KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (KHON2) — Maziyar Rajaei, the founder of Oculus Architecture and Design in Kona and a board member for AIA Honolulu, has embarked on an inspiring journey to engage young minds in architecture and city planning.
Since the fall of 2023, Rajaei and his team have been working with preteens and teens to explore iconic structures and the concept of community. The program has since expanded to include children from grades 3 to 12, offering them an opportunity to delve into city planning and architecture.
Rajaei shared, “The participants have incredible conversations about what makes a community, how our community is designed, what we appreciate about our Kona community, and what we would like to see.”
The program encourages children and teens to design and model structures that include gathering spaces, safe places for younger generations, and green spaces. Rajaei emphasized the importance of these elements, stating, “It’s places for family to feel safe and also enjoy that communal gathering.”
The children’s engagement with LEGO models has been particularly transformative. Rajaei noted, “To see the change of how some could be very rigid, needing to follow instructions, but now have become very creative and are able to build from scratch just using their imagination, has been wonderful to see.”
The program not only fosters creativity but also builds confidence and a sense of accomplishment among the participants.
Working closely with local libraries, Rajaei has found a supportive and enthusiastic partner.
“The library continues to serve as an incredible gathering space and a pillar in the community,” he remarked. This collaboration has allowed the program to thrive and reach a diverse group of participants, including those from international backgrounds.
“We have many who are international from Switzerland, from Europe, from Asia, who have come and participated,” Rajaei said, highlighting the richness of cultural exchange.
The diversity of participants has contributed to unique and varied designs, reflecting their different backgrounds. “People build what’s familiar to them, and to see that influence in their models has been incredible,” Rajaei observed.
The program has managed to maintain a balanced participation from both genders, with girls often being more expressive and engaged. Rajaei noted, “More females actually do share than the male counterparts. Their creativity has been wonderful.”
When asked about future plans, Rajaei expressed hope for continued engagement and growth. He mentioned the potential for the program to evolve into a mentorship initiative, helping young architects pursue their dreams into high school and college.
Rajaei’s passion for nurturing future architects is evident. “I’m very selfish in trying to bring up future architects and those that want to be in the field of construction or engineering or architecture,” he admitted.
The program relies heavily on donations and grants, with LEGO drives organized through AIA Honolulu to build up their stockpile. Rajaei expressed gratitude for the community’s generosity, which has been instrumental in sustaining the program.
In the spirit of sharing their achievements, Rajaei plans to create public displays of the children’s work. “We would like to create this community for display for everyone to see,” he said, envisioning a space in the library where patrons can admire the collective masterpiece of the young participants.
The project is always open to donations. So, if you have old LEGOs stored away or simply want to grow this endeavor with a monetary donation, then you can click here. You can also buy LEGOs to donate. Rajaei and his team have created an Amazon page. Click here.
Rajaei’s dedication to fostering creativity, community engagement, and architectural interest among Hawaii’s youth is making a significant impact.
His vision for a collaborative, inclusive, and inspiring program is set to shape the future of many young minds, encouraging them to see the world of architecture and city planning as an accessible and exciting field.