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How is overlighting of our internal environments, and overshading our cities, affecting our wellbeing? These are some of the things that Antony DiMase of DiMase Architects thinks about in his role as an Architect and as a conscientious member of modern society.
During our chat, we discussed the role that architecture can play in making better places for people and the planet and the impact that light has on people and cities.
Antony DiMase & Architecture
Antony DiMase confesses to not have a lifelong dream of becoming an Architect. He does, however, reflect on feeling immediately comfortable in the profession ever since attending his first lecture at the University of Melbourne. Antony attributes some of this to an inspirational first-year teacher, Hugh O’Neill.
Design More. Consume Less.
After studying architecture in Melbourne, Antony took a trip to Shanghai where he spent some time thinking and journaling. He was impacted by the vastness of the city and thought a lot about how the city impacted the people in it, as well as the wider environment. In speaking with Antony, I get the sense that his consciousness and deep thinking about designers’ roles and responsibilities, remains with him.
The Least Damage Possible
“We have to recognise that buildings do have an impact on the environment”, says Antony. He’s very wary of greenwash and pragmatic about the realities of building. We need buildings, but we should not just “build at all cost” he adds. Architects have a responsibility and an opportunity to consider the impact of what they are part of creating.
Growth and Decay
Antony drew an interesting contrast between landscaping and building. When a landscaper has finished on site, he explained, their vision is yet to flourish. The ground is often sparse. Gaps exist, waiting to be filled by growing seedlings.
A builder’s job, on the other hand, is to see that that architect’s vision is complete. When a builder finishes a job, the building is likely to be the best it will ever be. From that moment on, it starts to degrade.
An egotistical architect might fear this pessimistic outlook on the fleeting perfection of their craft. Antony’s more positive approach is to consider the possibility of regenerative buildings that form part of the landscape as a whole. We should think about how to create buildings that will nurture people without harming the planet.
A Home in a Warehouse
Urban regeneration through the re-use of existing buildings, is a great way to reduce our impact. Antony and his team had the opportunity to do just that with a low energy project in Melbourne’s inner-west.
“We were asked by some exceptional clients to build a low energy house”. Explained Antony. It’s not certified, but Antony did a lot of work to get the insulation and ventilation right.
Lighting
During his career, Antony has become interested in light. He’s the first to acknowledge that modern lighting technology is amazing, but he has also asked the question, “how do we make spaces that are day-lit?” He did a course on the subject and has since continued to explore how to make artificial lighting and natural daylight work alongside each other.
Antony explained that we’re over-lighting a lot of our internal spaces, and over-shading big parts of our cities. It’s increasingly common for city dwellers to have very little connection with natural daylight and very disrupted daylight patterns. This can affect our sleep, and our longterm mental and physical health.
Antony explores this subject in his own podcast, co-hosted with Jackson Stigwood of A Billion Suns.
DiMase Architects
Visit DiMase Architects online, or if you’re in Melbourne, swing by their studio in North Fitzroy and browse the Shopfront 342 gallery.
DiMase Architects are B Corporation Accredited and Antony is a coordinator of Architects Declare Australia.
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