CONFORMING TO UNCONFORM

Exchange to Accademia di architettura, Mendrisio, European Architects Students Assembly and Internship in Zurich.

In search of something new, an attempt to find an alternative architectural education, I found myself packing my bags just a few weeks prior to departing for Beijing, where I was headed to complete a semester’s exchange at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in China. At this point, I was entirely naive and unsure about the route I wanted to take in architecture. I was only using this as an excuse or reason to get as far away from Glasgow as possible. In hindsight, it was to prove to myself and others that I was capable of something so eccentric and extravagant, and a desperate attempt to escape the miseries and headaches of trying to absorb and learn architecture during a period of isolation due to the pandemic. From having a very disappointing education up until this point due to Covid-19, I wanted something radically different, something to kickstart and revive the passion that I once had for architecture.

Within a day, my place at CAFA was cancelled due to the country's worsening conditions, and a few hours later, I found myself with a place at the Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio, Switzerland. Unbeknown to me, I had just been accepted into one of the most notable and exciting architecture institutions in Europe and maybe the world, where I quickly realised, I would be closely surrounded by architects such as Shelly McNamara, Yvonne Farrell, Valerio Olgiati, Jonathan Sergison and Bijoy Jain to name a few. I had come to this newfound realisation of my naivety, in pure disbelief that this wasn't my original choice, to begin with. The prospect of practising architecture in the mountains of sunny Ticino was enough for me to complete any remaining exams and submissions as fast as I could and book the next one-way flight to Milano.

My time at the AAM couldn't have been more successful in fulfilling my original motive of reviving my lost passion for architecture. I found myself in a situation learning more about what I don't like or appreciate as opposed to discovering new qualities in architecture. Albeit even though the AAM was a precious experience which I will always appreciate, it first-hand showed me the architectural route I want to avoid falling into going forward. The institution' s mode of practice seemed to focus more on how well you could build a model or how tall you could make it. Therefore, at the end of the semester, when everyone was pulling all-nighters trying to complete their models for the morning, I found myself experiencing this very intense situation where everyone was competing to have the tallest and widest ostentatious model in the room. Of course, this is a highly skilled way of representation which can be admirable; however, it seemed that the architectural intent was never there from the outset – a sad realisation that most of the beautiful projects on display for the final critiques were only successful in representational bluffing rather than a display of architectural quality and intent. This is something that I realised the Mackintosh School of Architecture holds a great deal of importance for, detaching young architects from the attractive side of representation, which can stray anyone away from what is important within architecture and design. It took me to experience an alternative mode of architecture to realise I was looking in all the wrong places.

In saying that, I learned a lot of skills and methods for architectural representation that I wouldn't have gained elsewhere. I carried my semester out in Studio Sergison under the weekly scrutiny of Jonathan Sergison.

This honourable experience gave me a great introduction to Renaissance architecture and how to approach a beautiful city such as Florence with social and contemporary standards whilst paying homage to the great architectural past that allowed such a place to exist. Working together in such a prestigious studio allowed me to meet and receive criticism from some well-respected names in the profession, allowing for the finalised project to be highly deliberate and sensitive.

My experience at the AAM was entirely invaluable, and I would never change it for the world. The decision to go on exchange has opened many doors for my architecture career. I found myself in Romania directly after Mendrisio, where I represented Scotland in the European Architects Students Assembly. I participated in many conversations and workshops, which helped widen my perspective and priorities within architecture, almost bringing me back down to earth from my intense experience in the mountains. I am writing this from my office in Zürich, Switzerland, halfway through my Part 1 Internship. The decision to return to Switzerland was not a light-hearted one. I figured my experience in academia in Southern Switzerland was highly effective in unintentionally teaching me the wrongs of architecture; I may as well continue that and expand my inventory of dislikes in an attempt to strengthen my critical and censorious qualities so that when the time comes to re-enter education, I would be more deliberate and conscious with my approach to architecture.

I believe at this point in my architectural education its important to open myself to anything that is presented to me, almost acting as a sponge to all things relative, conforming to modes of practice or idiosyncrasies which I may have disregarded otherwise. Ultimately forever widening the scope of what I think is wrong in architecture to then make the choice for right more apparent and achievable.

Clockwise from top: The Broadway, a one million sq ft residential-led development in Westminster completed in 2022; Landmark Pinnacle, the UK’s tallest residential tower in Canary Wharf completed in 2022; Space House, a Grade II listed Seifert & Partners building in Covent Garden being sensitively refurbished and extended into contemporary workspace, currently on site.