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About Us
- Thomas Modeen
- This blog is maintained and predominantly written by Dr. Thomas Modeen, partner of Architects Independent, which he founded with his wife Maysaa Al-Mumin in Kuwait in the Fall of 2008. The practice also has a base, and its origins, in London, where it's known as Independent Architects, which is headed by Paul Brady and Eng Ling Ho. The blog aims to provide a personalized outline of all our practice and discipline related escapades. ArchitectsIndependent/ Independent Architects are a research based architecture and design practice that retains a equal and collaborative footing within both practice and academia, with strong links to various academic and research facilities around the world. Our current interest involve the use of various computing based design methods and tools in the realization of physical builds (using both subtractive and additive CAD-CAM methods).
2 comments:
Hello, Dr. Modeen. I'd like to ask you a few questions related to careers in architecture.
I'm thinking of applying to the BA Architectural Studies program in the University of Toronto. It's a 4 year pre-professional program that can allow me to pursue a 3 year Master's degree after I'm done with it. But I think 4 years would be enough and would like to look for a career straight away after I receive the BA Degree in Architectural Studies. My questions to you are:
1- What kind of career in Kuwait (or the Gulf) do you think I can pursue with this degree? Will it pay well and will it be a type that can lead to promotions?
2- I'm really interested in Interior Architecture, do you think this degree can lead me to a career related to that field?
3- Since one of my primary goals is to find a good paying and stable career, would you recommend that I pursue the Master's degree instead of only settling for a BA in Architectural Studies?
I'm a follower of your blog and I would really appreciate it if you can answer those questions for me.
Thanks in advance
Hi M J,
Hope you're well...
1- As anywhere in the world, you can pursue a career in the GCC region as an architect or interior designer with an architectural degree... And, as anywhere, if you're doing a good job and show commitment to your position you can receive promotions... You can receive a decent pay as an architect although if pay is the only reason you wish to study architecture it's probably not the best career path for you... There are many easier and more profitable ways to make a decent living...
2- Usually as an architect you can also work as an interior architect/ designer... There are also many places where you can study Interior Design by itself...This might be a viable option for you if you don't wish to continue your studies beyond an undergraduate degree... But you'll have ample time to decide if you wish to continue with your studies during the roughly 4-5 years of undergraduate studies...
I would also recommend that you contact, and ideally even visit, any universities and programs you're considering... Chat to faculty and students and pose your questions to them... That's the best way to understand what your studies might entail and if this is something you'd like to do...
3 - In many places you will need a Masters degree to be able to register as an architect (as well as a few years of experience in an architectural practice). In Finland (where I'm from) there's SAFA (Suomen Arkitehdit/ Finska Arkitekter - the Finnish Architectural Association), in England there's the RIBA, in the States the AIA... In Canada please check out the following web-pages: http://www.architectstocanada.raic.org/ & http://cacb.ca/index.cfm ...
Like anything, it's helpful to be passionate of what you do. This is particularly the case with architecture, as it's too demanding and difficult of a career to commit to if your heart is not in it. However, if it is, there are few things more rewarding than seeing things you've helped conceive being realized - be these a design for a water-pitcher, a chair, a restaurant interior, or even a city-library or the urban design for a neighborhood...
It can be difficult to determine what you wish to do before you've had an actual chance to practice it... But an architectural education is a sound foundation for a number of careers outside the construction industry... I have colleagues/ former classmates whose business cards define them as anything from urban consultants/ strategists and developers, to fashion designers, web-developers, fine artists, furniture designers, musicians, photographers, actors, etc...
Hope that helps...
Best,
Tom
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