John Cary- Big Gifts, Deep Needs

Remember.

Mr. John Cary presented us with a moving insight into his work with Public Architecture. He began with a quick exercise, he asked us to remember where we came from and why we got into this profession to begin with. John’s own background in a suburban environment, complete with a loud family system that “rarely afforded peace and quite” has had a profound influence on his current outlook on the practice of architecture.

Create.

John showed a temporary demonstration project, built completely from waste products, that was showcased by National Geographic. This project has been a showpiece that brings the ability to continue conceptual means into the built environment.

“Find where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep needs.”

Connect.

There are a lot of people creating things, but fewer mechanisms by which those people can come together. To this end John created the blog Public Interest Architecture to collect and distribute this type of information.

‘The published word is a declaration of membership in a community.”

There is more need in the world, whether non-profits or other, than architects to meet that need. Architects tend to be hidden behind their work and John is attempting to change this dichotomy.

John referred often to the Rural Studio as one of the most well know examples of public interest design. There are many names for this movement but they all speak to pro bono work and the need to work for the betterment of society. Architecture for Humanity, Public Architecture and other organizations such as Project H Design collectively work to further this interest. We heard from Alan Ricks of MASS design yesterday, and his work falls squarely into this realm. Perkins + Will has a corporate policy for probono work and according to John one that paramount to this movement.

Pro Bono.

Despite what we all may think, pro bono does not necessarily mean ‘for free’, but instead ‘for good’. This may translate into reduced fees, or even free work, but this difference is something that must be understood. John spoke how many of out thoughts are really only half of and idea and how creating a narrative can help to complete that idea.

Story.

Numerous New York libraries have, over the past few years, have been redesigned on a pro-bono basis. The powerful story behind these examples is a small school boy who brought all his personal belongings from home and stated ‘I’m taking these into the library”. This child had found such reward in this space that he felt more comfortable there than in his own home.

“My pro-bono projects are my favorite projects.”

Public Architecture produced a book The Power of Pro-Bono. This book highlights numerous projects across the country, organized around program type, and collectively illustrates the story of pro-bono; a story of changing lives through architectural intervention. Various firms, both large and small, have produced work that has changed the areas in which the projects are located, but more importantly they have shaped lives of the users for the better.

Thank you, John, for sharing your work and your vision with us!

Tips for Pro-Bono work:

-Follow your passions

-Be selective

-Define scope

-Budget and invoice

-Raise expectations

-Become ambassadors

-Promote it

-Enlist others

-Document the process

-Spread the word