My journey so far….
On my first day of Uni one of my lecturers blatantly told us, ‘If you are in this for the money leave now’. No one left (then). So, if it isn’t the money why am I still here?
Architecture, to me, is more than a job, it is a way of life. I have been on this fascinating journey for over 35 years.
I was 17 when I realised this was the path for me. Prior to this, I did collect pictures of interiors and would make house models and decorate them. So, I guess destiny new my path before me.
I am from Weeaproinah, a very tiny place, in country Victoria, Australia. I went to Lavers Hill Consolidated School until yr10 and boarding school in Ballarat for my last 2 years. I managed to do adequately, which paved my way to get into Architecture at Deakin University, Geelong. The year was 1983. I took the next year off, both for a break, before I launched into 5 more years of study, and to get some money together. I knew I would not get government financial assistance. I worked as a public servant and lived in Melbourne.
I loved Uni and everything architecture. 5 years is a very long time, though. I worked in a hardware store, a takeaway roast place and a hotel kitchen to get myself through. I worked in architecture, over the summer, after my third and fourth years. I finished in 1989, to a recession. I moved to Melbourne. In 1990 I managed to find employment for some of the year. The next year I worked for a bit at Target head office in their drawing office. Then I ‘worked from home’ and managed to get a few little projects off the ground. In 1992 I found work that properly started my career. All was great for several months until my boss had an accident. I held the place together for a while, but he couldn’t afford to keep me. I found work straight away and this was my launching pad. I was there 2 years and became a registered Architect. So instead of 7 years it took me 9 but I finally realised my dream.
At the end of 1994 I moved to NSW and worked in Newcastle. I was involved in the most varied and amazing projects over the next 7 years. I even managed to fit in the births of my daughters. I had no.1 in a sling when she was a month old while meeting a client on site. No.2, prior to her birth, was on site at a pub refurbishment.
Then my world was turned upside down, literally. My husband’s work took us to Lancashire, UK. This was only to be a year, so I decided not to work (and No.2 was only 6mths old). However, 1 year turned into 3. So, I went to work, just 3 days/week at first, after I managed to find childcare. Then 3 years became 5 and then 7.
I was 2 years in first place until projects became scares. 1 year in next place which was difficult with a non-architect, female boss who seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. Then, 2 years at a wonderful office until, again projects dropped. And finally, 2 years in another fantastic office, but this time I left to move to Saudi Arabia.
So, another big change, the year 2008. I started in a small practice but there were too many issues to overcome, including very long summer holidays, not being allowed on site (abaya would have got in the way a lot!), only being allowed to work with other females (females in the morning, males in afternoon), language and travelling to work (I wasn’t allowed to drive). This made up my mind to study. I chose a Master of Science in Environmental Architecture at Murdoch University, Fremantle, Australia. I took my time and I finally graduated in 2019.
After 5.5years in Riyadh we found ourselves back in the UK, but this time in Surrey. I found work easily, however after only a little while they found a UK registered Architect, which I was not. Again, I found work easily, this time in a vibrant office, which I loved, but after 19months I was let go for the same reason. I then did some short-term contract work which was unexciting. The last place I worked at was great, at the start. Again, I had a female boss, who wasn’t an Architect. I left as we were going to move to Kuwait.
It was 2019. Kuwait was taking longer to happen, so my husband (and I) were sent to Canberra, for a short time, early 2020. Due to covid this turned into 5 months. We had to get back to UK quickly, due to visa issues. By the end of 2020 we were still waiting on Kuwait contract, but then we had an option to return to Australia. We decided it was time to return after 20 years away. So we sold our house packed up and moved. Initially we were headed to Canberra, however, ‘the company’ decided Adelaide was a better option.
We found an amazing house to buy. I spent last half of 2021 sorting renovations and changes. In 2022 we put in a pool which took some supervising! I worked for a company for a bit, however, I wasn’t happy. It was time to set up my own business. So here I am…..
My journey so far….
On my first day of Uni one of my lecturers blatantly told us, ‘If you are in this for the money leave now’. No one left (then). So, if it isn’t the money why am I still here?
Architecture, to me, is more than a job, it is a way of life. I have been on this fascinating journey for over 35 years.
I was 17 when I realised this was the path for me. Prior to this, I did collect pictures of interiors and would make house models and decorate them. So, I guess destiny new my path before me.
I am from Weeaproinah, a very tiny place, in country Victoria, Australia. I went to Lavers Hill Consolidated School until yr10 and boarding school in Ballarat for my last 2 years. I managed to do adequately, which paved my way to get into Architecture at Deakin University, Geelong. The year was 1983. I took the next year off, both for a break, before I launched into 5 more years of study, and to get some money together. I knew I would not get government financial assistance. I worked as a public servant and lived in Melbourne.
I loved Uni and everything architecture. 5 years is a very long time, though. I worked in a hardware store, a takeaway roast place and a hotel kitchen to get myself through. I worked in architecture, over the summer, after my third and fourth years. I finished in 1989, to a recession. I moved to Melbourne. In 1990 I managed to find employment for some of the year. The next year I worked for a bit at Target head office in their drawing office. Then I ‘worked from home’ and managed to get a few little projects off the ground. In 1992 I found work that properly started my career. All was great for several months until my boss had an accident. I held the place together for a while, but he couldn’t afford to keep me. I found work straight away and this was my launching pad. I was there 2 years and became a registered Architect. So instead of 7 years it took me 9 but I finally realised my dream.
At the end of 1994 I moved to NSW and worked in Newcastle. I was involved in the most varied and amazing projects over the next 7 years. I even managed to fit in the births of my daughters. I had no.1 in a sling when she was a month old while meeting a client on site. No.2, prior to her birth, was on site at a pub refurbishment.
Then my world was turned upside down, literally. My husband’s work took us to Lancashire, UK. This was only to be a year, so I decided not to work (and No.2 was only 6mths old). However, 1 year turned into 3. So, I went to work, just 3 days/week at first, after I managed to find childcare. Then 3 years became 5 and then 7.
I was 2 years in first place until projects became scares. 1 year in next place which was difficult with a non-architect, female boss who seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. Then, 2 years at a wonderful office until, again projects dropped. And finally, 2 years in another fantastic office, but this time I left to move to Saudi Arabia.
So, another big change, the year 2008. I started in a small practice but there were too many issues to overcome, including very long summer holidays, not being allowed on site (abaya would have got in the way a lot!), only being allowed to work with other females (females in the morning, males in afternoon), language and travelling to work (I wasn’t allowed to drive). This made up my mind to study. I chose a Master of Science in Environmental Architecture at Murdoch University, Fremantle, Australia. I took my time and I finally graduated in 2019.
After 5.5years in Riyadh we found ourselves back in the UK, but this time in Surrey. I found work easily, however after only a little while they found a UK registered Architect, which I was not. Again, I found work easily, this time in a vibrant office, which I loved, but after 19months I was let go for the same reason. I then did some short-term contract work which was unexciting. The last place I worked at was great, at the start. Again, I had a female boss, who wasn’t an Architect. I left as we were going to move to Kuwait.
It was 2019. Kuwait was taking longer to happen, so my husband (and I) were sent to Canberra, for a short time, early 2020. Due to covid this turned into 5 months. We had to get back to UK quickly, due to visa issues. By the end of 2020 we were still waiting on Kuwait contract, but then we had an option to return to Australia. We decided it was time to return after 20 years away. So we sold our house packed up and moved. Initially we were headed to Canberra, however, ‘the company’ decided Adelaide was a better option.
We found an amazing house to buy. I spent last half of 2021 sorting renovations and changes. In 2022 we put in a pool which took some supervising! I worked for a company for a bit, however, I wasn’t happy. It was time to set up my own business. So here I am…..