elisa cecconi

© photo by elisa cecconi

Architecture is dynamism, growing, a process of continuous brainstorming of ideas, feelings and thoughts and the architect is the author of all this, he is the one who guides and is guided to try to achieve goals for itself and especially useful to others. It is an activity of constant research and exchange that must not be limited to the field of architecture, but it must try to get in touch with the greatest number of people from other spheres: the architect needs to receive and research new inputs, for example from sociology, psychology, literature, through which he is able to deepen his knowledge of the subject in order to make it more in accordance with the requirements for which it was requested. This is necessary especially during the design phase in which the architect has to realise a work for a client who has needs and wishes that go beyond the field of architecture and that can only be solved by investigating other fields of knowledge. Sharing is also important because it means interacting with other people coming from different professional disciplines in order to enrich themselves: exchanging ideas, advice and knowledge is a great way to improve, grow and confront each other.

My personal experience in the world of architecture is only at the beginning and I remember the first approach and in particular what I first questioned myself as soon as I graduated: what now? I want to be an architect, but I didn't have any ideas on what to do specifically or how to enter into the world of work despite five years of university in which you are completely immersed in all fields of architecture, from ancient history to contemporary, from design to technology, from the study of structures and plumbings to regulations and analysis of cost. The ideas that flooded my mind and the starting points of my future way were many and varied: To continue studying and begin a specialisation in a more detailed field? To continue my studies by enrolling for a doctorate or a master's degree? To deepen the knowledge of a specific digital program useful for work? To start working in a studio trying to create my small position from which to grow? To hope that a prestigious architectural firm will notice me by selecting from hundreds of applications they receive every day? To go abroad to improve languages and have a better chance of finding a job?
After an initial period of panic, the situation was clearing up: I made my experiences from which I tried to absorb the maximum and, as a result, I am trying to direct my life both as an architect and a person, approaching and studying more specific topics, which during the years have prevailed over others.

In Italy the situation of architecture and consequently of the architects is not easy. The country is full of buildings, often left in a state of decay, which nobody cares about and also the monuments, through which we are one of the well-known nations for the historical and cultural heritage, are abandoned with few conservative restoration works. Generally people prefer building from scratch rather than doing restoration, leaving old buildings ruin themselves, or even damage and danger people's lives.

Most of the construction of new buildings is entrusted to the great names of contemporary archi-stars, some of whom are motivated by the desire to confront and challenge themselves and the other big names of architecture in order to amaze, fascinate and exasperate the building. The basic approaches concerning the analysis of the culture of the country, the study of the context, the urban integration, the relationship with the existing maintaining a vision towards the future, are roots that are often not perceived in the projects.
There are not many incentives for the small new generation of architectural offices to grow, which could support big studios during the design and construction of new architecture, enriching their cultural background very quickly. Most young architects who leave university, despite having graduated with top marks and in a relatively adequate period of time, find difficulties to fit into the professional environment.
On the one hand, it is difficult for the studios to take on new recruits teaching and directing them towards their rules, their style, their design habits because it takes time and employment of people who would be absent from their usual work, but on the other hand it is an excellent opportunity for them to shape young architects according to their needs, including them in the staff of the studio.

Why adapt to the way others design and not emerge with your own style? Each of us has one and we have to manage to make it emerge and materialize in today's reality. Experiences in architectural studios are necessary and essential for the education of an architect but at the same time they must offer you opportunities to open your mind, create your own personality and recognition in the world being influenced not by a single style of design but by many, so you always have an active and lively mind full of ideas ready to be analyzed and studied in depth before putting them into practice. The future of architecture are not the archi-stars who have already had their period of glory and who should now be the first to spread their knowledge by joining the new generations, but are the young emerging architects who are growing up and trying to inherit knowledge from the past to apply it in the future. Those who will take the control of this world in the field of architecture are certainly ready to absorb and assimilate all the knowledge in order to apply it and put it into practice. Why not give them a chance?