Creativity Matters
Jon Smith, renowned architect and director of architecture practice Matter, talks creativity, daydreams and design
New home in Te Arai; renovation of an existing villa into an office building
What inspires your creativity?
Coffee, everything and anything; from listening to podcasts, posing theoretically absurd challenges, through to staring into space and watching the world go by. When you are lucky enough to have time to indulge in some daydreaming, it can be a great creative catalyst. Allowing the mind to relax and slow down sometimes makes some magic.
What do you daydream about?
How technology will combine with people to create healthy, beneficial things, book ideas, what does an NPC do when off the game screen, space, how to weigh fire, are we in a simulation? Combining different ideas and aspects of life into something new and exciting; the future, mapping 3D space, and inevitably, how all of these things relate to architecture.
How has the pandemic influenced architecture in New Zealand?
Significantly, and we are probably unaware of many additional aspects at this stage. We have a generation of kids who will always remember the lockdowns and experiences therein being an incredibly impactful time for us all in different ways. How this plays out in the built environment will be intriguing. The relationship of the physical home to families and the connection between the generations has become very important. Commercial space is being redefined, and the understanding of demand and build costs currently has an acute focus.
What creative hobbies do you indulge in?
Art, writing and karaoke. Coincidentally, over the last ten years, I have been working on a children’s book called “The Monkey and the Moonbeam” (Little Love Books) which is going to be published next month. The initial lockdown provided me with enough time to make some great progress on the illustrations, without which I feel the book may have never made it. Originally I was hoping to have the book finished before my son was born...he is nine now.
“When you are lucky enough to have time to indulge in some daydreaming it can be a great creative catalyst”
Favourite space in your own home?
We are lucky enough to have an old villa. However, it was renovated in the 80s which was not a good era for renovations to villas, so my favourite space is just outside. We have a quirky half-moon deck off the lean-to doors and spend many days and evenings hanging out on the threshold.
Can you share one of your all-time favourite design projects and why?
It’s very hard to answer this as there have been so many great collaborations with awesome people. An ongoing source of joy is the hidden garage in the ‘Tree Villa’ home, and a current commercial office building project is providing some fantastic opportunities. With these offices, we are creating playful areas, injecting fun into the workplace while making it feel a little like a home away from home. The project has green roofs, hammocks, and Alice in Wonderland-like doorways.
The Tree Villa (look closely for the secret garage!) Photography by Simon Devitt