Architecture Work Life Balance - Exploitation In The Workplace

Revisiting Andrew Maynard’s famous ‘Work/life/work Balance’ essay for Parlour and ArchDaily in 2012, Kevin Hui and Andrew Maynard reflect on work life balance, the culture of all-nighters in architecture schools and workplace exploitation based on the ingrained culture.

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[DOODStudio]

Totally agree with the "treat uni like a job" mentality. Time is a constraint to design; just like budget or site constraints.

[Co.alesce]

My biggest regret from my first year of study was spending too much time in the studio. I missed so many opportunities to make friends, to explore other passions and even just enjoy the moment. I definitely learnt the hard way when I burned out before even making it to second year, with no friends and no fun memories of my first year of university. Thankfully I've learned a lot from that experience and in a much better headspace now. Never falling back into that 'all-nighter' culture ever again. On another note, very interesting and informative videos! Side story, in 3rd grade I went on an excursion to a cemetery. We were learning about different types of rocks. It was okay for the most part but there was a funeral happening the same time we were there and that scared some students.

[TheNiallHamilton]

My university (University of Plymouth, UK), attempted to reduce studio hours to combat the notion grind culture built into the studio and was met with backlash from students arguing they couldn't produce to the same standard under the restrictions. As such, the studio is open from 6am to 12am term time. On another note, I noticed that my previous employer often had a unspoken rule that during deadlines, overtime was expected and questioning it felt like my job was on the line. It felt like as it was my first job, I didn't have the power to negotiate extra pay or pay in that regard either.

[Smashthatkeyboard]

As a bachelor graduate, I did a year out at a global architectural firm and I can say I didn't learn anything on developing my critical thinking. I wasn't given any opportunities, even so they weren't heard. This lead me to doing my masters so that I get to explore and experiment with my design thinking further. I have a friend who's an architect from Iran, she told me work in Iran are vastly different to Australian architecture industry. They would gather and do a series of charrettes in concept stage, everyone would be inclusive to all stages of design to final production. I found this quite interesting

[maxiiitheman]

young architecture student here, the idea of treating uni as a 9-5 job is a perspective I've not heard of until today. I feel like I'm right on the cusp of being indoctrinated in the 24/7 studio mentality so this advice has come at the right time. Thank you Andrew and Kevin, I really appreciate the insight you are able to share that I don't seem to be able to find anywhere else.

[arnabrazor]

Back in India, I was slaving for 12+ hours a day, 6 days a week at an office. That shaped my distaste for Architecture in general. However, soon after my undergrad, I was lucky to study in Melbourne's Design school; which involved critical thinking than just produce drawings for the heck of it. I also love that Australian Architecture board has strict rules when it comes to pay and overtime, and when you look at it from the point of view that you've got only 70-80 years to live, I say it's not worth slaving your time for someone else.

[tarunifalconer]

Start with “Why”! Always. Simon Senik has said it beautifully. Clearly. As an intercultural coach and educator one of the places I first visited when I came to live in Melbourne was Melbourne Central Cemetery. A complete eye-opener for the different cultural and linguistic communities of Melbourne. Another stimulating conversation plus location into which we get invited by Kevin and Andrew.

[arremmm]

I went to a uni with 24-hour studio access for undergrad and worked in a big practice following. Long hours and thankless work. It was valuable to do get to a point where you realise that there are no plaudits for staying back late.. becoming one of the office zombies who's greatest enjoyment is the free beer in the office fridge. It burns you out and diminishes any passion or delusion you might have had prior to studying architecture.

Focusing on time management and life outside of the office meant that this changed for me through masters and current post-grad employment.
It does take some courage to pack up and leave at 5:30 when you're working in an office where long hours are the norm, but doing it is one of the best things you can do for your own mental health. You soon realise no-one will question you, in fact, your co-workers will seem envious of you leaving, and grateful for your time when you are in the office.
Thanks for reinforcing a valuable message Andrew & Kevin.
Re architects unionising - can you elaborate further on this? Has there been a push for it? I know of The Architecture Lobby in Victoria, but their position is unclear - are they just another mouthpiece calling for a union which never materialises? Also, the idea of it being a Victoria-based union seems to diminish/fragments what could otherwise be a national movement.

[amalkardaly]

i discovered ts channel while doing a general search on youtube for job interviews, and this channel is so inspiring and interesting, love it

[Magmoormaster]

My university started its architecture program last year. I'm one of the first 12 students to be a part of the program. We made a rule from the get go that studio projects are due the midnight before the final presentation, so that at least for the final presentation we've been able to sleep, shower, dress nicely, etc. Latest we've worked (at least on campus) is 4 am. Most of us work in industry, and those that don't are married with young children, so only in rare cases are we there past 10 pm.

[Fatlou_]

I definitely think that time/stress management is one of the most important skills I have developed during my 5 years degree. Andrew's recent job post on instagram was so encouraging and inviting...the emphasis on 'work smarter and get out of the office by 5' was so great..I have heard way too many horrendous stories of practices expecting people to stay late or else they'd guilt trip you into doing so...A friend of mine used to work at a big firm where if he got up to leave at 6pm (got his stuff done for the day) he'd get weird attention from the others like "you leaving now bro"? kinda thing. I would never forget his remark on working during winter - "I never saw the sun".

[arnasagen]

As someone who is just about to embark on architecture studies at RMIT I had not read the article and I really appreciate this video. Thank you both for shedding light and offering alternatives to a exploitive business culture that I no doubt will be exposed to in the future. It has instilled me with confidence to set boundaries, which hopefully will prevent me and other future architectures from being taken advantage of. Thanks heaps!

[sarankim]

I'm glad to hear Andrew critiquing the name of a famous firm on cv... it's certainly a dilemma for students (including myself) who feel it's valuable to undertake work experience at one of those international firms, partly because of how people perceive them. I was once told that internships are a good way to see how firms operate differently even if it's unpaid, but yes the fact some of them don't pay students indicates that they don't value students' time and labour.
I'm keen to hear how students should decide where to work (if they have choices), how to analyse their current workplace, and how to make decisions on where & when to go next - many firms are not as articulate on the working conditions as Andrew, and it's challenging to know the right time to move on. Obviously 'I apply because I like their design' can be a motive but is it really a sensible move? Thanks for the great videos!

[urbancolab]

Kevin is right on. You have to be able to analyze yourself and get realy critical how you are doing things. Otherwise the industry will change and leave you behind.

[MrPelikan]

11:03 ...Kevin's point is heart pain ...we can easily get caught up in the routine of a busy life ...
Get Back to Basics ... Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing .. *DO WHAT YOU ENJOY!* ... (Antidote to Andrew's .."Life is Short Enough ...Joyful Spaces")

11:43 ... Andrews's Lecturer is gold ... can now see where all that "fun & motion" in his work came from ... brilliant!

Going to the Cemetery is a great catharsis to reflect on Death ... i only understood this intellectually
but i only really understood it, after the recent passing of my father, the following quote became true for me ..
"We Understand Death Only After Its Placed It's Hands On Someone We Love" - Anne L. de Stael

then i started feeling my own mortality ... this quote is so true ..
“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” ― Confucius


"Once you accept your own death, all of a sudden you’re free to live. 
You no longer care about your reputation. 
You no longer care except so far as your life can be used tactically to promote a cause you believe in".- Saul Alinsky

"Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life,  
which is short and has to be lived by you alone ... 
If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing." - Teresa of Avila

[wrongcreativity]

Unpaid overtime is almost ingrained in the work culture back in my home country (Malaysia); so much so that it became a stigma to leave on time.
The lack of time management is a major issue from the management level. Clients were often given unrealistic deadlines with expectations of their staff will work overtime. When this issue gets brought up, it becomes an inherited excuse like "when I started out, we had to do all-nighters on crunch time too. so should you."

[esauhernandez]

Love your insight on time, value and architecture.

[benkeane]

I'm a 5th year who follows the same principal of treating uni like a job and I agree with what Andrew says, but I think there's more to the issue than the all-nighter culture at uni..
The reality for an architecture student is, it's an employers market - it's not like medicine where 98% of graduates become doctors, in architecture only something like 5-10% end up registered (I don't know the stats for every uni).
This creates a condition of scarcity which fosters competition for sure, but it also creates conditions ripe for throwing out the work/life balance, exploitation, toxicity, and mental health issues... Being a mature aged student who's had a previous career it's actually been quite confronting casting a shadow on the whole endeavor... At the very least it brings the question of 'why' in to sharp focus.

[dorineogutu]

Thanks for scheduling an episode on Pricing and Negotiation!! Can't wait for that one.

[tonyduong]

Great video! I’ve also read the article on the work, life balance in architecture a while ago. A great read and this is very encouraging. I’d also like to say that we can stay back sometimes out of generosity to get a task done for the day. I’m also thankful where I’m working that this kind of generosity is recognised but I’m also encouraged more and more to just get things done on-time. Early is good. Over is maybe forgivable, but not always great. But ultimately, just by being on-time is more than enough. It’s all that someone can ask for.