Vandy S. Tam, Architect and Designer

I come from a family of woodworkers and furniture makers where I love handmade products and appreciate everything that is designed with care. Advocating for working and making things with your hands, I have developed a series of creative and engaging workshops for people curious about the intricacies of traditional Japanese design and craft. Through the act of making, my hands-on workshop classes instill appreciation of the skill and timelessness of hand-made objects that defines a personal style, as well as worthy of heirloom status.

 

My curiosity is grounded in decades of architectural practice. I am a licensed architect, educated at the University of California, Berkeley. I have designed buildings both large and small. Understanding the importance of thoughtful detail in buildings is fundamental to my approach to other art forms.

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Years of experience in the design of buildings has broadened my creative reach beyond the boundaries of traditional architectural practice. I explore many aspects of traditional Japanese craft, including the design and fabrication of tansu; kintsugi method of repairing ceramic objects; the design of theater sets and costumes; and even the organic subtleties of ikebana. I have found that building such skill, appreciation and familiarity with traditional techniques is most effective when handed down by mentors, often in a group setting.

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I believe that a community focused on exploring the skillful crafting of high-quality crafted objects is a great way to keep cherished traditions alive. The prospect of keeping traditional crafts alive inspires my teaching and mentoring, which is comprised of four main areas:

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• Architecture

• Woodworking and Furniture Design

• Fabric and Textile

• Sustainable Crafts

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