AW访谈:曹楠

The AW Interview with Cao Nan

因为一个很偶然的机会,在靠近深圳湾公园的街铺里见到曹楠,他一个人在正在电脑上安排为定购他产品的客户送货的事务。受到店铺装修风格和产品广告的吸引走进去,才发现老板竟是一个毕业于清华和哈佛的建筑学硕士,而且曾经在AECOM香港公司做过城市设计。就是这样一个职业精英竞放弃了建筑学而改榨果蔬汁开始自己一生的重新创业。在和他深入交谈之后,我们非常愿意把他在选择过程中经历的心路历程分享给读者。因为在我们看来曹楠的告别建筑,在今天具有很强烈的象征性,不仅标志着建筑和建筑教育面临种种内在和外在的危机,而且也暗示了改变时刻的到来。我相信那些敏感的建筑师或设计师,甚至职业白领中的许多人都会因为他的故事而不得不问自己:如果我不想过打折的人生,现在该怎么办?

Cao Nan was on track to a successful career in architecture, holding an undergraduate degree from Qinghua University and a Master＇s Degree from Harvard. His first job was as an architect at AECOM Hong Kong. However, he gave up that career path in order to start another as the owner-operator a health drink store. In his AW interview, Cao Nan explains that he stopped being an architect because he wanted to live full throttle. If he stayed an architect, he knew what choices he would make and the general shape of his future. However, by stepping off the beaten track, he could live otherwise. Indeed, the reasons that Cao Nan left architecture exemplify the challenges and opportunities faced both within architectural education and by practicing architects who must ask themselves： if I don＇t want a discounted life. what should I do？