Thank you for having me Kevin
I think I’ve spoken quite publicly about the fatigue that washed over me while I taught architecture online two years ago (my my how time flies). While we are in an age in that grants us various ways to connect in a digital replica of a studio, the lack of interaction among the students without the occasional dialogue of ‘no you speak first’ has really diminished the support system for architecture students (or any students let’s be honest). More importantly, watching hopeful eyes slowly lose their shine has been difficult to watch. Where we’ve been conditioned to learn physically (and also understand the importance of in-person engagement), the digital studio culture has severed that liveliness often bubbling from the physical classroom.
Stepping into Kevin Hui’s (whom many of you know as THE Archimarathon) latest initiative Archimarathon Studio revived a wave of enthusiasm for me. Tucked on the first floor opposite an unassuming office building resides a studio space shared with Austin Maynard Architects (AMA) that aims to return the studio culture that most students have missed out on during their studies. Within timber cladded floors and exposed timber rafters, Archimarathon Studio’s layout is one that mimics a co-working space but with the essential architecture tools such as the cutting table and the library full of precedent books and the holy grail tracing paper.
Both Archimarathon and AMA each take up half of the studio floor. On Archimarathon’s side is the main study space, fronted with a ribbon window that frames RMIT’s Design Hub. Here, students can use the space for self-study or collaborate with others to exchange ideas and provide constructive discussion on each other’s work. This is crucial in building up the skills of critical thinking, constructive criticism and communication among peers and architecture enthusiasts.
Centring the studio resides the ‘magic wall’ consisting of a floor to ceiling whiteboard and projector (patent pending from Archimarathon), transforming the area into an intimate lecture theatre for 40-50 people. When not occupied by AMA, it catalyses into a secondary discussion space. The whiteboard, with drawings projected on becomes an instant large-sized tracing paper - students’ work can be drawn on without the precious hand-drawn (or digital) copy being overwhelmed by new pen marks. It’s a fun way to interact with your work - and also, a nice canvas if you ever want to display vibrantly printed presentations (another thing I sorely miss in the past couple of years).
Kevin’s main mission for this program - that is to provide a space for students to collaboratively deconstruct their understanding of architecture reflects on the countless conversations often bred from our education. That is, a desire to truly understand the architectural practice and education. Too often our studio classes dangerously seclude itself in its own bubble - and it’s only in practice we realise the gap between education and professional practice. The intention of establishing the studio within the proximity of an architectural practice provides a stepping stone towards answering our frustrations, as well as providing the ‘fundamental and core skills’ often overlooked in architecture schools. As Andrew Maynard (Director, Austin Maynard Architects; partner in crime to Archimarathon’s videos) said - it’s an opportunity to ‘learn by osmosis’, and I can’t stress how true that statement is. As someone who grew up being trained to eavesdrop on conversations (thank you work experience!), it was one method that I find helpful in picking up information as I navigate around my surroundings. Having the luxury to indirectly engage with the actual environment that we’re taught to graduate into - it is not something to be taken for granted.
I won’t deny the twinge of envy I have for the students who will be accessing the Studio. The opportunity to have the indirect engagement with the profession as well as the chance to surround yourself with students from different universities is something I would’ve like to have younger. Perhaps that’s me not taking the initiative back then to interact with a wider network, and so for this dream studio to be so readily available - Archimarathon Studio is definitely worth considering participating. Not just as an investment on your education - but an investment in building knowledge in architecture’s intersection between education and professional practice.
*Though I was invited to the opening of the event - the thoughts here are solely my own
About Archimarathon Studio
If you’re interested in being involved with Archimarathon Studio - you can enquire here.
About Kevin Hüi
For the last 18 years, Kevin Hüi has been teaching architecture design studios at various universities. An avid architectural traveller, Kevin founded Archimarathon - design-learning focused grand tours dedicated to investigating hidden and well-known architecture gems for architecture enthusiasts, students and graduates. Since 2019, Archimarathon has extended into the YouTube sphere - producing contents related to architecture, travel and education.
He is also the director of 4site Architecture in Melbourne.
You can find out more about Archimarathon here, Facebook or Instagram (@archimarathon). You can subscribe to their YouTube Channel here, or support them on Patreon here.
Archemist In The Making would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land which this blog is being curated. We’d also like to pay our respects to all First Nations Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people who may be visiting and celebrate their continuing connection to land and water. As this is a shared space for written narratives and thoughts, we hope that this will inspire everyone who is visiting this blog to dedicate a time and space to read and listen to our First Nation’s stories - for it always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.