“We’re really good at recognising the financial value of saving up a deposit and buying a house, but much less able to see the cumulative value of all the smaller decisions we make in our lives,” says Rajan Hira, Registered Architect and Senior Principal at Chow:Hill Architects. “The things that really fill your bucket in terms of your physical space: access to sky and nature, working in comfort, a standing desk to keep you moving, the ability to take your shoes off and put your feet in the sun - those are things we often discount in the present, but we can see their impacts years down the line. Spaces that promote connection to others and the natural world create a richer life experience.”
When Rajan first joined Chow:Hill in 2018, he was drawn to the practice’s work with socially conscious architecture, such as hospitals and social housing. “The human focus of those types of projects really resonates with me,” he says. “They might not be art galleries that win architectural awards, but they have real purpose and meaningful impact.”
In particular, Rajan has focused his energy on designing aged care facilities and residential homes for people living with Dementia. “Those types of projects are all about supporting residents and slowing down the negative effects of what they’re facing. When designing for them, and for anyone, the questions I’m asking are: how do we make people more connected and less isolated, and what are the things that are getting in the way?”
Rajan’s human-centred design ethos extends beyond the built environment and into the working environment, he says, which he is determined to make supportive and fun. “Chow:Hill is people-focused, both in terms of what we build and who we are as a team. It’s important to me to be available when someone needs me and make them feel seen and important. That’s how I want to feel and how I want the people who work with me to feel. I also want to make the design process fun, and that’s all about attitude. When you know you’re going into a meeting with someone engaging who listens and has a sense of purpose, you can relax and enjoy that interaction. We want to give people the freedom to actively participate and be themselves, even when we’re doing less glamorous stuff.
“The people part of my career is definitely what I’m most passionate about; the way I’m able to express that is through my architectural skills. I want to influence those I design for and with in a way that gives them a better level of awareness and a wider appreciation of what they do. When I look back at some of my old designs, what gives me the most satisfaction are memories of the times when I changed one small thing that facilitated a whole bunch of positive outcomes for the occupants.”
The practice and the industry have been tested over the last few years since COVID, Rajan says, but they also learned a lot about ways of working together. “We designed a number of projects from home offices and dining tables that have produced really cool results, some of which are just now finishing on site. One project I was heavily involved with during the pandemic period was our Waterford Retirement Village with Oceania, an apartment building that fits right into the unique design aesthetic of Hobsonville, and documented largely remotely. We also did a project with Airedale Property Trust, Everil Orr Retirement Village, around the same time. Having been a prominent landmark in Mt Albert for many years, the site was due for a refresh that we were able to provide with a new care facility for for 60+ residents, 8 independent living units, and common amenities for an integrated community. It was a really difficult project due to COVID, but we were able to work closely with the builders even while working remotely. Again, it comes back to that people piece. We were able to get a great result because we stayed connected; in doing so, we overcame all kinds of industry-wide issues like staff sickness and supply delays. When I drive past those buildings now, I feel a lot of pride that we pulled them off.”
Rajan will be sharing his passion for people in his upcoming Teulo Talks session, which, he says, will focus on the lessons he’s learned from designing for people with dementia. “Once you understand the mechanics behind how we experience spaces, you can create designs that are easier to use, foster better connection, and make people feel good about themselves. We should be applying those principles everywhere. One thing I’ll be touching on, specifically, is that we should be less afraid of colour. When you start thinking about how our eyes work and our ability to perceive colour and tone over time, it opens up a lot of opportunities to design better and create more stimulating environments. No one’s favourite places are black and grey. They’re natural, landscape, historical and vibrant. Why don’t we inhabit that feeling a bit more in our built environment?”
There’s a big opportunity in the industry, Rajan says, to bounce back now after a difficult period. “It’s been tough the last few years, and there’s a sense that we’re all still waiting. But it’s time now for building professionals to get back out there and figure out how we can make things work - Kiwis are great at that. We should stop guessing and do more with data and research to give us the surety we need to keep moving forward.
“There’s a difference between the way we want the world to be and the way it is. The key is to recognise how it is and start to change it. Architecture is slow. There’s history and tradition, which are really important, but which can also get us locked into these nostalgic ways of thinking. We need to adapt and demonstrate that architecture, design, and construction are still relevant and cool. It’s time to stop looking at our feet and wondering how to make things happen. If we don’t do it now, we’ll be looking back in a few years wondering why we didn’t.”
To learn more and connect with Rajan, visit https://www.chowhill.co.nz/, check out Chow:Hill and Rajan on Instagram, and follow him on LinkedIn.
