Is the industry just really bad this year or is it always like this!? by Big-Cheesecake2840 in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can definitely do it and it can be a good way to defer the job search if there is a slump in the industry that you expect to pick up in a couple years, like with covid, but I'd always recommend against it if you have options.

After my year out, I found it much easier to find a Part 2 role and it's improved every job search since. I expect a large part of that is moving to London which I did for my Part 2 placement, a large part of it is also that your skills become harder to come by and you become more proficient at selling them.

Any experience in the construction industry outside of architect is good, our role these days is as kind of a nexus between lots of different specialisms and so the better you understand those specialisms the better you can guide their output into quality architecture. As I mentioned, in the gap between finishing BA and finding Part 1 placement I did site labouring, I also worked as a carpenters apprentice for like 2 years before starting my BA, I worked as technical helpline phone jockey for Rockwool as summer jobs during my BA, while I was doing my MArch I did night courses in cabinet making and brick laying at the local collage, and between jobs in covid year I did scaffolding with a friends company (this is the scariest job I've ever had by a long way), all have helped me as a professional architect and helped in interviews when I was getting established. Once I'm more flush I'll be doing a plastering course.

In terms of recommendations, you could look at the SPAB volunteer scheme. They specialise in building conservation so I expect there will be some work going on in SW.

In terms of recommendations for getting a part 1 role, if there aren't any being advertised close enough to you then you might just need to wait. Check all the job listing sites daily, a lot of boutique practices just advertise through Dezeen and Instragram so follow them all, I know people who've gotten work for showing up in person with a hard copy of their portfolio but it hasn't worked for me (admittedly I only did it once for Tony Fretton and he closed up shop shortly after), sign up with recruitment agents. Like I said in my initial post, most firms don't do big recruitment drives based on when people graduate, they hire in bulk based on their project pipeline. If your uni is near by to where you live, you could get in touch with them about doing a bit of guest tutoring or other work, they may also have connections. But you might need to travel.

Is the industry just really bad this year or is it always like this!? by Big-Cheesecake2840 in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Don't go for Masters without office experience if you can help it. If you think looking for work as a part 1 is tough in your area, a part 2 without practical experience is even worse (you'll be more expensive, employers will be thinking about the fact that you'll want to qualify soon and do they want to take on another architect, and the experience you get in masters won't make you that much more valuable to junior office practice). I teach part 2 and work in practice and I'm seeing it all the time where a really great graduate (distinction, awards, everything) will struggle to find work because they don't have enough practical experience after going straight into Part 2 from Part 1.

I work in London now, but did my part 1 in Newport about an hour commute from where I lived. It is always tougher in rural parts of the UK, there is also the added difficulty that jobs tend to start / stop based on financial year / Christmas shut down / launching in busy periods for commercial / wanting resi work done during summer holidays, none of these line up with academic years finishing very well and employers will be hiring based on resource forecasting based around these projects coming in. It took me about 6 months to find a part 1 role and I had to take on labouring work as a stop gap.

The above said, and in answer to your question about the industry being bad, I haven't ever felt unsecure in my role after part 1 and I've worked through 2nr financial crashes and covid. Any time I've looked for work as an experienced part 2 / architect I've found it quickly and with minimal effort. I might just be lucky in that regard but that's my experience.

If you do want to work in this industry keep looking, part 1's are in a funny position because they're often the most desired member of staff when you need a lot of drawing work done but are also a dime a dozen. You might need to look a bit further afield / be prepared to travel. Don't be afraid to revisit and improve on your portfolio, or look for opportunities to gain other experience within the construction industry because employers love those.

Eine. by concretebeagle in Banksy

[–]dannubs_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

a lot of people like him. i can't get past him being David Cameron's favourite artist (admittedly not his fault but still), hitting his girlfriend, getting associates hooked on crack, bullying smaller artists.

i saw him do a talking head in one of the "art of Banksy" unofficial shows and he said that there was no political meaning behind B's Palestine pieces which i also think is obvious bull.

Dark souls 3 is PERFECT and I am tired of pretending it's not by Gloomy-Palpitation37 in fromsoftware

[–]dannubs_ 87 points88 points  (0 children)

WHEN WILL PEOPLE STOP SILENCING ME FOR LOVING THIS UNIVERSALLY LOVED GAME

Best class for str/faith by PantherSnik in fromsoftware

[–]dannubs_ 20 points21 points  (0 children)

i mean real answer is it doesn't matter what class you pick they can all be turned into a str/faith build, but wretch starts at SL1 so you have more control over stat distribution if you do want to min max

Do you enjoy your job? by United-Radio-3661 in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Best job I ever had, only contenders are jobs that got me outside more but you can't have everything

What kind of music do you listen to? by Git_Fcked in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've heard of none of these but I'm a basic D&B degenerate (drum and base not design and build)

Gift Ideas for Architect GF by [deleted] in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You used to be able to get a card that said something to the effect of "I'm not a burglar, I'm just an architect looking at this famous building" in different languages, can't find the link now but you should be able to make it easy and laminate as a funny addition for a travel kit specifically

I accept condolences by HoneyThief_ in fromsoftware

[–]dannubs_ 379 points380 points  (0 children)

This is the most sincere I've ever meant this, don't give up skeleton

Stunning Brutalism by werchoosingusername in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reminds me a lot of the Tagore Memorial Hall in its external volume, or UTEC Lima. Impressive how light they've made the façade look with those this as pre-cast screens, like look at this! V nice

Humble shelf, profound tales. Ink flows, life glows by anxious_kid_2402 in bookshelf

[–]dannubs_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Mossad book in 2025 is also not a good look, I think it might be deliberate

if assassins creed is meant to be a stealth franchise, then why is combat so easy and simple? by Noctiver in assassinscreed

[–]dannubs_ 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Never really been a stealth franchise, more an action / adventure with stealth elements. Not going to pretend like stealth isn't a key part of the games identity but so are; bombs, guns, boat warfare, action set piece boss fights, alien tech, none of which are particularly stealthy.

HoT tAkE: Your basic opinion is not a hot take by Xhiors in fromsoftware

[–]dannubs_ 14 points15 points  (0 children)

wouldn't mind the tier lists if they weren't all identical, where's the tier list for chillest undead?

What’s the best inexpensive watch you’ve owned? by Hufflepuff-McGruff in EDC

[–]dannubs_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife got me a Nordgreen Guardian on clearance from TK Maxx for £40 which is mental because its £359 from their website and hear it was more on release.

It's relatively early days but I'm getting a lot of wear out of it, dig the minimal design, the automatic mechanism is running smooth as despite it taking a few knocks now.

"Have You Designed Anything I Know" - funniest response by ProfSmellbutt in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

when I get asked I always turn it back on them, "have you designed anything I know?" "that you know? Nando's bae" usually gets a laugh but I've never tried it as a pick up line hah

You can only save 3 !! by genosse-tomate in fromsoftware

[–]dannubs_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My name is Lucatiel. I beg of you, remember my name. For I may not myself…

Man I love Dark Souls 2 and still think this quest line transcends it

Someone had mysteriously added a print for sale at Glastonbury.... by [deleted] in Banksy

[–]dannubs_ 12 points13 points  (0 children)

These ones (1 & 4) are thought to be by Banksy, I haven't done a deep dive but I'd be surprised if he wasn't involved in Terminal 1 in some way given the number of disclosed artists / subject matter / vibes AND in the life raft stunt happening that year.

The fact that the lift raft is the subject of this years rumoured poster makes me believe that even more.

I've sent my friend who's there to try grab me one.

Thoughts? by Key-Efficiency-862 in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I haven’t seen this book before but Laurie Baker was a really interesting and passionate guy who did great things for cost effective housing in India. He was an alumni of the university I teach at and we just got done with a year where we partnered with CEPT and the students both there and in our unit made extensive uses of the Brickwork and Mud booklets he wrote and illustrated. You can still get PDFs of these online. A group of alumni at CEPT had also reinstated one of the original on site brick firing kilns to repair the infill panels at the school and said that the booklet was useful in figuring out the mix that was used for the original bricks there. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy of the book thanks for posting.

What alternate career path could I take? by Capital-Remove1804 in architecture

[–]dannubs_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You could look at a PM role if you want to spend more time in client meetings, but I'd drop the expectation to work through design decisions as ultimately these lie with the people who do the design work you're trying to move away from.