Journal

We’re in my kitchen discussing A Level options, and by extension potential career paths.

“You know what I smell?” My son says. I can sense what’s coming next…

“I smell architecture” he says. My head does a flip.

It’s quite confronting.

From a young age I’ve always wanted to be an architect (I know weird right), but this conversation gave me pause to reflect on whether - given my time over - I’d go into architecture today.

Times have changed since I set out on my architectural journey three decades ago. With tuition fees as they are you can expect to graduate with circa £100K in debt. That’s a tax for life. Architects’ salaries have stagnated, the cost of living has increased disproportionately, as have house prices and rents. It’s not just the low pay. It’s the long hours, the way the profession is so poorly valued, the increased liability, procurement, the gruelling daily fight to deliver quality.

Architecture is a profession that I love, that’s taken me to amazing places, enabled me to make a positive impact, created buildings and structures that will be enjoyed by many, many people, and given me the chance to meet many wonderful, talented and brilliant people.

So what should I tell my son? Should he consider a career in architecture? Would you?