Strength in Community: Michael Kothke, M.Arch Program Chair
“My primary goal as M.Arch program chair is to prepare students to become thoughtful, creative and impactful architects. At its heart, the M.Arch program is about learning how to thoughtfully design buildings. To do that well requires understanding culture, technology, climate, materials, communities and the many forces that shape our built environment.”
Professor of Practice in Architecture Michael Kothke is the new program chair for the Master of Architecture program. He has a clear vision for the future of the degree, centering about community, understanding and being a powerful force for good.
1. What got you into your practice area?
I found architecture through a love of drawing. In high school drafting class, my understanding of drawing shifted from expression to a way of seeing, understanding and describing the world.
It taught me that design isn’t just about creating objects; it’s a mode of perception and thought. That realization led me to a conversation with my drafting teacher, Mr. Burns, whose recommendation that I study architecture sparked a lifelong fascination with the design process. I’m still grateful for that advice, and I remain a student of architecture and design today. Thank you, Mr. Burns.
Related to this, I’ve come to understand and appreciate that creativity isn’t the domain of the mythical lone genius; rather, it’s an innate human capacity that can be cultivated in each of us by honing our curiosity, observation, judgment and collaborations. To me, architecture is a cultural extension of that shared creative capacity, one that can shape our lives, strengthen our communities and deepen our relationship with the environment.
2. What brought you to CAPLA and the U of A?
In 2003, my wife and creative partner, Kathy Hancox, and I were recruited from San Francisco by Rick Joy to join his studio in Tucson. That move introduced us not only to Arizona’s extraordinary architectural community, but also to a friendship with former School of Architecture colleague John Folan.
Upon our arrival in Tucson, John invited me to participate in design reviews at the College and, in 2006, to join the teaching team in his ARC401 studio.
This fall marks my twentieth year at CAPLA. I’m grateful for the responsibilities and opportunities I’ve been given, and for the privilege of spending those years alongside talented colleagues and generations of remarkable students. Time flies.
3. Are you currently practicing in the field?
Yes, I practice architecture as a co-principal of HK ASSOCIATES. Maintaining an active practice is an important part of my teaching because it keeps me grounded in the shifts of scale, time and thought that the conception, development and realization of architecture require.
At the same time, teaching continually enriches my practice. Working with students keeps me close to the gift of learning for learning’s sake. Practice and teaching are not separate pursuits for me; they continually inform and strengthen one another.
4. What are you teaching this upcoming semester, and what do you most enjoy about teaching?
The thing I value most about teaching is meeting students where they are and helping them grow. Learning to become an architect is especially rewarding because it’s a creative discipline that continually asks you to reflect, take risks and put yourself out there, sometimes playfully, sometimes seriously. Along the way, students develop not only new knowledge and skills, but also confidence, resilience and their own unique voice as designers and citizens. That’s one of the greatest gifts of architectural education.
This semester, I’ll be teaching the introductory technology course for our first-year M.Arch students, where we explore the generative design potential of working with the environment through passive design strategies. I’m also teaching ARC510f, the comprehensive design studio for our third-year students. In many ways, it’s the bookend to that first-year experience, integrating environmental thinking with the broader cultural, technical and design considerations required to realize impactful architecture.
Beyond the classroom, as the new M.Arch Chair, I’m excited to be leading the continued development of our M.Arch curriculum and the culminating Master’s Project. It’s an opportunity to further align the curriculum around the central act of designing buildings while preparing students to address the environmental, social, technological and cultural challenges of our time.
5. As the new program chair, what are your goals and what can students expect?
My primary goal as M.Arch program chair is to prepare students to become thoughtful, creative and impactful architects. At its heart, the M.Arch program is about learning how to thoughtfully design buildings. To do that well requires understanding culture, technology, climate, materials, communities and the many forces that shape our built environment.
Students can expect a rigorous, collegial and practice-connected education that emphasizes design as both a creative discipline and a form of leadership. As Alberto Campo Baeza so artfully puts it, they’ll be challenged to “think with their hands and construct with their heads,” honing their creative capacity, expanding their knowledge and strengthening their design judgment to address increasingly complex challenges.
Above all, I want students to understand that design, and particularly the thoughtful design of buildings, can be a powerful force for good in our world.
6. What makes your program unique/special? How would you describe the community within your program?
One of the greatest strengths of our M.Arch program is indeed its community. We know our students well, and that allows us to foster a culture of mentorship, collaboration and individual growth. Talented faculty work closely with students throughout the program, creating an environment where skills and ideas flourish, friendships and community are formed and everyone is invested in one another’s success. I’ve put out a simple call to action to faculty and students alike: to inspire, enrich and embolden.
We also benefit from tremendous physical resources. Designed by talented alumni, our East and West buildings were intentionally conceived as architectural teaching tools. Our state-of-the-art Materials Lab and its knowledgeable staff support hands-on exploration and making and the Underwood Garden reminds us daily of the ecological dimensions of design and architecture.
At the same time, our program is deeply connected to Arizona’s internationally recognized architectural community and the unique opportunities of the Sonoran Desert and the Southwest. Students engage with practicing architects, meaningful community partners and the extraordinary landscapes and cultures of Arizona. It’s an environment that demands resilience, encourages curiosity, rewards experimentation and fosters thoughtful design while preparing students to make a positive impact wherever their careers take them.
7. What advice do you have for students?
Four pieces of advice come to mind.
- Draw what you know. Drawing isn’t just a way to communicate ideas; it’s a way to understand the world and discover new possibilities. Everything starts by making a mark.
- Design never starts from scratch. Every project builds on the people, places, ideas and experiences that come before it. Learn from the work that inspires you and bring those lessons into your own work. Observe carefully and combine your unique point of view with the tools and skills you’ve acquired, and be prepared to apply those tools and skills you have yet to acquire.
- Design rhymes with decide. Every design decision is an act of judgment. Work to hone your judgment.
- When in doubt, shoot for excellence. Architecture has the power to shape lives, communities and our environment. That responsibility deserves your very best thinking and your very best effort.
8. Beyond teaching, what are your passions?
As a teenager, my goal in life was to get to draw every day. I’m grateful that I get to do that in ways that are deeply fulfilling.
I’m even more grateful to spend my days with my soulmate and creative partner, Kathy Hancox, our dogs and my bicycles. Bliss.
