Welcome to the first entry in our new series, "Wolcott Spotlight." In these entries, we'll highlight the incredible talent at Wolcott and the ways in which their unique backgrounds and passions, guide their design approach.
We're kicking things off with Architecture Studio Designer, Greg Dulgeryan. Greg has creativity in his blood. Having two artists
for parents will do that to you.
But rather than follow in their exact footsteps, his exposure to gold-smithing and painting would inform an entirely new pursuit.
Today, Greg has turned what started as a seat at the foot of his parent's work, into a passion for woodworking, and now architectural design.
My father is a goldsmith and my mother, a painter. I would spend endless hours watching my mother paint, watching her technique, how closely she would look back and forth from the subject to her canvas. How she would interpret the 3D figures in her 2D artwork.
I was inspired by my parents and their craft.
Outside of school, my father would always take me to work with him. To me, the nights before would be akin to that of a child anticipating a trip to Disneyland: unable to sleep from excitement, restless, and ready for a day of fun. It was his attention to detail and his craft of assembling raw material into a beautiful piece of jewelry that fascinated me so much. He would have me sit in an empty workbench and put a saw, or a filer, or snips in my hand and have me do miscellaneous tasks.
Throughout my youth, my love for understanding how things work and are assembled blossomed. I look at everyday objects and try to deconstruct them in my head, like an exploded axon of how they came together. I question things like, where did all the parts come from? How were those parts made? Who worked on it? How far did these parts have to travel to be in my hands? These questions led me to simultaneously study architecture and try to understand the process of making.
During architecture school, I began to spend my breaks and free time in the school’s Making Complex. With newfound knowledge of tools, machinery, and techniques, I began to make artwork using a CNC and wood as my medium. The CNC was a gem in my eyes.
As much as I appreciate analog tools or other digital tools like a 3D printer or laser cutter, the CNC is different. Its subtractive process made me feel like I was a modern sculptor. The CNC, in a way, became an extension of me and my body. I was able to walk into a room with stock material and an idea and walk out hours later with a physical representation of that idea. I was hooked. I machined something new every chance I had. Testing new ideas, seeing what’s possible...making a lot of dust in the meantime.
After finishing architecture school, decided to develop what had been a hobby into a full-time job. I decided to start a joint venture producing personal artwork while experimenting and testing new ideas. We pushed the envelope to see what was possible. Testing out new materials, techniques, and new designs. We produced many pieces of artwork and worked closely with architects and contractors to create custom designs for clients. It was fulfilling to have our artwork in many residential homes and commercial buildings. Our work connected us with successful companies around Los Angeles.
We worked on many exciting projects like the Century City Westfield renovations and even with Wolcott’s architecture studio on the 6300 Wilshire projects.
After years of making, there came a point when I felt that I had realized my goal of turning a personal passion and hobby into a successful venture. This accomplishment allowed me to move on to another life goal: becoming a licensed architect. And here I am, at Wolcott, doing exactly that.