucial design element to understanding the material and tools you are working with. For the time being I have focused on smaller projects (such as wood working, burnt wood and ceramics) as a way to start this exploration; becoming more familiar with the nuances of building materials and special applications of tools. My recent research with burnt cedar has given me a greater insight into the properties and aesthetic applications of wood in architecture. The project sparked an excitement of intimate and methodical material exploration that I must continue pursuing throughout my career. I believe that architects with a greater interest, personal investment and understanding of a material will naturally shift towards more beautiful and sustainable design.

With the pursuits of public interest design and a deeper understanding of material in mind, I feel that it is crucial to hold on to established architectural ideas of deeper meaning, layered complexity and conceptual design and thinking. They go hand in hand with design and are crucial elements to hold on to as the profession shifts to redefine itself.