Luke Yeulett, Class of 2020

Luke left Trinity to study architecture at Nottingham University. He has finished his undergraduate degree with an award-winning portfolio and will be spending a year in industry at Foster + Partners before returning to university to complete his master’s. We caught up to find out what inspired him to pursue a career in architecture and to hear more about his project ‘Underground Rhythms’.

Could you share some of your memories or experiences from your time at Trinity, particularly those that influenced your academic and personal growth?

One of my best memories of Trinity was spending time each morning in my form room before lessons. Form time was not usually jam packed full of activities but this was perfect for me, as having that time in the morning to chat with friends and gather my thoughts before the school day started was really helpful. Chatting to Miss Upton about our lives in and out of school created strong relationships between her and members of our form, which allowed us all to feel more comfortable and put us in a good mood for the day ahead.

Studying art at Trinity also had a significant influence on my academic growth. The way in which it was taught boosted my critical thinking skills, which allowed me to be far more inquisitive throughout my studies. Art built my self confidence and taught me not to shy away from difficult challenges.

Were there any teachers or mentors at school who had a significant impact on your educational journey? If so, how did they inspire or guide you?

In sixth form, Mr Aldridge mentored me and a few others who were thinking of studying Architecture, by taking time out of his busy schedule to put together packs and presentations By giving us a basic knowledge of architectural principles, he prepared us for university interviews and applications extremely well. I am tremendously grateful for this and all the time he spent reading over countless versions of my personal statement.

Another teacher who had a profound impact on me was my art teacher, Mr Strange. I still can’t get the word ‘refinement’ out of my head and it’s been over three years! Whilst studying architecture, this term only became more and more relevant. Designers will make a multitude of changes to refine an idea resulting in thousands of iterations over the life of a project. I am grateful to have been taught this process early on, given how relevant it will remain throughout my career.

Many people have one event that cements their decision to pursue a specific field of study. Can you pinpoint one moment or experience that inspired you to choose architecture?

When I was unsure of what I wanted to study, I had a fairly good idea that I wanted to go down the path of design but, as there are so many variations, it was incredibly difficult to choose… That was until I went on a tour of Bloomberg’s European headquarters. At the time, I couldn’t exactly put into words why it had such an impact on me but I am now able to consciously appreciate the project: its careful consideration of materiality, the provision of public space and its ability to improve its surroundings. The way it manages to be extremely sustainable without sacrificing any of its beauty continues to inspire me.

Could you tell me more about your project, ‘Underground Rhythms’, and how you became inspired to explore Bristol’s underground music scene?

It was by pure coincidence that, at university, the unit I resonated with the most had chosen Bristol as that year’s site. As I am a big fan of electronic music, I decided to design a building to explore and house Bristol’s famous underground music scene and its rich history. I based my project on a short, fourpart story I wrote, which followed a protagonist on a nocturnal excursion. With this story, not only was I able to explain the context of the project but it allowed me to split the building scheme into four parts: exhibition, creation, wayfinding and dance. Each part explores a different facet of the music scene from its multicultural history to its relationship with the dark, winding alleyways of Bristol’s urban fabric. Eventually they consolidate into a dance hall, which expresses itself as a synergy of the chapters before it through its composition of materials.

Which experiences or insights, gained at the University of Nottingham, contributed to your success?

It was during my second year of university that I discovered how I wanted to shape my degree and what I wanted to learn from it.

Architecture is an extremely diverse qualification and within it there are lots of opportunities to explore your own interests. I channelled my love for abstract art and sculpture, developed during my time at Trinity, into my studies. With the help of my forward-thinking tutor, my eyes were opened to a world of architectural speculation and the use of interdisciplinary skills to evolve architecture into narratives. I learned to draw inspiration from all types of sources, from movies and novels to fairytales and physics, and how to translate these seemingly unrelated ideas into schemes using my fundamental architectural skillset.

How have you leveraged your First Class Honours and Third Year Portfolio Prize?

My achievements at the University of Nottingham have led me to securing a position as an Architectural Assistant at Foster + Partners where I will be working for a year, honing my skills and learning about working in the industry. After being part of a team there for over a month now, I have learned an incredible amount about how architects work and the huge variety in work stages and coordination of projects.

What are your future plans and how do you envisage your university experience shaping your career and personal growth?

After completing my year in industry, I plan to go back to university to complete a master’s in architecture. It can take seven years to become an architect and I won’t be rushing the process. Thus far, I have learned that I am fascinated by the artistic side of architecture and I enjoy finding value in the speculative representation of new ideas. The use of visualisation and animation software will most certainly drive my decision on where I place myself within the industry. The most important thing I have learned is that there is a broad range of architectural roles that exist, so as long as I keep an open mind, I will have varied and exciting experiences over the course of my career.