The final drive into Doctor’s Point is on a gravel road along a narrow corridor of native bush that transports you from one world to another. And today, more than ever, as a thick cloak of cloud is rendered deep reds and magentas by the pre-dawn light.
With me is one of the most inspiring people I have had the good fortune of meeting in my life: architect Damien van Brandenburg, his talented wife Ash and their nearly two-year-old Finnish Lapphund, Lulu.
Damien, 34, is one of the driving forces behind the incredible Dunedin Waterfront Vision (here), is in the middle of the jaw-dropping Marisfrolg Headquarters build in China and the designer behind the wave-inspired Crest at Lake Wakatipu. Quite simply he, and the tight-knit 12-strong team at Architecture van Brandenburg, are building extraordinary spaces that mostly mimic nature.
“Biomimicry in concept, is the study of the natural world,” he shares as our dogs wrestle along the foreshore. “Looking at systems and elements of nature for the purpose of solving human problems. For us, biomimicry in architecture is a case of learning from evolution and how this can be applied to the built environment.”
“I have always been drawn to organic forms in the natural world and find these more pleasing than rectangular built form and I have wanted to apply this to a philosophy for architecture.”
His wife, Ash, has extended this into product design.
“Ash continues with the tactile elements within the built environment,” he explains. “That is the door handles, furniture, homewares. In a sense, we explore designing for a built world from a macro level to micro level and engage our minds in every step between.”
That is the part of their story that intrigues me most. We all have the ability to dream wildly and think outside the square, but for Damien and his team that creative process is just the spark that informs the projects they then meticulously piece together.
As a child Damien has memories of running around on construction sites, playing with Lego, and curiously exploring the natural environment.
“When I finished high school I went on to do a drafting diploma, then an architecture degree,” he adds. “I have continued to play, explore and be fascinated by our natural environment ever since and how this can influence our built environment.”
Earlier in the week, he showed me a scale model of the Marisfrolg project and a broad leaf that arched over the building, one side shedding water into a lake and the other directing rainwater down a stem and into the building’s water supply. My mind boggles at the many turns that concept could have been challenged as a building component. Yet, it now exists.
“Working with a talent team, having trusting relationships with those involved in the process and those who contribute to the project overall are key factors to bringing a project to realisation,” he admits. “There are always going to be those who don’t agree and an important factor is to keep striving for that which you believe in. A large build project can span many years, so keeping true to your intent requires stamina and strength in your own convictions.”
“I get excited by the projects we are involved in and these drive me to work through the aspects that I think are important to the people who will engage with them. I believe that it is important that what we do must bring joy for the people who will inhabit the space that we design.”
Damien and Ash pause to take in the vast sunrise. Lulu wades into the water. Damien snaps a shot to add to Lulu’s Instagram profile.
“There is an abundance of design inspiration in nature,” Damien tells me as the sun tries to lift a corner of the red veil above us. “Through exploring these I find many elements that will inform the design of a project we are working on, and if this is not always or not directly applicable for the project we will put this aside and keep this in mind for another future project. We hold an archive of project ideas that in later stages have influenced other ideas.”
I imagine a vault of models of otherworldly building designs lying shelved as if a shrine from a distant future. And I look at Damien, silhouetted by dawn, and wonder how someone can have such ideas on tap and, seemingly, way more than a lifetime could fulfil. And why Dunedin? Why are we even here at Doctor’s Point?
“Ash and I have always enjoyed visiting Doctor’s point,” he smiles. “It holds sentimental value for us too – this is where I proposed to Ash.”
The two were married earlier this year.
“There is a sense of generosity that inspires me here,” Damien continues. “In so far as you can bury your hands in the sand and pull up handfuls of cockles at a time.”
“This generosity extends into the panoramic view from the sweeps of the rolling hills behind Blueskin Bay, across the sand dunes and to the expansive coastline. It holds hidden attributes to explore and the geography creates pockets of calming spaces, no matter which way the wind is blowing. We visit all year around and love to show this special place to visitors. We have fond memories of being here with friends and family, watching wildlife, picnicking, and running around with Lulu.”
We run around until the sun breaches the horizon momentarily and is then unable to show its face, thwarted by the cover of cloud. The red quickly drains from the sky, the best part of the day, a grand performance for the few.
See you at the beach … Derek
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