Architecture and Children
24 May 2010
So last week I conducted an interview with my daughter where we discussed many different aspects of being an architect and all that entails. I received a great number of really amusing emails where other architects had conducted the same interview with their children and I thought it would be fun to post two of the more interesting ones here.
Archer Pann (son of architect Neal Pann)
Architect Neal Pann with ‘Neal A. Pann’ in Livermore, Ca. interviews his son Archer:
Before starting my interview with my almost five year old son, he was coloring with pens at my drafting table in my office that looks out into our backyard where our detached garage is. The following is a transcript from our 7 minute conversation about architects conducted on Saturday morning, May 22, 2010.
Dad: Archer, I’d like to ask you a few questions about what daddy does for a living. Archer: Ok. Dad: Do you know what daddy does for a living? Archer: <Shakes his head no.> Dad: Daddy is an architect. Do you know what architects do? Archer: They draw stuff. Dad: What do they draw? Archer: They draw homes. And they draw pictures of the homes and they use different colors with pens. Dad: Do you need any special skills to be an architect? Archer: <Nods head yes.> Dad: Such as? Archer: Artists color trees and houses and garages and plants. Dad: Do you think its easy being an architect? Archer: Uh huh. Dad: Why do you think that is? Archer: Because we draw great pictures. Dad: What are some of the jobs that are more difficult than being an architect? Archer: Drawing stuff. Dad: Do you have to be smart to be an architect? Archer: Uh huh. Dad: How do you know that? Archer: You draw stuff and pictures of houses. Dad: Do you think being an architect is a difficult job? Archer: Yes. Dad: Why do you think that is? Archer: Because we draw pictures on paper. Dad: Do you think it’s a fun job? Archer: Yeah. Dad: Why do you think it’s a fun job? Archer: Because coloring is so fun. Dad: Do you need any computer skills? Archer: Yeah. Dad: What sort of computer skills do you need? Archer: I want Hulk smash. Dad: Are architects mostly men, women or a mixture of the two? Archer: Number 5. Dad: Number what? Archer: Number 5. Dad: Number 5? Archer: Daddy number 5 is Hulk smash. Dad: Ok. Archer: He’s the red Hulk smash. The red Hulk smash is number 5. Dad: So, are architects Archer: And, Daddy, the green Hulk smash is number 7. Dad: Ok. Archer: And the purple one is number 18. Dad: There’s a purple Hulk smash? Archer: Uh huh. Dad: Oh, ok. Archer: And there’s a black Hulk smash. The black Hulk smash has the number 65. Dad: Ok, so, Archer, do architects need to lift heavy things? Archer: Yeah. Dad: Like what? Archer: They go into cranes and the cranes hang up walls and they fix houses. Dad: Do architects have to work a lot of hours? Archer: Yes. Dad: Does daddy have to miss anything because I have to work a lot? Archer: Yes! Dad: What do I miss? Archer: You miss the…you miss…you don’t get to…because you miss. Dad: Do architects have to go to school? Archer: No. Dad: No? Archer: <Nods yes.> Dad: Ok. How do people know if you’re a good architect? Archer: Because you color so great. Dad: What does daddy color? Archer: You color a garage and a robot. Dad: How long does it take to design a house? Archer: fifteen dollars. Dad: No, how long? Archer: You work so hard with it and you get tired of doing it. Dad: So, how long does it take to design a house? Archer: Sixteen fifty. Dad: Not how much, how long? How much time? Archer: I don’t know. Dad: How long does it take to build a house? Archer: you get tired of building a house. Dad: How long does it take? Archer: I don’t know. Dad: Do you think being an architect is a good job? Archer: <Nods yes.> Dad: Why do you think that? Archer: Because they color garages out of robots. Dad: Do architects make a lot of money? Archer: One hundred. Dad: One hundred. Is that per house or for the whole year? Archer: The whole year. Dad: Ok. Thank you very much. Archer: I have to go color now. Scarlett (Archer’s three year old sister): It’s my turn..
Architect Keith Parma with ‘cogitatedesign’ in Raleigh NC, interviews his daughter:
I recently sat down with my 6 year old kindergartener and contemporary of prodigy and future renown veterinary explorer Kate Borson to discuss architecture. I thought it could be interesting to see the current themes and contrasts of architecture in Texas verse North Carolina.
Dad: Do you know what I do for a living?
Daughter: no……builder…….architect, yeah that’s it architect
Dad: What does an architect do?
Daughter: builds stuff, draws stuff
Dad: What kind of buildings?
Daughter: houses
Dad: Anything else?
Daughter: uh huh, schools
Dad: So who does the really big buildings?
Daughter: I have no idea…somebody else
Dad: Who are the other people?
Daughter: not architects
Dad: Do you need any special skills to be an architect?
Daughter: tools and those dot things that are like tape but different
Dad: Do you think it’s easy being an architect?
Daughter: no
Dad: Why not?
Daughter: because sometimes you get it wrong when you put a piece in the place you don’t want to
Dad: What are some jobs that are more difficult than being an architect?
Daughter: teacher, because you try and make the class quiet but no one listens and the kids just keep doing stuff
Dad: Do you have to be smart to be an architect
Daughter: yes
Dad: How do you know this?
Daughter: because daddy you’re smart
Dad: Is being an architect a difficult job?
Daughter: not if you practice
Dad: Why do you think it would be fun?
Daughter: because you can build anything you want, just need to ask Dad if it’s okay to build….ooooo can we show the models I built, take a picture and email it
Dad: Okay, here you go:
Daughter: DAD! Not that one, that’s the one with the bamboo garden I want the one with the pools and columns Dad: Oh, sorry:
Dad: Do you need any computer skills? Daughter: yes because you have to print stuff Dad: Are architects men, women or a mixture of the two? Daughter: both Dad: Why do you think that’s true? Daughter: because men and women can do anything Dad: Do architects need to lift heavy things? Daughter: no Dad: Do architects have to work a lot of hours? Daughter: Yes, like if you do a house in one day it’s a lot of hours and you may need to take a break for some quiet time Dad: Do I miss anything because I work a lot? Daughter: yes, you miss me Dad: Do architects have to go to school? Daughter: yes, because school is like a meeting Dad: And do all architects go there? Daughter: no, some go home Dad: How do people know if your a good architect? Daughter: the people see your buildings Dad: How do they know it’s good after seeing it? Daughter: if there correct and match what you drew on paper then there good buildings: Dad: Does it take long to design a house? Daughter: yes Dad: How long? Daughter: very long Dad: How long does it take to build a house? Daughter: 100 minutes Dad: Do you think being an architect is a good job? Daughter: yes! It’s fun! Dad: Do architects make a lot of money? Daughter: yes Dad: How much? Daughter: I’ve no idea but if you work a lot you make a lot of money to give to the poor and people who don’t have stuff Dad: Thank you for allowing me to ask you these questions today; you did a great job. Daughter: okay, now my turn “Can I watch Noggin since I answered all these silly questions?” Dad: I guess, channel 74……”The phone, the phone is ringing….an animal is in trouble, this is serious……what’s gonna work? Teamwork! Teamwork!” Daughter: thanks dad, you’re the best Dad: (muttering under my breath) damn wonderpets, they’re not so wonderful…I mean they have a flying boat yet whenever an animal is caught in a tree they land on the ground and devise a plan to get up to the animal……wonderful my ass! more like mediocre pets…..I’ll tell you what will work, common sense! Daughter: what did you say? Dad: huh, oh I was just saying that Lenny sure has a plan for this one!
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