The pandemic has taught us that there are so many ways to do work outside the four corners of our offices. With today’s technologies, work-from-home set-ups or other hybrid workspaces and conditions are all possible. For the architecture and construction industry that heavily relies on physical work collaborations, it was a challenge, but it is doable. Pandemic or not, establishing a reputable architectural firm is sure to be a lot of hard work. To continue to thrive in this season of the economic challenge is truly commendable.
William Ti Jr. of WTA Architecture + Design Studio, and Luther Sim of Sim Ateliers, with their diverse personalities and experiences, share with us their wisdom and learnings throughout their practice.
On Design Career Strengths and Uniqueness
After acquiring the license, an architect will set up his own firm, will start doing small projects, and as talents and skills are honed, projects not only become larger in scale, but they will be more influential and helpful to society. As strengths are discovered, they will continue to thrive and flourish. “What helped me in my design career was the patience and perseverance in solving design situations, understanding it as a systematic puzzle to be solved and the importance of mentorship, which plays a vital role to your personal evolution for your private practice,” says Luther. “It’s my curiosity and relentless obsession that pushes me to keep searching and developing,” shares William.
On Ideals and Challenges of Workspaces
The drastic changes in work culture brought by the pandemic have made everyone realize the importance of how each one views what an ideal workspace is. “The ideal workspace is the place where everyone wants to be. It’s your favorite place and preferred destination,” William states. While Luther envisions his ideal workspace as “An office to hug a courtyard in the center of its space to allow us to breathe from a stressful day. We also incorporate this feature in the home offices that we design allowing the users a breather, gaining back their focus instantly.
On Values, Design Principles and Innovations Amidst the Pandemic
Knowing your values and principles keeps you grounded and focused on the kind of work you want to deliver. “Our design principles have always been centered on a clear diagram. Designs should always speak for themselves; they should clearly convey their materiality and cater to how you would like one to experience it. We always strive for a timeless appearance, and this is only possible through clear and well-thought diagrams,” Luther explains. For William, it’s as brief as “For me, it’s just the principles that good architecture always needs.”
For more about how these successful architects have evolved their work processes to adapt to the post-pandemic world, click here to view BluPrint’s latest e-mag issue.
