Reflections on Design
For artist, architect, and designer Tomas Osinski, the shortest distance between two points in life is not linear. Despite the fact that the most visible creations to leave his sketchbook or drafting table are contenders for visual representations of pure rectilinear design. The meandering path of a life full of twists and serendipitous occurrences is readily apparent when meeting Osinski. Attempts to pigeonhole either the catalog of his life’s work or the man himself will likely result in futile outcomes.
Over the course of a few days during a recent visit back to Hawai‘i, Osinski graciously shared time with local friends, fellow architects, and designers to reflect on the undefinable nature of his career and, as we all discovered, how the same plausibly applies to him, too.
This writer is not a huge fan of gratuitously quoting authors, but there is one that must be shared as it kept coming up in various guises as Osinski shared his tales. Let’s take a moment to absorb the intent and gist of what science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein meant when he said, “Specialization is for insects,” further expounding with this short list: “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, write a sonnet, balance accounts, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, build a wall, design a building, fight efficiently and more.”
With a few key replacements here and there — since pitching manure and sonnet-writing are shrinking job markets — the notion of being an amazingly capable all-rounder is foundational to understanding Osinski and his work.
So, about that, where to begin? There isn’t enough acreage in these pages to fully catalog and describe it all, but in selecting a few from the myriad projects spanning multiple decades, one gets a good glimpse of some of the peaks that rise above the mountain of personal work Osinski has done globally. In this age of algorithm-fueled feeds on a host of social platforms, one doesn’t have to go far in self-selecting the images one wants to see more of, and if avant-garde architecture located in the desert has ever appeared for you, then the home featured in the opening spread would likely have caught your eye. The aptly yet ironically named “Invisible House” has garnered a bucketful of views, likes and yes, admits Osinski, dislikes, too.
“After this home appeared in a large shelter magazine’s Instagram, you would not believe the number of self-proclaimed critics who had something negative to say about it,” he shared during a pau hana talk put on for local architects and artists by the Liljestrand House executive board with local hosts Vittorio and Dialta Alliata di Montereale at their Tantalus estate. “But as a counterpoint," he adds, “every single person who spent time in the home has had an amazing — if not transformative — experience.”
“So, who are we designing for?” he rhetorically asks the gathered trust of renowned home designers. Igniting a passed-mic discussion in a room full of architects is certainly fraught with peril, but Osinski brings it back to levity and shared perspectives by reminding us that no matter where one is in the arc of a career, three things are imperative: “Know who you are, find your voice and please, take risks, especially early on.”
Aside from designing that iconic home in Joshua Tree, Osinski has collaborated on multiple other projects with architect Frank Gehry. Starting out as a model maker in Gehry’s studio, Osinski was quick to demonstrate ability and capability beyond his expected tasks, and recognizing that has led to the duo working in lockstep for art installations, buildings, homes and the very public Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C.; what’s not to like about the monolithic yet human-scale homage to Ike and his achievements from humble origins to the tide-turning invasion on D-Day.
In sharing the quips and anecdotes of a chock-full career and life well-lived, Osinski reinforced collegial bonds with the gathered group, which all could relate to as we reflected on our own careers and journeys. Visiting Hawai‘i for Osinski is always a step back in time, as well as a special connection, for he and his wife were personal friends with the Liljestrand family, having stayed in their home on prior trips to the islands. But he reminded us that despite the image of relaxation while here, there remains an ever-present restlessness that he could only describe as his inner drive.
For Osinski, this inner drive reflects how he is not just an architect but living life as an artist who cannot wait to get back to work in his studio. There are many more creations to come from Tomas Osinski for us to reflect on, and ideally, be guided on how to live our lives as fully and interestingly as possible.