Crafting Agency: Head in Hand

Abstract

Through a typology of leather artifacts this thesis aims to examine the value of craft with an architectural mindset. Contemporary craft is no longer a labour of necessity, instead, agency over artifacts which surround our everyday life draws many individuals to devote time and energy to such activities. The investment of time and care into objects that are created with materials and tools gathered by an individual is a rarity in this world of instant gratification.

Leather has specific qualities that make it an enchanting material to work with; durability and breathability being two characteristics that make it hard to imitate artificially. In crafting these items, I became intimate with leather as a material, its texture, where it is sourced, how it ages and gains character, along with the tools I use.

Each artifact is a medium in which an investigation into the philosophies behind making, design and a way of life takes place. With these considerations in mind, it is easy to draw parallels to a thoughtful architectural practice.