What is the connection between Architects, Chefs and Sailors?

I find myself pondering a question from time to time…What is the connection between Architects, Chefs, and sailors? I’m an architect by profession, but great design, sailing and cooking fantastic meals are some strong passions of mine. I see design and art in everything I do. A few months ago I wrote an article on Get Wet Sailing about Architect, Sailors and Chefs-what’s the connection? I want to open up the discussion and see if anyone else here shares these same passions with me.

 

1. Architects and Sailors

sailors and food

The similarities between these in some respects are quite obvious. Both are mathematical. Both deal with angles. The angle of a roof line is something I deal with every day, so is the angle of how I trim my sails, or at which point I want to tack. It’s all very calculated and exact. If I miss a degree in a drawing, it could reek havoc on the entire building. If I tack on a certain angle that could mean a huge win or loss in the race. Similar thinking, I say yes.

 

 2. Sailors and Chefs

This one is easy too. If you’re a true sailor who lives, sleeps and eats on your boat, then you have to learn to cook for yourself. You also have to learn to be a creative chef in such close quarters and usually with limited kitchen appliances and tools. As much as I love sailing, that’s still a dream for me. Maybe someday I’ll go for long sea voyages where I am forced to tap into my creative side for my ocean meals. I do also enjoy camping and planning the meals for our outings. When my son was in Scouts, I would always be the first parent volunteer to go backpacking and be put on food duty. Sailing and Chefs…connection…maybe?

 

 3. Architects and Chefs

Architects, Sailors and Chefs...Whats The Connection?This one seems to be really common. It even gets a reference in the movie Notting Hill. As probably the most forgotten about character, all the friends eat out in their once-an-architect-turned-chef’s restaurant two or three times during the movie. I first noticed this when I had a business partner who did Architectural Renderings. He and I often planned large work and community events together and we always ended up cooking. We made Barbeque, Paella, Steak, Salad side dishes…just about everything you can imagine. We’d do these events for groups as large as 300 sometimes. I think cooking is like architecture. There’s a good mix of technical and creative. Any good architect will have both skills mastered to create the ever popular form + function. I get excited while cooking and trying something off the fly, without a recipe, and it tastes great. Of course, the designer in me has to make it look pretty too. Plating is everything.

That’s it. Those are my conclusions to why there is a connection between these three professions and hobbies.

Do you know an Architect who enjoys all three? Do you enjoy all three? Do you enjoy two of the three? Let me know what you think.

One Comment

  • Ar. Reshma Shah

    i am an architect and totally relate to article , i like cooking and can relate it with architectural designing. Both professions requires perfect bled of art and technique. Which leads to a creative solution.

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