Architecture Social

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.

Architecture Social is a arts podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 259 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Architecture Social, a arts show with 259 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #258

  He Built an Architecture Studio After 3 Redundancies

  Aug 14, 202655 minS1

  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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  Episode #257

  He Started His Own Architecture Practice at 29

  Jul 2, 20261h 24mS0

  <p>What does it actually take to start your own architecture practice in 2026?</p><p>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.</p><p>If you've ever thought...

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  Episode #256

  Why Architects Have Zero Power in the UK Right Now

  Jun 18, 202652 minS0

  <p>Why do architects have so little power in the UK built environment, even when their work shapes housing, public space, procurement and the way cities function?</p><p>Stephen Drew speaks with Jay Morton, Director at Bell Phillips Architects, housing campaigner and RIBA presidential candidate, about what is holding the architecture profession back and what needs to change.</p><p>The conversation covers:</p>Why architects are often absent from commercial and political decision-makingHow housing delivery, procurement and public policy affect architectural influenceWhat RIBA needs to do if it wants to be more useful to members and the wider...

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  Episode #255

  A KPF Director’s Honest Advice for Young Architects

  Jun 16, 202649 minS0

  <p>What does it really take to build a long-term architecture career inside a global practice?</p> <p>Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about career growth, working at scale, and what young architecture professionals can learn from staying, developing and leading inside one major studio.</p> <p>The conversation covers:</p> How to get hired by large architecture practices What helps Part 2s, Part 3s and early-career designers stand out The value of staying with one firm and building trust over time CAD, BIM, design judgement and how technology is changing practice AI, global projects and...

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  Episode #254

  Running an Architecture Practice Isn’t What You Think

  May 7, 20261h 18mS0

  <p>Running an architecture practice is not just about design. It is fees, hiring, risk, clients, culture, profit and learning how to keep the studio moving without losing the work you care about.</p> <p>Stephen Drew speaks with Tim, co-founder of nimtim architects, a design-led practice in South London, about starting a studio, building a team and dealing with the commercial reality behind architecture.</p> <p>The conversation covers:</p> What it is really like to start an architecture practice How nimtim grew from the kitchen table into a recognised design studio Fees, profitability and the pressure of running...

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