What happens when you realised that architecture wasn’t really your alley? Well - my dear friend Will Qu has kindly come on board to share with us his career journey when the penny dropped. Together, we reflect on his experience in other design avenues and that chance encounter that revealed an opportunity for him to find his very own web design company Quko Studio.

A sudden decision spurred by an episode of Grand Designs and countless hours spent on projects… We’ve invited our friend Jessica Seneviratna to share with us on her decision to getting registered and fighting against that number that has been a glaring thorn on the side on statistics we often see in architecture.

Life will always offer you hidden gems and directions for welcoming surprises. We’ve invited architectural filmmaker Eugenia Tan to share with us on her journey from starting New Architects Melbourne (NAM) to the decision of transitioning from architecture to filmmaking!

From architecture to floristry - how did it happen? Actually, how do these fields assist each other? In this episode, Architect and Florist Graham Ho reflects on his journey in how a long time love of his blossomed to new heights and beyond while architecting away.

Starting off Season 3’s Archemist Podcast Is This What You Wanted? I have invited my former tutor Yvonne (Director, Co-founder, Circle Studio Architects) as our very first guest. In this conversation, we navigate through the discourse of the journey prior to architecture education, pinnacle moments that led to the establishment of Circle Studio Architects and of course, the unforgettable Parlour article.

Some exciting news, Jina and I will be collaborating together to interview fellow friends and colleagues to share their architectural experiences and their journey so far. Some of them have continued the architecture dream, some have left. But before we begin - we’d like to share some of the expectations and reality we’ve had of our own dreams and careers - and the hurdles we’ve overcome.

Can you taste it? Whenever you walk around supermarkets, travel ads or even just the bus shelters, we have seen countless food companies associating food with architecture. Just like architecture, food serves an important backdrop to our daily conversations and relationships. In this episode, Akila and I explore how the culture of food and eating impacts the way we experience architecture ourselves.

There are so many pathways to enter architecture, some begin with interior architecture, some begin with building design, some transition into masters after completing another degree. However, what is the transition like when you switch courses? Does the language differ? Does the learning framework differ? I’ve invited my friend Andy to share with us his experiences on transitioning from building design to architecture.

With an introduction by Dini Lee

Often in our architectural studies we come across enthralling drawings that balance on the edge of art and architecture. These two fields frequently borrow, exchange and adopt ideas from each other. But what makes something architecture and not art? Can it be both? From their similar experiences studying art in high school and architecture at university, Kim and Dini are curious about this intersection. Join them in this very special episode of the Archemist Podcast as they delve into discussions about their favourite drawings, illustrations, and images from both architectural lens and art analysis.

The marketing of architecture can be portrayed to be very luxe and intimidating, which can risk deterring many from investigating further into architectural practice. Not to mention, with the exponential use of Instagram and Pinterest - the oversaturation of aesthetics that are almost similar can become overwhelming to distinguish the in-depth details of the architecture.

Despite the dependency of marketing on social media - we cannot disregard the importance of publishing architecture. The written description of architecture and listening to the visions behind the design also impacts the public’s perception of design.

So how do you make writing and educating about architecture accessible and approachable? I’ve invited founders of Schema Emma and Jake on sharing their opinions about architecture’s relationship with the media.

There is the underlying pressure that once we have graduated with a degree in our hand we will be onto a new job, new adventure and learning more about the industry we’ve studied for. But what happens when within the years of studying you realised it wasn’t what you wanted? How do you navigate the level of uncertainty in front of you? I’ve invited Luke (founder, The Halin Project) to discuss tackling fears and potentially how we’ve tackled our “quarter-life crisis”.

At some point in our architecture studies, many of us have dreamt of going overseas and experiencing a cultural shift in work and lifestyle. Yet, what is it that makes this experience desirable? In this conversation, Eastina and I discuss our thoughts on our recent adventures from working internationally.

Often, when architects and designers are approached to design architecture, one of the general requirements we would hear include ‘blend into the landscape’ or ‘incorporate it nicely into the landscape’ - but what does that mean for us as designers? In this episode, Eden and I explore projects that perfectly reflect these common questions as well as understanding a little bit more about landscape architecture.

Just a heads up that we do talk about movies so there may be some spoilers! (We do avoid spoilers but just in case!)

Architecture in film heavily influences the audience’s connection with the narrative. Whether it’d be the camera framing, costume design, music and ambience, each element must work together to deliver a succinct message. In this episode, Adrian and I discuss the role architecture plays in film, and we explore some of our favourite films in which may not be evident however, celebrates architecture in their own way.

Often in architecture school, we’re often asked to create a concept drawn from something abstract. Otherwise, we are given a comment from our tutors saying that our work is quite abstract…

But what is abstract? How to create an abstract and how do you create a concept from something that is open to interpretation?

Sometimes it feels like we’re drawing ideas from thin air, and so in this session - Shaun and I examine our impression of what it means to be abstract in the world of architecture education and in the real world. More importantly, whether creating abstract concepts is what is needed in our industry right now.

Let’s be honest, 2020 did not greet us with open arms.

Instead, it threw us many challenges, change of lifestyle and questions about our own purpose and prospects.

Like many other design industries, Architecture has been dramatically affected by the economic effects of COVID-19. As our industry is rather connection and resource-based – often we need to turn heads sustain ourselves during times of recession, and it calls for finding new purposes. Marking the fresh start of Archemist Podcast, Amanda and I examine what kept us going in architecture school despite questioning the future of our job prospect.

In some ways, architecture it seems has been highly glorified and romanticised despite the consequences it possesses. In this episode, Bella and I discuss our opinions towards the glorification of architecture and our impressions of Kanye’s involvement in architecture.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! (Well, belated Valentine’s Day!). My lovely friend Nicole and I look through a range of romantic / Valentine’s Day themed content related to architecture. From a list of reasons why people should date architects to observing architects in romantic comedies - the two of us marvel at how architecture has been portrayed in rose-tinted light.

What would you say to your past self? Your future self? In this episode, I have invited Dini to reflect on her first year of architecture school. With a difference of seven years, a lot can change within the education system. Do you think what you have learnt in comparison to what students are currently learning are very different or similar?

This is part one of our Time Capsule Series - we will return perhaps at the end of this year or in two years to see whether our thoughts on our architecture education has changed!

The word criticism carries a certain stigma that many of us are still trying to reconcile, especially when the term is often used in our profession. Having studied architecture for five years now, Amanda and I observe how our attitudes and perception towards architecture and constructive feedback has changed over the years. Not to mention, criticism comes in many forms that we may not be aware of - and how we are striving to cooperate with the term better.