Creativity born from Constraints | Larry Speck | TEDxUTAustin

It’s baffling when you try to understand how today’s most iconic architectural styles around the world came to be. What is it that influenced Gothic designers to experiment with stained glass? Why did the Pueblos of current day New Mexico build homes with adobe? Austin-based architect Larry Speck reveals how architectural creativity was oftentimes born from constraints. From wood scarcity, hot summers, and harsh winters blossomed the elegant, minimalistic themes of 18th century Japan. Hear about how the Japanese dealt with building regulations and adapted to the world around them to produce some of the world’s most cherished structures. Thanking Driss Elmeloud (@iamdriss) for the opening gears animation reel. Lawrence Speck is Senior Design Principal for Page Architecture, and has served as Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin from 1992 to 2001. In his years of teaching, he has worked with prominent schools worldwide including . and the University of Western Australia. Speck has helped lead six major master planning projects for his home city, Austin, and has also been lead architect for two major park projects in downtown Houston. Additionally, he directed the design for Austin Bergstrom International Airport Terminal, Austin Convention Center, and academic buildings on various university campuses. Overall, Speck’s work has won him a multitude of design, teaching, and service awards in the last 25 years. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at