Personal space: Liz Tjahjana
Liz in Havana, Cuba; she spent the early part of this year on sabbatical, travelling around South America.
Liz was inspired by the prolific use of the courtyard typology to bring light in that she saw in South America.
Palacio del Segundo Cabo in Havana.
The snow-capped mountains of Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve.
“I am in awe of Frida Escobedo’s Serpentine Pavilion: the way in which she utilised simple everyday materials to create evocative spaces,” Liz says.
Liz’s current read is Love in the Time of Cholera.
She read 100 Years of Solitude before setting off on her travels.
One of the rings that Liz has created while learning to work with silver.
Liz Tjahjana is an architect at PAC Studio. She holds a MArch (Prof) degree with first-class honours from the University of Auckland and is also a regular visiting architectural critic at the university. Liz is a design lead across a range of residential and interior projects.
Interior: What are you currently inspired by?
Liz Tjahjana (LT): I spent the first three months of this year on sabbatical leave travelling in South America, learning the language, and exploring the diverse landscapes and beautiful architecture. Architecturally, I am inspired by the colours, the colonial verticality in proportion and the prolific use of the courtyard typology to bring light in.
Interior: Tell us what’s on your architectural bucket list.
LT: I am in awe of Frida Escobedo’s Serpentine Pavilion: the way in which she utilised simple everyday materials to create evocative spaces. It would be a dream commission to design a public pavilion, which could be enjoyed by the greater community.
Interior: What is fuelling your creative spirit?
LT: Continually making, learning and trying new things! There is a great selection of night classes around Auckland and that is how I learnt to work with silver. For a while,
I was obsessed with making rings… right now, I am learning to cut things on the CNC machine.
Interior: Who will we find on your reading list?
LT: Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I read One Hundred Years of Solitude prior to travelling; it is a great metaphoric story surrounding Colombian history, narrated through several generations. I’m currently reading Love in the Time of Cholera, which is supposedly set in Cartagena, as a way to reminisce about our time there!
Interior: What are you eating?
LT: When I am not trying to master the art of 30-minute meals, I love Vietnamese food. A favourite is Café Hung Viet in Devonport or Café Viet in Grey Lynn for their myriad delicious spring rolls.
Interior: What are your plans for summer?
LT: Hopefully, spending time working on our own mini renovation on a mini budget with my partner (also an architect). Two chefs in the kitchen, playing both designer and client, has definitely been quite a challenge!
Interior: Do you have any future travel plans?
LT: We need to plan a honeymoon! Our big dream is to go on a safari park adventure because we think it would be the bee’s knees… maybe Kruger in South Africa or Maasai Mara in Kenya (one day!).
This article first appeared in Interior magazine.
