Architecture: The Capacity to Surprise

Every now and then C has the capacity to surprise me.

We had been waiting for the delivery of the LEGO Architecture Studio – the present he bought with the money he was given for his birthday. (And yes, he waited months until there was a sale so he could afford it – he’s good at waiting, actually.)

It arrived today.

Inside the studio

He insisted almost immediately that I read sections aloud and start doing the architecture exercises.

The original power station design, with added windows.

The first we stumbled upon was how to go about the initial process of coming up with a design. So all three of us sat down to ‘make models’. Little J made aeroplanes, of course. I clumsily tried to follow their ideas for a bird and a tower. But C had his own idea – a power station.

Modified design that allowed for a grand entrance and more residential space.

Initially over the water, but after a bit of thought about engineering, decided that next to a river was the better solution. It was to be a multi-use complex.

Architecture Brief – the numbers represent the amount of floors in the building. The squiggles on the bottom left are the river.

I talked C into writing an architecture brief to explain how the building was to be used. (He’d already talked me through the design, but sneaky mum wanted him to practice his hand-writing.)

A modular creation

He hasn’t stopped yet, but has moved onto modular design, boat-inspired buildings and prisons. And I believe after a couple of hours of design, he’s now deciding if he will recreate the Sears Tower, or come up with something else to surprise me, again.

C’s idea of a prison

I think it’s going to be architecture city here for the foreseeable future.

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If you are looking for architecture material for your own kids, these are worth a look:

• Sceleratus Classical Academy blog-posts on architecture
• Lesson plans for K-6 from the American Institute of Architects
• Grand Designs TV show – the UK version (focusing on homes, but with lots of discussion on good building techniques and modernism)
• This documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright (NB. His life is quite tragic, so be careful with sensitive kids).
• Upside down houses
• Lego recreations of buildings, like Krak Des Chevalier
• House open inspections – C loves the blueprints, which are often available online. Designing your own is fun too!
• Briefs for new skyscrapers, like Victoria One
• Open house days in your city, such as Melbourne Open House
• Or even competitions like, Future City (which we haven’t done …yet!)