What's in the mind of students on the other side of the world?

“What are your future plans?”

Micah @Zhejiang, CHINA

My plan for the future is to gain lots of experience in the field of architecture, to be able to make an impact in my society and be a part of a generation of African architects that design to suit modern standards, yet preserve and incorporate the unique elements associated with African architecture that are currently almost ignored most at times. To me geography and culture is a great determining factor for a great design.

Also, I would love to have my own studio in my hometown someday and be a source of inspiration to the upcoming ones who develop interest in architecture or art related career paths because growing up I had no people in these fields to look up to. Most people in my hometown either end up as doctors, engineers and lawyers leaving the creative field hugely untapped.

Michael @Vigan, PHILIPPINES

Work in my home town for half a year or a year, then move to Manila, our capital city for more experience.

Tham @Ho Chi Minh, VIETNAM

Currently I’m doing freelance design work, related to architecture, interior and logos.

I’ve also startup on a new business of delivering of herbs and cashews (my hometown specialties) with 2 friends.

In the future, I want to study abroad so that I can teach architecture to the next generation in Vietnam.

Divya @Visakhapatnam, INDIA

After this course, I’m planning to work as a junior architect in the firm that fits me and then go for masters in architecture.

(During the college we have a semester particularly for internship (i.e. 8^th sem). It is a period of 6 months where a student works in a firm as an intern. After the course of 5 years, one can work as a junior architect and then after a few years of experience, he can start his/her own architectural firm.)

Rahul @Navi Mumbai, INDIA

Yes, I have some plans. I really want to do my Masters. I have to help my family, so I would study for my master’s entrance exam (GATE exam) while working. I cracked GATE exam this year but I didn’t get a good enough score to get admission for IIT. IIT’s (Indian Institute of Technology) are India’s best colleges.

Mahla @Tehran, IRAN

I would like to finish my studies and start an interior design company and become one of the best.

Yasmin @ Istanbul, TURKEY

It’s really difficult to have a plan of any sort during this pandemic. But for the mean time I hope to gain some work experience and find a master’s degree program that suits me.

Nasya @Nuremberg, GERMANY

This summer I’m working on my last project for my bachelor’s degree and next year I want to start on my master’s degree.

After graduating I will start working in an architecture design office. I am also interested in participating a architecture design competition. Who knows maybe my professional career could start from it?

Steven @Lincoln, ENGLAND

Yes, to become an architect and hopefully win some prizes for designing a beautiful house. I’m aiming to be in residential architecture and my goal is to win the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) House of the year. But short term wise, I want to get an internship or a job at an architecture firm. It’s not a lot of design work, more of drawing out other people’s design but I think it’s going to be worth it.

Abrar @Glasgow, SCOTLAND

I am currently applying for an Architectural assistant job to gain experience. But I do have plans to go back to university to attain my Master’s degree in architecture.

Luna @Chicago, USA

I’m still deciding. I applied for 2 universities, one in Chicago and the other in Boston. Depending on which college I’m going to choose, I will stay there for a few years, even after I graduate. I know that to become an architect, I’m playing the long game, so that will take time. I will need to spend years to get my degree, license, and practice it.

Well, there we have it! Let’s look forward to our future, we might come to hear some of these names in a few years’ time as world leading architects! Thank you to all my readers, who have followed through this series, I noticed, both the articles are quite long for a website article but I felt that it was must for me to share you all the new surprising things I learnt from my dear 11 interviewees. To my Japanese readers, rest assured, I will be publishing the Japanese Version soon as well, so you can look forward to that! And again, thank you so so so much to my interviewees who all coped with my persistent online interviewing😂😂😂. Your cooperation is much appreciated, I really enjoyed talking you all, I hope you liked how the articles turned out! And, if your ever have a chance to come to Japan, don’t hesitate to contact me, I will take you to see the works of Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Kenzo Tange, Toyo Ito…you name it (and I’ll go study it and plan us a tour)!

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