The 'Architect' as Holy Grail?
Nurture your Architectural Spark and Reshape your Role for the 21st Century
Did you know that you don’t have to become an architect?
Wait, you don’t understand. Yes, you studied architecture, but no, you don’t have to become an architect. At least not in the traditionally-accepted sense.
You can study architecture and not want to become an architect.
Let that sink in.
1 — The Initial Spark:
See, many of us once had a dream. This very dream sparked our desire to study architecture. It’s the reason we willingly subjugated ourselves to sleep deprivation and torturous deadlines.
While I can't pinpoint your specific dream, I know a spark resides within you.
What ignited your passion for architecture?
Perhaps you were captivated by buildings and their profound impact on people’s daily lives. Or maybe the prospect of watching designs materialize from paper to reality utterly mesmerized you. For some, it may be a family legacy, following in the footsteps of an architect parent. Others are drawn by the pursuit of beauty. Then there are those driven by a deeper pain — seeing people without a roof over their heads and studying architecture to provide that, or seeing communities lose everything they had and wanting to give back.
Regardless of the initial motivation, many enter this field with a burning passion, a compelling Why, a ‘spark’ to make a difference in the world.
So, I ask you: what was your spark? What led you to study architecture?
My own path was far from linear. As a child and teen, I oscillated between dreams of being an opera singer, an architect, an industrial kitchen designer and even a hairdresser before studying architecture. After multiple rejections from industrial design schools, I turned to architecture, hoping it would lead me back to designing kitchens. This journey, seemingly chaotic, actually reflects my essence — adaptable, multifaceted, ever-curious, always synthesizing the seemingly different. This versatility has become the very foundation of my professional path — I use architecture as a bridge to connect my many passions.
2 — The Fading Spark:
As we enter architecture school, that initial spark often begins to fade. We're told we need to 'get real' as we approach graduation, so we try our best to integrate into a professional world filled with all its serious obligations — tenders, contracts, clients and budgets.
Our original inspiration? Suddenly, ‘childish and naive’.
What was once a real, tangible, imaginable dream that propelled us into architecture school, in this very process, becomes compromised, diluted and eventually replaced by a new aspiration:
The idealized ‘architect’ title.
Imagine a triangle, with the 'architect' ideal at the top. As we progress through education, it's as if we're climbing this triangle. But while seemingly progressive, our world narrows with each step. Rigid disconnected courses, inflexible non-interdisciplinary curricula, result-oriented projects and occasionally jaded professors contribute to this constriction.
Our enthusiasm dims. The zest for our professional future wanes and the possibilities we once envisioned shrink to a pinpoint. We're forced to choose, to specialize, to fit into predefined moulds of what type of ‘architect’ we should become, what projects we should pursue, what scale we should work at. We believe we have choices, but in reality, we're simply selecting from a handful of predetermined boxes, shaped by those who climbed before us.
In this relentless ascent, we think we need to prove our worth as architects, adhering to unspoken yet powerful rules:
‘Work harder’ ‘Sleep less’ ‘Wear only black’ ‘Work for Bjarke’ ‘Get this project’ ‘Win those clients’ ‘Build’
No project ever seems good enough or big enough; we frantically push to climb higher to reach that elusive 'architect' ideal at the peak. But as we near it, we find our world has become as narrow as the top of the triangle — far removed from the broad base of possibilities we started with.
Innovation is dead.
And then we wonder why we no longer love architecture, why it's so tough, whether we should have chosen a different path. We blame ‘architecture’ but, of course, the problem isn’t architecture itself — it’s that we, as students and graduates, allow our precious spark to dim under the weight of expectations.
3 — Rediscovering the Spark:
If you're reading this, I know that spark still lives in you; the dream that led you to architecture in the first place. It doesn't have to be world-changing. It can be a simple memory of building sandcastles as a child — what a precious memory!
I know you want to love architecture again.
Your initial passion may have been extinguished, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone.
Your challenge is to rediscover that spark — and to tenaciously nurture and protect it — even and especially as you navigate the realities of the profession.
Unearth it. Conduct an archaeological dig. Resurrect that initial enthusiasm.
What if you turned that triangle upside down?
Imagine diverging from the expected path by making different choices than your peers and parents. Imagine standing firm amidst established colleagues and believing in your unconventional ideas despite rejection.
Imagine opening your world and turning your inspiration into reality...
Why simply strive to become an ‘architect’? What if it’s not even what you truly want? Don’t you want to challenge yourself? And have more fun?
Take Tatiana Bilbao, for example. This Mexican architect is redefining what it means to be an architect by following her passion for residential housing and social impact. Despite being labelled as naive or innocent by some, Bilbao firmly believes in the power of architecture. 'I do truly believe that architecture can be a platform for many, many things. And I will not give up,' she asserts.
Bilbao's approach challenges the competitive nature that dominates much of the architectural world and advocates for activism and collaboration. She doesn't just design buildings; she builds communities. By nurturing her original passion and refusing to conform to conventional practice, Bilbao stands as a testament to the power of holding onto one's 'spark' in the face of industry expectations.
Architecture culture and society pressure us to conform. It is hard to go against the grain and challenge the status quo — but know this: architecture desperately needs your passion, your uniqueness, your distinctive perspective.
Please don’t try to be ‘reasonable’ or ‘pragmatic’; those considerations come later. First, you must listen to your heart, or your professional journey will be filled with pain and frustration — as it already is for many.
Then, you must let go of the constant need to prove yourself. You are inherently unique, with your own set of strengths, skills, talents, perspectives, experiences, sensitivities, quirks, pains and challenges. When you embrace this, external competition fades away and the only competition that really matters is with yourself — striving to meet your potential, challenging your own assumptions, unravelling your ‘dharma’.
That architectural spark you once felt isn't lost — it's still with you, intrinsically connected to what you are here to do. This spark was given to you for a reason. This isn't woo-woo; it's simple logic.
Ask yourself: ‘What gifts have I been given?’
Are you an extraordinary illustrator? Do you have a more-than-normal interest in affordable and climate-resilient housing? Are you good at bringing people together? Do you notice who is overlooked and excluded? Do you feel a deep connection to forests? Are you interested in marketing and business models? Maybe a combination?
These are all clues.
Did you build elaborate Lego structures as a child, or find enjoyment in organizing and rearranging rooms?
Everything you’ve been given is waiting to be nurtured.
Cultivate it. Talk to it. Bring it to life.
What about that child in you who was moved by images of hurricane devastation, remember it?
That’s a spark.
It hasn’t disappeared. On the contrary — it’s waiting to be rekindled through attention, skills, knowledge and experiences. When nurtured, it could not only bloom into innovative, resilient housing strategies that transform lives; it could revolutionize community resilience, disaster preparedness and recovery, and beyond.
Your unique spark, whatever it may be, has the power to reshape the profession's role in addressing global challenges and birth innovative ways of practising in the 21st century.
4 — Redefining the ‘Architect’:
Many see becoming a licensed architect as the ultimate goal — the holy grail — to conceive, design and especially build.
But in reality, this is a very narrow definition and only one possible path out of many.
As the world evolves, so should our definition of what it means to ‘architect'.
Tatiana Bilbao studied architecture but made radically different choices in her practice. One of her most striking decisions was to ban renders; instead, she uses only collages and physical models to present projects to clients. This approach, she believes, allows for more imagination, flexibility and collaboration in the design process and avoids disappointment in the client.
Twenty or thirty years ago, studying architecture meant a clear, predefined path: become a particular architect, design particular buildings, serve a particular clientele.
Not any more.
Times have changed and the world is spinning faster than ever. According to the Institute for the Future, 85% of jobs predicted to exist in 2030 haven't even been invented yet.
We face a storm of challenges/opportunities: emerging technology reshaping entire industries, climate change disrupting communities and ecologies, post-COVID realities redefining spaces and lifestyles, urban sprawl swallowing landscapes and resources, widening social inequalities causing conflicts, biodiversity painstakingly vanishing, waste ineffectively going to waste (literally!).
In this whirlwind, your expertise is crucial — but in ways you may not yet fully comprehend or imagine.
Architecture school is often still slow to adapt and prepare us for these changes, with a big disconnect between academia, practice and real global needs — however, that doesn't mean we can’t do anything about it.
We can’t change the entire system, but we can start with ourselves.
Why wait when you can be the change?
Instead of viewing 'architect' as a fixed end goal, consider it a template to build upon and act on the world. Learn from it; take what works; discard what doesn’t; and make it better.
But better in what sense? And for whom? That’s for you to decide.
Exploring your depths — what inspires, drives and touches you — is the beginning of deeply personal and meaningful work. It's not about saving the world, ‘doing good’ or being altruistic. Starting with what the world needs or what others expect from you often leads to inauthenticity and misguided actions. It’s also not about doing things differently for the sake of doing them differently.
It’s about unearthing your original Why, and then letting it guide and inspire everything you do.
5 — Nurturing Your Spark:
Most of us simply follow the crowd because we don't want to rock the boat. But interestingly, if we dive deep and explore our depths — past the expectations — we often discover the path that’s been waiting for us all along.
It’s the path that leads right back to that initial Why.
This path isn’t necessarily a completely different one. Often, it's about walking the same road as others but making different choices along the way. Just like Tatiana Bilbao practices unconventionally while working within the field, she demonstrates that you can follow the established path of becoming an architect while still honouring and cultivating your original inspiration.
Let’s say you’ve unearthed that you want to give back to communities after disaster. In this case, there are numerous ways to nurture it, and this nurturing can happen at any stage: during architecture school, right after graduation, or well into your professional career.
Here are some examples:
1 — Approach projects differently: Focus on the intangible processes, not just tangible results. Prioritize community engagement in your design process, not just rebuilding. Document the recovery journey, not just the final render.
2 — Choose studios strategically: Seek opportunities to combine architecture with other fields. Look for studios and projects where you can blend your design expertise with social work, urban planning, environmental science and/or disaster management.
3 — Engage with professors: Respectfully challenge ideas and find a middle ground between acceptance and critique. If a professor or colleague suggests a solution that you’re not sure of, propose an alternative and explain your reasoning. Question already existing post-disaster solutions.
4 — Apply for positions creatively: Don't just follow templates. Be bold and memorable in your approach. Create an interactive portfolio with your ideas for climate-resistant design and persistently follow up. Turn a ‘No’ into a ‘Yes’. Don’t just apply to architecture firms; try to partner with international organizations.
5 — Share knowledge: Start a YouTube channel or blog to fill educational gaps for others. Create tutorials and share insights from affected areas. Teach workshops on resilient design to empower communities to rebuild safer structures.
6 — Practice collaboratively: Work with people. Don't impose your vision; listen. Collaborate with meteorologists and civil engineers. Use participatory design methods to understand and incorporate the needs and wisdom of community.
7 — Diversify your clients: Don't just build for the wealthy. Challenge yourself with meaningful, low-budget projects. Volunteer for organizations, design for non-profits, contribute to community centres. Visit and work in disaster-prone areas.
8 — Redefine your aspirations: Focus on service rather than prizes or becoming the ‘next big name’. Measure success by how many communities you've helped become more resilient. Mentor and inspire the next generation of architects.
It’s never too late to reconnect with your inspiration, regardless of where you are on your professional path.
If in doubt, ask yourself, ‘How is my current position or situation preparing me to realize my Why, my reason for studying architecture?’
Every step of the way has something valuable to learn from.
Sure, work for renowned architects and tick off all the ‘architectural’ checkboxes, but see them as experiences or stepping stones in your journey — as ‘training grounds’ — to ultimately pursue what’s truly on your heart and carve your own path.
6 — A Call To Action:
The ‘architect’ we know is at a crossroads: evolve or become irrelevant. Our industry pollutes, wastes, demolishes, displaces communities, dominates and imposes on land, and excludes the majority of humanity.
In the face of this, your architectural foundation can do so much.
Graduation is not an end — it's a launchpad for something extraordinary. It’s your opportunity to explore all your interests, sharpen your skills and channel your unique creativity into creating a more equitable, beautiful and regenerative world.
If you muster the courage to follow your original spark out into the world, you will be pushed to grow in unexpected ways and, as a result, expand your role beyond traditional boundaries. You might enable community processes, experiment in a lab, shape policies and contribute to larger systems of resilience; you could find yourself teaching, speaking, advocating, collaborating and, yes, building.
Instead of merely designing physical structures, you could become an agent for broader systemic change, true to the essence of the 'master builder' [arkhitekton] — the chief weaver who synthesizes diverse strands into a cohesive whole.
Now, more than ever, the world needs your vision and courage to blaze new trails. It’s time to expand your perception of what an architect can be. To catch up on skills that schools don't teach, master new tools and learn to communicate across disciplines.
Don't ask what the ‘market’ wants — give the world what it didn't know it needed.
If you want to be relevant in 2030, make yourself relevant.
Demand more of yourself. Nurture your gifts. Embrace your Why.
So, I ask you again: what was the spark that led you to architecture?
And if you're ready to fan that spark into a wildfire – whether through speaking, workshops or creative campaigns – I’m here: www.wasdnty.com
With fierce encouragement,
Inés
If you’re new here — hi and welcome! I’m Inés, an architecture graduate who refused to be boxed in by conventional ideas and expectations. Having struggled to fit the 'architect' mould myself, I now use my voice to instil self-awareness and inspire new possibilities — guiding fellow graduates out of the same constraints I once knew to discover your unique potential and create the systems change our world needs.
Be sure to also visit my other Substack, LEAD, where I delve deeper into further reflections that aim to complement, support and expand your journey of transformation.
Thanks for being here! :)
Additional Reflections:
Disclaimer: Architecture Is Not A Box explores perspectives on alternative career paths and applications of architectural thinking beyond traditional practice. While discussing the field of architecture broadly, any references to architecture-related work refer to activities that don't require professional licensure, unless specifically noted otherwise. This content is for educational and inspirational purposes.
The article I didn't know I needed! So relevant not only for architecture but for so many professions! We are told to follow one defined path but as humans we are multifaceted, we should embrace everything that we are and strive to create for the whole 🙏🏽