Quest for soulful density

To think profoundly and with meaningful complexity about the future of our cities requires a firm grasp of the past. It’s why the rich story of Kristen Whittle’s life in design so far is needed to understand what informs both his current practice and what might come in the future. From beginnings in Preston, England – home to the iconic Preston Bus Station by Building Design Partnership (BDP) – Whittle went on to study and work in London, Los Angeles, Switzerland and Australia. Afler 15 years as director at Bates Smart, he now runs his own practice based in Melbourne, Studio Kristen Whittle.

The resume alone doesn’t quite capture the depth of experience. Working with firms such as Herzog & de Meuron and studying at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, Whittle was exposed to the great trends of architectural theory; you might say that he got up close and personal with the zeitgeist. These formative years have engendered an understanding of architecture that is wide-ranging, holistic and multidisciplinary, all of which continues to inform the practice of today.

“I learned to consolidate the creative side of my brain with the ideological side and saw a huge opportunity to focus on humanistic issues with a conceptual, creative philosophy,” explains Whittle in relation to setting up his own studio. “There are times in life when one’s true colours come to the surface – because ultimately I realised I’m from SCI-Arc and Herzog & de Meuron stock – and you can’t quite subdue those energies and urges to be creative.”

Those energies are balanced with experience – not just technical experience as an architect but a breadth of experience in terms of all aspects of practice. Whittle notes, for example, the importance of understanding the practicalities of design: “Interspersed among the stellar cast of designers is experience working at a commercial level – understanding how the mechanics of commerce and project management work, for example. Because I wasn’t scared of entering into those domains, I ended up having a much more expansive view than might be typical in practice,” says Whittle.

– Click the link above to read the full article.