Archinect - Features

B.Arch Graduate Jose Lacruz Vela Modernizes the Spanish Countryside

2020-08-24T13:40:00-04:00

IE School of Architecture and Design B.Arch graduate Jose Lacruz Vela designs a new, enriched landscape that focuses on dismantling the idea of "rural picturesque" views and focuses on creating interactive and performative architectural landscapes that respond to their inhabitants. Unearthing issues facing the rural countryside of Spain, specifically in the town of Docenario in Extremadura, Spain Lacruz, Lacruz Vela uses his thesis project Rural Alchemy to "transform the landscape into holistic artificial natures, from hyper-productivity to third natures."

Lacruz Vela shares, "The proposal aims to challenge depopulation, an issue affecting the Spanish countryside, by retaining and attracting talent through providing jobs of diverse educational levels, while generating a new local economic model." Archinect connected with the recent grad to dive into his thesis project and learn more about his experience entering the workforce after graduation. Lacruz Vela's project was awarded Best...

MIT M.Arch Graduate Angeline Jacques Designs a New Conceptual Framework for Glacier National Park

2020-08-13T12:40:00-04:00

Recent MIT M.Arch graduate Angeline Jacques focuses her thesis project, Mission 2066, on the state of National Parks, specifically Glacier National Park in Montana, and how our perceptions and interventions within these parks might change for the future.

According to Jacques, her thesis seeks to, "adapt and deploy a series of interventions that augment and artificialize melting glaciers. These interventions not only assist in easing the speed of change to ecologies and economies reliant on the glaciers but also provide new inhabitations of the park." Archinect connected with Jacques to discuss her thesis project as well as her experiences entering the workforce during a pandemic. As one of the lucky students able to secure a job post-graduation, she shares with us her experiences as a young designer learning how to start her professional career remotely.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects: 2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for architecture graduates. Stud...

University of Florida Graduates Mani Karami and Drew Kauffman Create Photobioreactor Facade Systems for Algae Architecture

2020-07-30T13:27:00-04:00

In their project Biokinetics, University of Florida School of Architecture M.Arch graduates Drew Kauffman and Mani Karami explore kinetic design systems as they apply to photobioreactor facade systems powered by algae growth. The duo, working under their project advisors Professor Lee-Su Huang (chair) and Professor Jason Alread (co-chair), experiment with a series of material studies to help create this new system.

They share, "With an emphasis on digital fabrication technologies including thermoforming, 3D printing, and CNC routing, Biokinetics advances the complementary disciplines of algae cultivation and facade design." Archinect connected with the two as they discuss the details of their research as well as their entrance into professional practice after graduating during a pandemic.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects: 2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for architecture graduates. Students were displaced as schools shut down, academic communities had t...

USC M.Arch Graduate Fabian Dietrich Creates an "Urban Architectural Metaphor" for Southern California

2020-07-27T14:00:00-04:00

Imagine dissecting a region and collaging areas together in order to study the relationships between two different urban landscapes. Fabian Dietrich uses his thesis, Long Air, or L.A, to do just this by creating "a composite of disparate communities, united by the shared idea of a city." Influenced by British architecture duo Smout Allen and their two drawing series LA To Be Done and LA Recalculated, Dietrich creates a conceptual cut-out using two Southern California cities, Bel Air and Long Beach, to test his hypothesis.

Since completing his M.Arch from the University of Southern California (USC), Dietrich's job search has been a bit different from other COVID-19 era graduates, as he has been able to successfully enter the workforce. Dietrich shares his own perspectives as an international student to observe how the industry has been affected by the pandemic and what students should take away from these challenging times.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects: 2020 has been...

2020 Architecture Graduates Share Their Thoughts on the Current Job Market

2020-07-21T08:53:00-04:00

There's no denying the events that have taken place in 2020 have shaken the globe socially and economically. From a pandemic to social unrest, not to mention unruly government leadership, it's easy to turn on the fate of the architecture industry. With several architecture students who have recently experienced their first "virtual commencements," they now enter somewhat uncharted territory as they embark on their careers.

In a continued effort to provide a voice for students and emerging professionals, Archinect connected with recently graduated students from six schools to learn about their concerns and perspectives as they begin to navigate professional practice and explore the job market.

When Our Passion For Architecture Dwindles

2019-08-22T13:00:00-04:00

Sometimes, when we spend so many years pursuing something, striving for a far off goal, and then reach it, we can become dissatisfied, or even depressed. "Is this what I've been working toward? Will this be my whole life now?" we might think to ourselves. It's a common thing for many graduates: you go into a firm, and the shock of professional life begins to diminish the zeal you once had for architecture. Even after gaining years of experience, we reflect on how far we've come and begin to yearn for something more. "Do I still want to do this? Is this job leaving me fulfilled? Has it just become routine?" These are all legitimate questions, ones we may all ask at some point. And whether it's as a recent graduate or an experienced professional, the issue of questioning our passion for architecture is something worth addressing.

Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Liz Diller, Rem Koolhaas and Others Share Crucial Moments in Their Education

2016-09-30T12:19:00-04:00

What is the role of education in shaping a visionary architect? Several contemporary architects reflect on how the environment, curriculum, and tangential opportunities of their formal learning influenced and shaped their design sensibility.

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 1: Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter

2011-07-14T13:37:00-04:00

by James Long/Ellicott Long

Finding your first architecture or design job can be a daunting experience. It is the culmination of all those years of hard work and study and the chance to go and get some real experience in the industry. Throughout my time recruiting within the design profession I have seen a lot of graduate level CV’s and design portfolios and I have met a lot of candidates looking to take that first step into a design firm. This article hopes to provide some useful guidance on how to maximise your chances of success in securing that initial role and draws on examples that I have myself experienced both in the UK and Asia.

As there is quite a lot to focus on so this guide will be published in 3 parts:

Part 1 (this article): Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter
Part 2: Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions
Part 3: Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 2: Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions

2011-07-14T13:37:00-04:00

by James Long/Ellicott Long

Continuing our Graduate Theme, we now focus on Part 2 of our article for Architecture and Design Graduates.

Part 1: Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter
Part 2 (this article): Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions
Part 3: Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 3: Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

2011-07-14T13:37:00-04:00

by James Long/Ellicott Long

In the final part of our Graduate Advice blog I look at how to interview successfully and then how to handle your first offer.

Part 1: Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter
Part 2: Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions
Part 3 (this article): Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

Archinect - Features

B.Arch Graduate Jose Lacruz Vela​ Modernizes the Spanish Countryside

MIT M.Arch Graduate Angeline Jacques Designs a New Conceptual Framework for Glacier National Park

University of Florida Graduates Mani Karami​ and​ Drew Kauffman ​​​Create Photobioreactor Facade Systems for Algae Architecture

USC M.Arch Graduate Fabian Dietrich Creates an "Urban Architectural Metaphor" for Southern California

2020 Architecture Graduates Share Their Thoughts on the Current Job Market

When Our Passion For Architecture Dwindles

Frank Gehry, Steven Holl, Liz Diller, Rem Koolhaas and Others Share Crucial Moments in Their Education

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 1: Writing Your CV, Writing a Cover Letter

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 2: Assembling a Portfolio, Applying for Positions

Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 3: Interviewing Successfully, Accepting An Offer

B.Arch Graduate Jose Lacruz Vela Modernizes the Spanish Countryside

University of Florida Graduates Mani Karami and Drew Kauffman Create Photobioreactor Facade Systems for Algae Architecture