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Architecture Social

Architecture Social, Stephen Drew

It is hard to get a job in architecture. We exist to help you get there. Hosted by Stephen Drew, Architecture Social is the unfiltered guide to the UK Built Environment. We decode the realities of the industry, provide actionable cheat codes for your career, and bridge the communication gap between the drafting board and the boardroom.

Whether you are a Part I assistant trying to survive your first role, a Part III architect managing complex procurement, or a Practice Director fighting tight margins and adapting to the Building Safety Act, this podcast is your central node of intelligence. We strip away the aesthetic gatekeeping and toxic positivity to talk about the actual mechanics of the business.

Expect honest conversations about salary realities, portfolio strategies, hiring economics, and the true experiences of the people actively shaping the profession.

No fluff, just the reality of practice.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S1 · E260
    September 24 · 45 min

    What Architecture Employers Actually Look For

    Architecture practices are rarely taught how to balance design ambition, client relationships and commercial reality. Markus Seifermann of Seifermann Architects explains how adaptability, collaboration and a willingness to learn have shaped a multidisciplinary studio. They get into winning unfamiliar projects, building a people-focused team, diversifying into film and events, hiring for entrepreneurial thinking, rebranding the practice and using AI without handing over responsibility. The conversation offers practical lessons for architects and designers navigating clients, careers, technology and the changing expectations of practice. Markus Seifermann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markusseifermann/ Seifermann Architects: https://www.seifermann.london/ _____ Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for: https://architecturesocial.com/ The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects: https://archademia.com/architecture-s... Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership. _____ Chapters: 00:00 Starting an architecture practice 04:10 Winning the first major project 07:37 Creativity and commercial reality 10:56 Diversifying into film and events 16:08 Collaboration and unconventional hiring 20:35 Applications and interview advice 25:19 Rebranding the architecture practice 28:21 Mentoring and future careers 33:45 Managing different client relationships 36:48 Designing without a house style 38:09 Using AI as an architectural tool 41:46 Why architectural education must change 45:23 Projects and getting in touch 31:39 Young people questioning AI and careers 33:45 Residential and commercial client relationships 36:48 Designing without a house style 38:09 Using AI as an architectural tool 41:46 Why architectural education must change 45:23 Projects, opportunities and getting in touch #Architecture #ArchitectureStudent #Architect #ArchitecturePodcast

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  • S1 · E259
    September 2 · 1 hr

    Architects Won’t Work the Same After This

    Most people think AI in architecture stops at generating a nice image. In this episode, Bill Allen from Chaos explains why the bigger shift is what happens when AI starts working inside Revit, Rhino and SketchUp. They get into AI rendering, agentic tools, automated construction drawings and the move from modelling to render, to rendering to model. Bill also explains why architects still need to understand the “why” behind their work, what practices should look for when hiring, and why students should learn how to learn instead of becoming too attached to one piece of software. Bill Allen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billallenarchitecture/ Chaos: https://www.chaos.com/ Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for: https://architecturesocial.com/ The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects: https://archademia.com/ Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership. Chapters 00:00 AI and architecture in 2026 01:57 From architect to design technology founder 05:35 How architectural rendering became accessible 09:14 Automating construction drawings with AI 11:01 Why architecture is slow to adopt technology 13:17 Agentic AI and MCPs explained 17:16 Creating architectural animations with a prompt 21:36 From modelling to render, to rendering to model 25:29 Turning AI images into editable 3D models 27:33 Using AI to place BIM components 32:20 Automating repetitive construction documentation 35:00 How AI could prevent costly drawing mistakes 38:16 Will AI replace entry-level architects? 42:13 Leaving architecture to build a business 46:44 What Chaos looks for when hiring 50:06 Advice for architecture students in the AI era 55:21 Why AI reaches architecture later 57:40 Where to find Bill and Chaos #Architecture #ArchitectureStudent #ArchitectureTech

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  • S1 · E258
    August 14 · 55 min

    He Built an Architecture Studio After 3 Redundancies

    After being made redundant three times, Dominic McAndrew went on to co-found Ruumi Studio and build a new architecture practice from scratch. In this episode, we talk about the reality of starting an architecture studio, what redundancy actually teaches you, why running a young practice is not as glamorous as it looks, and what small studios really look for when hiring. Dominic also shares how Ruumi Studio was built with AI in mind, how the team started trading quickly after a chaotic Christmas setup, and why personality, attitude and communication can matter just as much as technical ability when you’re applying to smaller architecture practices. We have partnered with ArchAdemia, an online learning platform built by architects, for architects: https://archademia.com/architecture-s... Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on the monthly or annual membership. 00:00 Intro 00:48 Meet Dominic and Ruumi Studio 03:06 Getting Into Architecture by Accident 09:40 Made Redundant Three Times 18:15 Turning Redundancy Into Opportunity 22:27 Leading a Team Through Redundancy 26:08 How Ruumi Studio Began 32:00 The Reality of Starting a Studio 37:01 Building a Team and Hiring Architects 44:03 Lessons From the First Six Months 47:47 Building an Architecture Studio Around AI 53:42 What’s Next for Ruumi Studio _____ Curated content, insights and opportunities to accelerate your career in Architecture, Design, Development and Real Estate to the next level. 💻 Find more content at https://www.architecturesocial.com 📐 #Architecture #ArchitectureStudent #Architect #ArchitecturePodcast

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  • S1 · E257
    July 2 · 1 hr 23 min

    He Started His Own Architecture Practice at 29

    What does it actually take to start your own architecture practice in 2026? Alex Sutton founded Studio Sutton in August 2019 at the age of 29, just six months before the world locked down. In this conversation with Stephen Drew, he opens up about building an award winning international practice through a global pandemic, a war, an interest rate spike, an AI shake-up, and the hardest personal moments of his life. No fluff, no romanticising, just the real story of what running a small practice looks like when the cards are stacked against you. If you've ever thought about starting your own studio, or you're already on that path and wondering if it gets easier, this one's for you. Studio Sutton: studiosutton.co.uk Alex Sutton on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-sutton ____ ▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Md1Fakkn7Q Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for: https://architecturesocial.com/ The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects: https://archademia.com/architecture-social/ Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership. ____ Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:08 Meet Alex Sutton 06:14 How Alex got into architecture 08:34 Starting out at Sevil Peach 10:07 Setting up Studio Sutton at 29 12:19 Six months before the pandemic 16:33 Losing a year of work overnight 17:44 Pivoting to Oslo and Stockholm 20:09 The reality vs romance of running a studio 23:40 The personal cost of being a founder 26:29 The hidden cost of winning work 30:14 Why better design doesn't always win 34:00 Tick box forms and SME barriers 36:36 £40,000 just to be in the room 38:52 Where does design get lost? 43:34 Where are the Mavericks? 45:08 What actually creates value 51:02 Advice for new founders 57:16 Losing work to AI 58:49 Is starting a practice in 2026 a dead end? 1:03:07 Why architecture still matters 1:08:14 Hiring and building a small team 1:17:05 What architecture school doesn't teach 1:18:30 The Bartlett and the culture of fear 1:26:08 Where to find Studio Sutton

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  • S1 · E256
    June 18 · 52 min

    Why Architects Have Zero Power in the UK Right Now

    Stephen Drew speaks with Jay Morton about why architects have so little power in the UK built environment, what RIBA needs to change, and how the profession can build a stronger public and commercial voice.

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  • S1 · E255
    June 16 · 49 min

    A KPF Director’s Honest Advice for Young Architects

    Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about building a long-term architecture career inside a global practice, including hiring, progression, leadership, BIM, AI and the skills that still matter.

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  • S1 · E254
    May 7 · 1 hr 17 min

    Running an Architecture Practice Isn’t What You Think

    Stephen Drew speaks with Tim, co-founder of nimtim architects, about starting and running an architecture practice, including fees, hiring, culture, risk, profit and the realities behind studio life.

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  • S1 · E253
    April 14 · 1 hr 12 min

    How to Future Proof Your Architecture Career

    Stephen Drew speaks with Ami Nigam, Head of Design Technology at Benoy, about BIM, computational design, AI and the skills architecture professionals need to stay useful as practice changes.

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  • S1 · E252
    March 24 · 1 hr 17 min

    How to Actually Get Hired in Architecture and Interior Design

    Stephen Drew shares practical advice from a Kingston University session on getting hired in architecture and interior design, covering CVs, portfolios, direct outreach, interviews and graduate visa conversations.

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  • S1 · E251
    March 17 · 1 hr 22 min

    How to Land Your First Architect Role

    Stephen Drew gives a practical lecture on getting a first architecture or interiors role, covering CVs, sample portfolios, direct applications, job search volume, graduate visas, interviews and salary conversations.

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  • S1 · E245
    Nov 11, 2025 · 48 min

    From Designs to Developments: Greg Blaquiere's Planning Journey

    Stephen Drew speaks with Greg Blaquiere of Eagle Planning and Development about planning consultancy, moving from local authority to private practice, starting a business, AI, due diligence and working well with architects.

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  • S1 · E242
    Oct 21, 2025 · 39 min

    Are Developers the New Architects? Simon Vernon Harcourt’s Journey

    Stephen Drew speaks with Simon Vernon-Harcourt of City and Country about moving from architecture into development, restoring historic buildings, working with architects and how developers think about design, risk and delivery.

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  • S1 · E241
    Oct 7, 2025 · 53 min

    Revit Rookie to Digital Leader: Jon Arnott's Path to Adeptus

    Stephen Drew speaks with Jon Arnott about moving from early BIM adoption into digital leadership, consultancy, entrepreneurship, AI in construction and what young professionals can learn from building technical confidence.

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