From Architecture to Global Studies: Part 1

My classmates and their parents mingled amongst the architectural models put on display. We were at my graduation showcase, and I was top graduate and emcee for the evening. My father must have been proud of both my graduation and emcee role, because he bought a book to congratulate me. I spent nights engrossed in its pages. According to the book, Talk Like Ted, the best talks are inspired by passion. It prodded:

“What makes your heart sing?”

I was graduating from an architectural education of 4 years in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Architecture, without a doubt, makes my heart sing. Designing spaces make my mind race with possibilities. I love the curve in slender forms; the intricate details that go into simple designs. I love the way people’s lives intersect with space. The discipline gave me a sense of purpose too – I aspired to become a “humanitarian architect”, to use my design prowess to build homes for the less privileged. Graduating with a diploma in architecture was meant to be the beginning of all that.

However, like many first loves, mine with architecture didn’t last. Road bumps cropped up.

The first road bump was the realization that the job scope of a commercial architect is vastly different from architectural projects in school. This dawned on me during an internship at an architectural firm. In academia, architecture is ambitious – it prods, questions, and pushes boundaries. However, in real-life practice, architecture adopts a face of grey. The focus shifts to budgeting, pragmatism, and meticulous administration. Architecture at the workplace isn’t filled with the same colorful aspiration that academic projects pushes for.

The second road bump was monetary. Our tiny island, after decades of post-world-war industrialization, is already highly developed so there is less opportunities for new builds, compared to other countries. Hiring would be more competitive. The city is also saturated with an increasing number of architecture graduates, who are reportedly leaving the field themselves due to low pay and long working hours. If I were to sell my soul to the workplace, I would prefer to be well renumerated.

The third road bump is the academic culture that accompanies an architectural education. The grit was familiar; studios are known to be demanding. Architecture students pull all-nighters all the time. In last few days towards the deadline of my BIG BIG final year project, I caught only 2 hours of sleep over three days. Over Three Days. The eyebags haven't faded. I couldn’t see myself going through that same rigor again.

Architecture made my heart sing; but the fracture in how it is taught in school versus the reality of architecture at the workplace and in the economy deterred me from pursuing it as a career. Maybe my love for the field can manifest in other ways – in gawking at minimalist details, in capturing its beauty through the camera, and in appreciating the work that goes into thoughtful design. I’ll make a living off something else for now. So, what else makes my heart sing?

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A very proud me showcasing the model of my last project before graduating

Featuring selected architecture projects I designed in Ngee Ann Polytechnic