CREATIVE DNA IN PRACTICE
PAD studio at RIBA Guerrilla Tactics
PAD studio and our practice mentor Chora were recently invited to present at the RIBA small practice conference “Guerrilla Tactics” on the subject of ‘our approach to change’.
In preparing for our talk, we gathered collectively as a practice and with Roger Tyrrell of Chora to discuss our identity, both individually and collectively as PAD studio. We believe that our existence as a Small to Medium Enterprise outside of London defines us allowing.
We discussed three key ideas that we feel represent how PAD studio has developed as a studio.
- THE VESSEL – SHARED EXPERIENCE
- DNA – IDENTITY AND FRAGMENTS
- PERMEABILITY AND RELATIONSHIPS
THE VESSEL
Our 2nd offering was a short film clip, “The Vessel” or “Poured Gift”; inspired by Martin Heidegger’s writings around the subject of the Jug in the “The Thing and object”.
Writer, Adam Sharr observers the following on Heidegger in the “Thing and object”.
“Although many such our pouring’s were simply drinks for people. Heidegger was particularly interested in the sacred potential of the Jugs poured gift. A jug could pour water and wine in regular circumstance’s but could also pour for consecration”
For us, the poured gift represents the practice of sharing and collaboration - linking to our manifesto point 18, “We consistently share and love to be shared with”.
Our final offering was the PAD studio Manifesto, which can be viewed on our website. The Manifesto has become a vital reference point, guiding PAD studio’s journey. It is an evolving script, allowing us to:
- Be flexible and nimble in all that we do.
- Clearly set out our ethos, values and intentions.
- Shape our work through collective effort.
- Reveal ourselves to ourselves and others.
The Manifesto itself was a collective effort and produced in collaboration with our mentor Roger Tyrrell of Chora. It has become our business plan, evolving as required to meet socio-economic demands; perhaps much more dynamic than a traditional Business Plan lost in that dusty document file in the office.
Its contents are used in every aspect of architectural practice: Design, when meeting clients’, teaching in schools of architecture and discussing marketing. By publishing this text on our website, we have declared our values and intentions in the spirit of transparency and sharing.
DNA
We return to the concept of our collective and geographic fragments of DNA. These strands have given rise to the understanding that occupying the edge condition in Lymington allows us to lock back, be thoughtful, original and add value to all that we do. We believe our practice DNA is unique and can be harnessed to great benefit.
Prior to the presentation, we asked our collaborators to send us an image or words that represented their own DNA; illustrating fragments of our unique relationships with them which inform our work practice ethos.
When we collectively come together as a team, we can be reactive, nimble, flexible and change course as necessary. Fundamentally the idea of a collective practice DNA is that it offers identify and can provide a practice ‘USP’.
Chora?
Chora was founded by roger Tyrrell, after much conversation - often in the harsh weather of a south Devon fishing town.
The word ‘Chora’ represents the existence of a place revelation - reconnecting creative practice with theoretical and intellectual platforms and indeed the converse.
Chora occupies the void between the creative practice and academia. If the currency of the future is creative ideas, Chora seeks to encourage, facilitate, and support the synthesis of Praxis and Research by encouraging rigorous creative pathways that respond intelligently to society’s current and future demands.