From bricks to insulation

From bricks to insulation

Q&A with Mentor Tom Stewart

The Architecture Mentoring Programme aims to give first year architecture students an early taste of the professional industry and the chance to develop professional relationships by learning from chartered architects who are also alumni of RGU.

Tom Stewart is one such alumnus, pictured above, who graduated with a Master’s of Architecture in 2012 and now works for Camphill Architecture & Development. We interviewed Tom to find out why he wanted to take part and what his hopes are for the programme.

Why did you want to take part in the Architecture Mentoring programme?

It’s a good opportunity to get back and be involved with RGU. I feel like they were a great help to me in building my confidence throughout my time at university. One of the things I think could have been even better was getting more early involvement – from a student perspective – with professionals to humanise it a bit more.

For me, I was quite fortunate that my uncle was an architect. I got to spend the odd week in the summer in his office. It’s still quite daunting to go into an office environment, as a student, on your placement. It’s a good opportunity to show that we’re all human and we’ve all been through the same processes.

What do you think of the idea?

I think it’s great, and I’m glad there’s been folk keen to do it as early as first year, as well because it’s scary enough just trying to take in the course. I think it’s really encouraging.

It shows that the things you’re learning are relevant. I didn’t have a clue what you actually did day-to-day as an architect when I started university. I just knew I was interested in buildings and how they were designed.

What is the first thing you are going to show your mentees?

I’ve brought along some examples of early stage projects to show that what they’re learning does relate and that there’s a similar process that happens as well, and to give them an idea of what I’m working on moving forward.

What are your hopes for the programme?

It’s the pilot, so I’m really keen to see how it progresses. I think the guys have done a great job so far in getting people to engage and hopefully, we can learn a few things on how to improve it if it keeps going.

Tell us about your job.

Camphill Architecture specialise in design for people with learning difficulties. That’s what I focused my Master’s thesis on because my younger brother, Jack, is autistic.

I’ve known about Camphill since before I started uni. It’s only the last year I’ve been working with them. I got chartered elsewhere and I managed to get a job with them eventually. They’ve given me so much creative control.

Post mentorship with Mentee Dalibor Baran

What do you think of the programme?

It basically takes seven years to become an accredited architect. If you’re studying such a long course, you want to know that what you’ll be doing at the end of it will be worth it. I know what I’m going to be doing now and I’m excited to pursue my studies.

Did you visit your mentor’s practice?

The interesting thing was that every one of us went to a different practice, so everyone got a different experience. It wasn’t just about us gaining experience from the mentor, it was also about us students meeting and sharing the experience between us.

“I know what I’m going to do now and I’m excited to pursue my studies.”

Tell us about the site visit.

It was probably the most interesting part of the whole programme because you can actually see the result of what you will be doing. You’re designing something to be changed or built and we were able to go there and see it happening and see all the building requirement being put in place – everything from bricks to insulation.