Architect Craig Dykers:
“Sustainable architecture must be viewed as both an environmental and social concern.”

Since 2018, VitrA has organized the RIBA + VitrA Talks series in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). We are delighted to welcome you to this series.

How do you think architecture-focused events, discussions, and conversations influence individuals, society, culture, and the architectural ecosystem?

It's remarkable how a single lecture can leave a lasting impression, with people approaching you years later to discuss its impact. It’s a wonderful feeling. Especially when the lecture has provided tangible value to their lives. These events foster meaningful connections and create enduring memories. From a broader perspective, our profession urgently needs advancement. We must acquire extensive new knowledge, adapt our skills, and reconsider our approach to our evolving professional landscape. More simply put, we need to rethink the world we are working in. Such events serve as catalysts for this essential evolution.

How would you define the key concepts in your presentation "Living Buildings, Thoughtful Landscapes"? What insights and reflections would you like attendees to take away from the talk?

This title is based on the tendency of people to compartmentalize the fields within our profession. People tend to separate landscape architecture, building architecture, and interior architecture into distinct categories. We also often stereotype these fields - associating landscape architecture with living elements and building architecture with conceptual thinking. However, both domains incorporate aspects of each other: creating a thoughtful, conceptual landscape is as crucial as understanding its living components. Similarly, designing a building that feels alive is as important as conceptualizing its form. The fundamental concept is to transcend these limitations by interweaving these perspectives, allowing for a more holistic approach to design.

I hope this discussion will help our audience better understand our lesser-known projects. We've specifically selected a series of small-scale, intimate initiatives from the United States, as our international and larger-scale work is already well-documented. Through this conversation, we aim to provide a more comprehensive view of our organization's scope and impact.

What principles guide your approach to creating harmony between architecture, landscape, and the natural world - including humans, plants, and animals? What are the key obstacles that prevent projects from achieving this essential balance?

One of the defining characteristics of our office is that we are predominantly landscape architects rather than structural architects. Over the years, I have observed that architects, me included, tend to assume comprehensive knowledge, believing we understand landscape architecture simply through observation or delegation. However, landscape architecture embodies an entirely distinct approach to design.

Despite the relationship between the two fields, landscape architects and structural architects perceive the world differently. The key lies in more meaningfully incorporating these external perspectives into the design process for both placemaking and building architecture. We should break down barriers between disciplines without attempting to homogenize them. While maintaining distinct identities, we should facilitate seamless movement between landscape and architectural domains.

This understanding is crucial, and those who fail to grasp it often remain entrenched in what I term Old World Modernism - a hierarchical system where a single authority dictates terms and the world complies. This mindset pursues perfection, demanding immutable, ageless designs where every element aligns with an idealized vision. However, reality and life are inherently complex, and meaningful impact often requires us to put our hands in the dirt, sometimes quite literally.

Moving forward requires balancing two imperatives: abandoning utopian ideals while maintaining our commitment to excellence and embracing landscapes that may not conform to postcard aesthetics. By authentically acknowledging landscape's power and liberating ourselves from utopian constraints, we can better harmonize the various realms we inhabit.

How do you interpret sustainability in architecture and implement it in your practice? What is your vision for a future world shaped by sustainable, environmentally conscious, and human rights-focused architectural approaches?

There is an increasingly prevalent discourse that we have long been part of: we must limit new construction. Many existing structures can be renovated and revitalized to exceed their original condition. While the need for new construction will always exist, and renovation projects often incorporate modern elements, this doesn't mean simply reverting to the past or preserving spaces unchanged. Rather, we must adapt to contemporary cultural needs.

From a broader perspective, today's experimental approaches have demonstrated that many materials previously deemed "waste" can be repurposed. For instance, an old sink or faucet can be cleaned and reimagined for new functions without complete dismantling.

Taking a holistic view and utilizing existing resources represents a crucial architectural approach. Drawing from personal experience, I went without a car for forty years before recently purchasing a 63-year-old vehicle specifically to restore it. The environmental impact of this choice is arguably lower than buying a new electric car. Indeed, one of the most environmentally conscious actions we can take is salvaging and revitalizing discarded items from junkyards. Most of these items, including my car, require minimal intervention - often just basic maintenance like cleaning and oil changes rather than major replacements.

This mindset can expand our understanding of sustainability beyond materials, carbon metrics, and construction techniques. We must consider biodiversity and various habitats. We need to emphasize social structures and accessibility.

While those of us engaged in these discussions enjoy certain privileges, we must consider and connect with communities and lifestyles that lack such advantages. Viewing sustainable architecture through both environmental and social lenses will help create a more equitable and inclusive future.

Throughout your career, you have designed numerous public spaces, including opera houses, museums, and libraries. What draws you to work on public spaces specifically? What are the opportunities and challenges that motivate you to undertake these projects?

First and foremost, we prefer to use the term "place" rather than "space". While both terms are common in English, this distinction is crucial for architects. A "space" represents an abstract void defined solely by its boundaries, while a "place" is constructed from tangible elements and characterized by its relationship with its users. We view it as a manifestation of purpose. Our relationship with places shapes their meaning, and the larger and more public a place is, the more diverse the population it serves.

While private residences can certainly be remarkable, they primarily reflect their inhabitants' identity. Studying these smaller-scale projects can provide valuable insights into designing for larger groups. However, the most significant impact lies in designing larger public areas.

This is why we prioritize public projects. Even in private developments, we consider the broader context - the terrain, landscape, and their architectural integration. For instance, trees that house specific bird species affect the wider environment, as these birds traverse beyond the immediate area. The air quality resulting from the interplay between landscape and architecture is also significant.

Projects focused solely on commercial profit or treating architecture as a commodity represent a clear boundary for us. While we support our clients' financial viability, we avoid projects that disregard their environmental and social impact. Such cases are rare - 99% of our clients approach us understanding and appreciating our philosophy, even if they don't fully grasp it initially. The learning process is mutual. Consequently, we've declined very few projects throughout our 35-year history - literally countable on one hand.

You mentioned your first visit to Istanbul many years ago. Now you are back again, and you’ve been here for a few days. Could you share your observations about how Istanbul has evolved since your first visit? How do you think the city's current architectural landscape balances preserving its historic character while embracing contemporary design trends?

It seems surreal to say it has been thirty years. When I first arrived, many of the people I meet today hadn't even been born. Yet in the context of this city's three-thousand-year history, thirty years is merely a moment.

Much of the city has remained unchanged, perhaps due to legislation or public sentiment. High-rise development has largely been kept away from the waterfront, and many historic narrow streets have been preserved. This preservation can be attributed to both resident resistance to relocation and construction regulations.

In any event, Istanbul still retains the same spirit. This is something you rarely feel when you visit a city, especially as a tourist. The people in this city don't exclude you. On the contrary, instead of saying, “You are not one of us,” they say, “You are part of this place.” Throughout my intermittent visits over these three decades, this welcoming spirit has endured. Istanbul's layered history and cultural diversity are unparalleled. While Rome is also beloved, its historical trajectory is more linear, aside from Gothic and Etruscan influences. Istanbul, however, represents a palimpsest where civilizations have continuously reshaped the landscape according to their visions. This ongoing transformation and dynamism distinguishes Istanbul from other cities.

The city shares similarities with our current home, New York, where global diversity thrives, and inclusion is the norm. New York is full of people from all over the world. And there you always feel that you are one of all those people from all over the world. While Istanbul may not match New York's contemporary scale of immigration, it has historically been molded by the convergence of cultures from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Levant, Mediterranean Europe, and America.

Though this multicultural influence may be subtler today, it remains palpable. The city's diverse heritage and historical stratification offer points of connection for everyone. That's why when you come here, you always feel that you belong in some way.