#parlourinstaguest

During the end of October 2017, I hosted the Parlour Architecture Instagram account with my friends and uni buds Diana Panagakis and Dora Lin. Parlour is a forum for celebrating women, equity and architecture in Australia backed by vibrant discussion and research. For more information about this great association, see their full website at www.archiparlour.org.

Here’s an archive of my posts: check out the full gamut of inspirational posters over on @_parlour!

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Hi! I'm Leonie, new to thinking about architecture after a career change. I graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) in 2004 and since worked as a graphics/web/UX designer for the next decade. Two years ago I decided to make the change to Architecture and Design, and I'm not looking back. I'm now wrapping up my first year in the 300pt Master of Architecture program at @unimelb. So far, my transition to architecture has been a lot of fun! pic: @dianapannn words: @leoniecsanki #architecturestudent #architecture #melbourne

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 1, 2017 at 6:11pm PDT

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I made the change to Architecture after falling ill with ME/CFS a few years back. I had to give up working completely to recover, and during this time my focus shifted to the environment, both natural and built, and I noticed in detail how much architecture, or a lack of it, could affect my health in both negative and positive ways. I decided then I wanted to become an influencer of positive change in architecture, where what we build is inclusive and supportive of our communities. I'm still on the mend and using my walking stick, but in some ways falling ill has given me a new purpose. words+pic: @leoniecsanki #spoonie #spooniescandoit #mecfs #fibromyalgia #melbourne #architecture

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 1, 2017 at 9:38pm PDT

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Tonight is a bit exciting! It’s #critday for Studio B of the 300pt Master of Architecture course, and we’re all presenting our final projects! It’s been a great year – I feel like I’m on my way to becoming an architect – family and friends are starting to notice I do weird things like getting excited about details on ceilings. This just makes me happy. Diana and I were in different groups on this project, so I’ll be introducing my group’s residential tower project on my portfolio site after a bit of rest… in the meantime here’s a sneak preview!
words+pics: @leoniecsanki @fezfaz #msdsocial
#architecture #next_top_architects

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 1, 2017 at 11:49pm PDT

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In telling my story at the few functions I've been to so far, I often do get the reaction: You must be crazy to do Architecture if you have this illness! Well, I may be designer-y crazy, but I don't believe Architecture isn't for people who have something else that needs managing. As creatives, we've got that intensive passionate streak that can be all-consuming if we let it. I'm certainly still guilty of that! Architecture is a passion, but we need not sacrifice ourselves for it. This is likely no news for you; but I hope that by sharing my story, I can find a niche where working at a manageable pace and creating amazing architecture is possible. Perhaps my most favorite way of keeping my pace relaxed at the moment is conceptual model making! words+pic: @leoniecsanki #spooniestudent #architecture

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 2, 2017 at 11:52am PDT

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Some of our recent readings in our studies with Karen Burns has got me thinking about what kind of role I want to have as an architect. I'm still putting these ideas together, so feel free to share your thoughts too! I think that the Architect has a responsibility to not just design and specify buildings that are safe and ‘sexy’, but also nurture and care for the community. There is something we can do about connecting people in our built environment. Just as doctors look after our health, economists our resources; architects can nurture people's interactions and psyche on somewhat metaphysical level – perhaps this will mean an architect's education would include branches of psychology and sociology instead of structural systems? The more we learn, the more specialised our professions become – perhaps it is the engineer who becomes solely concerned with a building’s systems and the architect is more engaged with buildings' empathetic integrity. words+pic: @leoniecsanki #happy #architecture #thinkingoutloud

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 2, 2017 at 5:38pm PDT

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Whatever the future of architecture, I am delighted to be a part of it and find my niche. I’m excited to keep learning and meeting new people – a big thank you to you all for reading my posts these few days. With the first year of my studies complete, I’m keen to start participating more in architecture events around Melbourne, so if you see me come and say hello! 😊
words+pic: @leoniecsanki #wellingtonnz #travelbug #melbourne

A post shared by Parlour (@_parlour) on Nov 2, 2017 at 10:45pm PDT