Two younger members of our team – Maks and Hatice – recently became fully qualified architects. They both completed their Part 3 while working for Llewelyn Davies but their journeys to get here were very different.
Maksimilijan Luzaic. From Croatia to Fitzrovia
Maks reflects on his journey and the support and mentorship he has received from others in the practice.
Maksimilijan reflects on his journey to becoming an architect.
Hatice Cagiran. A route less ordinary.
“Becoming an architect normally takes at least seven years. That’s a long time for anybody. For me it took a little longer. For various reasons, my progress towards a professional qualification was delayed although I never stopped doing architecture. That explains why I have 16 years’ experience in architectural practices despite only qualifying last year.
How it all began
I didn’t always dream of becoming an architect. I just knew I wanted to do something creative. So, after studying art and design, media studies, and IT at school, I went on to a foundation year at art college.
I remember going into the City during that year to take photos of Richard Rogers’ Lloyds building and thinking ’wow!’. And if I look back at my portfolio, there are a lot of images of buildings in there. It was my tutor who first pointed that out and suggested architecture as a possible degree.
My training started in 2001, and I completed Parts 1 and 2 back-to-back at Greenwich University. I then started Part 3 and joined a practice for required real-world experience. Unfortunately, after two years, the 2009 financial crisis intervened, and my plans had to change.
Hatice working with other architects on Turks and Caicos International Airport and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
A different path
My family are originally Turkish and came to the UK when I was two years old. I had always thought about working in Turkey and this seemed a good opportunity. I ended up spending the next ten years in Istanbul, first at a small architecture practice and later at a bigger firm. I learnt a lot, mastering software that is proving really useful now and working on a range of interesting projects including sustainable accommodation. Working overseas, however, meant that my Part 3 was put on hold.
Resuming my journey
I returned to the UK, just before COVID, and was fortunate to be taken on by Llewelyn Davies during the pandemic. It was probably the first place I applied. I had known about the practice ever since university, so it was always back of mind. More important at the time was the fact that I had friends who worked here.
It was definitely the right decision. At Llewelyn Davies I received a huge amount of support and encouragement and people here really gave me the push I needed to get my Part 3 done. The mentorship has been great. I have also benefited from sessions going through Part 3 material in the office, sometimes in working hours, sometimes outside. There have always been people I could reach out to, and I have never felt uncomfortable asking questions.
Of course, there’s a huge amount of work involved in Part 3 alongside your day-to-day job. That means a lot of study, even during holidays. As well as the written exams, you have to submit a case study of a project you have worked on, and then there’s the final interview with two external examiners. That can be pretty stressful, but mine seemed to go well. In fact, I couldn’t stop talking! Then you have to wait, for two months, for the results. Finally qualifying was a real relief, of course, and it was great that both Maks and I passed at exactly the same time.
Life after Part 3
Life after Part 3 hasn’t really been so different. I was already making a contribution to projects at Llewelyn Davies and always felt valued and appreciated. I suppose that what qualifying has given me is a new level of self-confidence.
Being a fully qualified architect, however, doesn’t mean that the education stops. You’re extending your knowledge all the time whether it’s something you see on-site or pick up in conversations with colleagues. Then someone might bring a new product into the office and explain its features and benefits.
As a RIBA Chartered Member, you are also required to undergo Continuing Professional Development (CPD). That means taking courses every year to prove that you are keeping up to date with new materials or technologies and staying abreast of changing legislation such as the new fire regulations coming through as a result of Grenfell.
Hatice and Maksimilijan on site at Bedford Passage Development.
Enjoying the day job
I’ve worked on a whole range of projects ay Llewelyn Davies over the last five years from airports to healthcare. What I really love is seeing a project grow over time. Designing something is fun but watching it constructed is a different kind of fulfilment. That’s when you learn so much more.
My current project is the development of an existing building. That’s not a simple design job. Once the construction starts, it throws up all sorts of challenges which are often unexpected and need fixing. There are constant queries from the site. You have to understand the issues and come up with solutions. I get a real buzz from that sort of problem solving.
So, what would I say to someone thinking about becoming an architect?
Are you serious? Architecture’s not a nine to five job. Even at university, the hours are crazy and that continues. I remember one of our first lectures at university. The hall was crowded and the lecturer told us to look to our left and right because those people probably wouldn’t be there at the end of the course. The drop-out rate is quite high, certainly in Part 1, because people don’t have the required passion and dedication.
Don’t get me wrong. Architecture is a great career, but it demands real commitment. If you don’t love it, don’t do it!”
Any further questions?
If you have any further questions about this article, please contact us via london@ldavies.com or 0207 907 7900
