#2 Matt Hayes: What Every Architecture Student Needs to Know
Oct 15, 2023
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Listen to Matt Hayes, an architect who joined the Building Culture team in 2021, as he discusses the importance of architectural education, the benefits of travel in building and design, the uniqueness of working for a start-up Design & Build firm, and prioritizing humans over cars in creating beautiful places.
The importance of studying historical urbanism, classical architecture, and local vernacular in creating durable and beautiful buildings.
The need for architecture schools to strike a balance between artistic creativity and designing buildings for the benefit of the community.
The significance of a holistic design process that integrates architecture, construction, and interior design for personalized customization and attention to detail.
Deep dives
Transitioning from high-end architecture firm in New York to Oklahoma City
Matt Hayes discusses his transition from working at a high-end architecture firm in New York City to moving to Oklahoma City. He shares the reasons behind his decision and the exciting opportunities he found in Oklahoma City, particularly in confronting the challenges of car-centric urbanism and disposable building practices in America.
The Importance of Learning from the Past in Architecture Education
Matt Hayes reflects on his education at the University of Notre Dame, where the focus is on traditional and classical architecture principles. He emphasizes the value of learning from historical urbanism, classical architecture, and local vernacular in creating durable and beautiful buildings. He also discusses the need for architecture schools to prioritize studying precedent and exploring past architectural successes.
Moving Beyond Abstract Artistic Expression in Architecture Education
Matt Hayes discusses the drawbacks of emphasizing abstract and artistic expression over practicality and functionality in architecture education. He argues that architecture should serve people and the city, and that a balance should be struck between artistic creativity and designing buildings for the benefit of the community. He also highlights the importance of gaining hands-on construction knowledge and understanding the construction process in architectural education.
Importance of holistic design process
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of a holistic design process, where architecture, construction, and interior design work together seamlessly. The hosts discuss the collaborative nature of their work, combining the skills of designing, managing construction, and handling interiors. They highlight the benefits of this approach, such as attention to detail, personalized customization, and the ability to leverage the expertise of each individual involved. The hosts also mention the importance of balancing chaos and order in the design process, allowing for creative inspiration while maintaining a structured workflow.
The value of experience in the construction field
The episode explores the value of hands-on experience in the construction field for architects. They discuss how their prior experience in construction has shaped their approach to designing homes. The hosts highlight the importance of understanding the construction process, from using tools to collaborating with tradespeople. They emphasize that this experience enhances their ability to make informed decisions, manage projects effectively, and achieve a higher level of detail and craftsmanship in their designs. The conversation also touches on the significance of humility in learning from the past and incorporating successful precedents into contemporary design.
Listen in on the one-year anniversary of Matt Hayes joining the Building Culture team. Whether you're considering architecture as your field of study, want to hear what the day to day of working for a Design & Build small business is like, or are just curious to hear more on what makes beautiful places, this one is for you.
Prior to joining Building Culture in 2022, Matt graduated from the Notre Dame School of Architecture and worked in Manhattan at G.P. Schafer Architect on custom residences in areas including Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, and New York City. Following several serendipitous interactions with Austin, the opportunity to confront the problems of disposable building and car-centric urbanism was too exciting for Matt to pass up and he uprooted to Oklahoma to join the Building Culture Team as Architect and Program Manager. Matt and Austin discuss an array of topics, like what factors are important when considering architect school for yourself, the benefits of travel and its influence on their building and design methods, the uniqueness of working for a start up Design & Build firm, and considering what makes a beautiful place and have the priority on humans and not cars.
