Dwight Douglas is from Trinidad & Tobago and will be graduating in May 2010 from the Architecture program at Howard University. He describes himself as “a young intellect with a great attitude toward life, purpose driven on aspiring to his greatest potential in life.” Read Architecture Caribbean’s interview with Dwight and have a look at his thesis, an Intermodal Commuter Station for Arima, Trinidad.
Architecture Caribbean: What do you read and/ or do for inspiration? Dwight Douglas: I read books related to great architects, the pioneers of the craft as most would say. Such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Antonio Gaudi, Frank L. Wright, Frank Gehry, Santiago Calatrava, Peter Eisenman etc… To see how their theoretical approach to projects have helped them and their interpretation from mind to hand and construction. Inspiration also comes from God and the outside environment, the social fabric of humanity. It is the awareness and anticipation of the basic human needs.
AC: Who are your favorite architects (International and Caribbean) and what do you admire about their work? DD: F.L. W. - admire his strong leadership and sense of his building orientation on the site. Santiago Calatrava - the awareness of knowing what he wants the design form to look like and the structural knowledge to fulfill it. Stefan Behnisch – builds with nature in mind to benefit from it.
AC: Talk to me about your design philosophy. DD: My design philosophy is that architecture should express life and life is movement, a continuous present through time and space never static, never having the same emotional response everyday. This is how I want to design, allowing my building to evolve as humanity has evolved. kinetic, stimulating, never losing your attention.
AC: How do you formulate your ideas and develop them? DD: Love making models, doing sketches of space relations, sections and color renderings.
AC: Where do you see yourself in 5 yrs? 10 yrs? DD: Back in Trinidad practicing architecture
AC: What is a possible positive response that Caribbean Architects can offer to the current economic downturn? DD: The ability to design green and smart, with nature using it strengths to help and separating ourselves from artificial lighting and HVAC systems.
AC: What advice would you give to those currently in college studying architecture? DD: If you are doing it just for the money, leave! But if you are passionate about the built environment and believe that your contribute will help society live well then keep on working.
AC: Are there any changes you would like to see in the profession? DD: Stop outsourcing our responsibilities.
AC: Our Theme for the launch of Architecture Caribbean is RHYTHM. What does Rhythm mean to you? DD: A sequence of beats, cords and movement. Ordered by a baseline principal within every individual's body. Expressed in very different ways musicians through music, artist through art and architects through buildings. It is the sequence of whatever you could relate it to that gives a right feeling.
AC: What do you think about Architecture Caribbean and its goal to highlight Architecture and the Arts in the Caribbean and other parts of the world? DD: I wish it all the best…
Architecture Caribbean would like to thank Dwight for his time and for sharing his Intermodal Commuter Station Project with us. Stay in touch, and all the best Dwight!
