Shaping the Future: Perspectives from Architecture’s Next Generation
The architecture profession is as dynamic as the structures it designs – constantly evolving to meet the demands of the modern world. At Woods Hardwick, we’re proud to nurture talent that not only shapes spaces but also challenges conventions, crafting sustainable and functional environments.
In this blog, we spotlight one of our rising stars Rishi Lal, who transitioned from architectural studies to becoming a Chartered Architect within our technical team. In this candid interview, we delve into his career journey, industry insights, and hopes for the future of architecture.
How long have you worked in architecture at Woods Hardwick and what is your current role?
While I was pursuing my undergraduate degree, I also gained working experience in local practices in my spare time. I highly recommend anyone currently studying architecture or indeed any subject to try this out if you get the opportunity. It’s also a good way of getting more diverse feedback on your academic submissions from people in the industry. Always take feedback with a pinch of salt, and don’t be surprised if you’re told it will be impossible to deliver your final submission build in real life. It’s not cringy to say nothing is impossible, just… pricier let’s say, and/or requires a lot more creativity in the technical stages of the architectural process. I’ve been working at Woods Hardwick since 2022, joining as an Architectural Assistant and qualifying as a Chartered Architect around this time last year. I’m currently working as an Architect in the technical team of our development consultancy.
What made you choose Architecture as a profession and what attracted you to a technical role/housing over conceptual design/traditional architecture?
Maths and Literature were my main interests at school. After finishing A-Levels, Architecture suited my skill set best and it also had a huge scope to incorporate any other interests I was still developing. I’ve since discovered that Architects don’t need to know too much mathematics, as software gets better at better. Good coordination is the one of the most important skills and a mathematical mind benefits these activities immensely. Literature, slightly surprisingly, was the subject that gave me the most confidence in my studies and salesmanship in practice. It’s so important to be able to construct, test, confirm and communicate a narrative in Architecture.
During my Bachelor’s studies, I took up the task of working as a floor layer with a friend of mine to gain more experience on site, and to understand the process through which a building comes into being. Anyone reading this that has worked on site must agree with me when I say there is a refreshing dynamic of colourful language, point-blank honesty and real construction trade secrets you won’t find on ChatGPT even 10 years from now. When I said to one of the fellow subcontractors “it’s probably not a good idea to drink 7 cups of tea before 10am”, he responded with “it’s probably not a good idea to graduate without seeing a building get put together”. A great touché moment I’m sure you’d agree. This was one of many key moments where I was confronted with the idea that architecture is much broader than concept and narrative, and that construction acumen is not something that operates independent of conceptual design, but develops in tandem with it.
Technical roles appeared more appealing to me as I continued this pursuit of learning in the later RIBA stages. RIBA Stages 4-6 will exert a lot more influence on the earlier stages in coming years due to the rapidly changing sustainability methodologies that are being integrated with our buildings.
If you could give one main piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into Architecture, what would it be?
Visit and embed yourself into architectural practices across different disciplines. Be inspired by other Architects’ career journeys, but find your own. Being an Architect doesn’t mean being obsessed with Architecture, but it helps to keep an alertness to find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Keep your ear to the ground for collaborations with other professions, even if they have nothing to do with buildings or indeed construction. The future is interdisciplinary.
We work a lot with Housing Developers, how do you see our role integrating with their technical department, what would you change about the way we work with clients?
Housing Developers appreciate efficient and accurate systems of working. Demonstrating how you can deliver robust methodologies of coordination in specification, building regulations and site queries is what inspires confidence in all the parties involved. Being Architects, we are uniquely positioned to handle this capacity well, and as the government quota for new houses increases, Developers would benefit from Architects taking leadership in this aspect of technical practice. As we come to grips with the new Building Safety Act 2022, we have an opportunity to take ownership of this process as the framework shifts from a more “design & build” system to a somewhat more traditional “design, bid, build” system.
How has the industry changed over the last 30 years?
Architecture as an industry has become a lot more interdependent. Various responsibilities that were typically associated solely with the Architect have become divided out into their own consultancies. This has created a lot more submarkets which, in a way, could benefit the UK economy, however, it means the market itself has become extraordinarily more competitive. It’s created an interesting side effect in some cases where there is no longer the tired “Architect” as a monolith on top of a pyramid, but spate of Architects with various niches, trajectories and scales, all with specific design intent and speciality. I wonder how sustainable this model is? If architecture is in fact interdependent, then are not multidisciplinary practices the most sustainable way to go? I welcome comments to discuss this!
How do you see the industry changing over the next 30 years and what changes would you like to see both in terms of government schemes/Housing association funding and private sector?
I’d like to see more public discussion around the supply and demand for housing. There is clearly a strong sentiment among the public for these topics to be discussed but the forums offered to platform these discussions aren’t befitting for the end user. Where are they happening? When are they happening? Why are they happening? The image of “housing” in the mind of young people has somehow been captured by tall, Corbusier-esque, blocks. This image of “housing” doesn’t compel personal investiture by young people or growing families, but “homes”, even this slight change in language starts to build a different narrative which could foster more public engagement and participation.
The public create the demand. Perhaps an unpopular opinion is that a lot of the design choices affecting residential architecture is often economically driven to make most out of a budget, private or public. Will there be enough sales of new build housing to support the expenditure? I look forward to your comments and opinions.
What are the key factors that make a good Technician/Technical Architect?
Consistency and transparency.
Are there any changes you would make to Architecture courses or training?
Cross collaboration across different departments in built environment subjects i.e. Architects, Architectural Technologists, Structural/Civil engineers, etc.
Workflow in practice always involves engaging with other disciplines, this skill needs to be introduced earlier in the academic syllabus so that each profession has an understanding of their contribution to the project.
Can you outline any key observations you’ve made on how we as Technicians work, what we offer to the industry and how would you like to see the industry evolve
Technicians are not enemies of Architects. There I said it. They have a truly amazing way of working, each with a unique way of managing, processing, and coordinating complex information. The nature of building regulation being the way they are, this process constantly evolves to match the rapidly changing industry. Technicians offer a strong formalisation of complex problems to the industry. Working together with Architects ensures a robust team and workflow through the later RIBA Stages.
I’d like to see the industry evolve into a position that fosters more cross disciplinary communication. I believe this will strengthen our industry. All these skills and resources don’t need to be pooled into one place, or have one person doing everything, but encourage more dialogue and collaboration across the professions concerned with architecture.
More meaningful connections create a more dynamic market, and with a stronger industry we have a stronger economy!
This insightful discussion highlights the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of our next generation of Architects. As we continue to evolve as a practice, we’re proud to embrace the fresh thinking and innovation they bring to the table. At Woods Hardwick, we combine decades of expertise with forward-thinking approaches to help you achieve your architectural goals. Whether you’re a Housebuilder, Developer or Landowner our team is here to bring your vision to life. Get in touch today with our Architectural team to find out how we can support your next project.
