“Some wise words to my younger self” – Carey Lyon

The Emerging Architects and Graduate Network (EmAGN) have invited several architects around Victoria to consider a message that they would share with their younger architect selves, and this week they’ve shared words from Lyons Director, Carey Lyon.

Thanks to Australian Institute of Architects and EmAGN for sharing:

“In the early eighties, as a recent graduate, I attended one of those louche dinners of the time when dinner suits were standard fare and black t shirts not yet de rigueur. I was seated next to an esteemed older architect, a Gold Medallist in fact, and he was keen to give me plenty of unsolicited advice between too many overly wooded chardonnays. Like to never let your practice get larger than twenty people or you lose control (I failed the first point). But his advice that lodged in my young mind was that architects should ‘think like artists but act like accountants’. I recall I took that to mean you must fully inhabit the world of creative ideas, in a critical and contrary kind of way, yet be uber diligent with your client’s money, and preferably dress in a straight catalogue suit.

But after 40 years of trying (maybe not the suit) I have come to see the advice a little differently. Nurturing your own critical creative enterprise is far and away the most important thing you can do – start it early, prioritize it and maintain it. Design is all architects have for building, and being useful to, a society. What you need to go with this enterprise is a hard – flinty hard – professionalism that has range from subversive cunning to diplomatic charm. Go hard for it and get the deal done. Forget the accountant, be a wrangler of the contest.”

About Carey Lyon

Carey is one of the Founding Directors of Lyons whose impact upon Australia’s architecture industry is immense. He is an acknowledged leader in design within Australia for the award-winning projects he has led and co-led, his long-standing role as Professor of Architecture at RMIT University and peer-elected positions for national architecture bodies.

Over the last three decades Carey has amassed a wealth of experience leading and designing multi-million-dollar public, commercial, cultural and institutional projects. His expertise as a collaborator and creative consultant have been integral in winning Lyons international recognition and many awards for spaces that exceed the needs of the communities they are designed for.

Learn more about CareyLearn more about Carey

“Nurturing your own critical creative enterprise is far and away the most important thing you can do – start it early, prioritise it and maintain it.”

Image: RMIT Swanston Academic Building

“Design is all architects have for building, and being useful to, a society.”

Image: ECU City Campus

Building
the city

Collaborating with
designers and artists

Connecting
researchers

Connecting
with landscape

Designing
sustainable futures

Enriching cultural
experience

Healthier
communities

Making public spaces
for everyone

Sharing our
histories

Student
Experience

Transforming
the Campus

Connecting
researchers

Collaborating with
designers and artists

Making public spaces
for everyone

Building
the city

Connecting
with landscape

Designing
sustainable futures

Student
Experience

Sharing our
histories

Healthier
communities

Enriching cultural
experience

Healthier
communities

Transforming
the Campus

Enriching cultural
experience

Sharing our
histories

Connecting
researchers

Collaborating with
designers and artists

Connecting
with landscape

Student
Experience

Building
the city

Making public spaces
for everyone

Designing
sustainable futures

Enriching cultural
experience

Sharing our
histories

Building
the city

Designing
sustainable futures

Healthier
communities

Student
Experience

Making public spaces
for everyone

Transforming
the Campus

Collaborating with
designers and artists

Connecting
researchers

Connecting
with landscape

Now that you’ve met Carey, come and meet the rest of the team.

Meet the teamMeet the team

About EmAGN

The Emerging Architects and Graduate Network (EmAGN) is a membership demographic of the Australian Institute of Architects. EmAGN represents, advocates for and supports the interests of graduate and early career architects who are within 15 years of graduation from completing a Masters in Architecture.

EmAGN’s goals are to support and provide opportunities for emerging architects by creating events and initiatives which help grow connections within the industry.

Find out moreFind out more

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