Evolution of an Architecture Student

By Lauren Carpenter

I began as a naïve 18 year old, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of unknown. I didn’t know what a section was, who Le Corbusier was, how to use Photoshop. Trying to juggle studying architecture was a challenge. I still have no idea how I made it those 8.15am structures lectures after clubbing the night before. (I would never manage that now!)

Moving into second year there were further unknowns, trying to grasp the ideas of site context and analysis, learning how to render, getting that elusive job in the middle of the recession. The juggling of studio and a multitude of lectures and coursework ensued. Stress levels rose, but everything was completed and passed. The placement I eventually found was a personal turning

Then I returned for third year. The trip to Istanbul was incredible, and the rest of the semester was spent trying to grasp the idea of a concept and spending 2 weeks making 1:20 Corten panels from sandpaper and cardboard. I even managed to survive the horrifying moment where 1kg of slate was accidentally dropped onto my laptop from a great height, and for 24 hours I was certain I had lost the entire semester’s work. Luckily a Computer Science learn the lesson; always back up. to lasercut, revisited solar geometry, and learnt how to work (not learning curve, and our working hours spiralled out of control. The crit after crit after crit. Then came the prod moment of the end of year show, and the realisation that my parents still didn’t have a clue what I was doing at university (they still don’t). Then came the agonising wait to see what mark I had achieved. Had I got back and swiftly moved back to the unstressful world of placement. Fifth year was full of experiments; with concrete, landscape and my sanity. The highlight was visiting Madrid for a week long siesta.

I have at long last reached sixth year, and do I still feel like I masterplanning a 4km stretch of Vienna.

Every new project is a step up in size and complexity, and I constantly feel like I have been thrown into the deep end. It would be interesting to mix it up a bit; give the fourth years a house to could produce. Maybe if we were to design a sculpture in sixth year, we would realise how much we have actually learnt!

There have been many ups and downs throughout my time in ungodly hours in the studio, crits from hell, and lasercutting particular low point, whereas celebrating the end of 4th year by burning that model in my back garden with my team mates was a particular high point.

Although it has been a bumpy ride, it has been worth it. The the world of work, and I am certain that we will all make a great architects. Although I am positive that whatever stage I reach in the architecture profession, part of me will always feel like I am drowning.