In the words of our arkitrekkers, here’s what you might experience on an Arkitrek live design programme, where you’ll be getting stuck in to hands-on design and actually making architecture.

Reality

“Working in real places, with real clients, on real projects, using real materials and having real budgets lessens the disparity between studying architecture and working in practice. Saying that, living in rural Borneo and throwing yourself into a completely different way of life can feel a bit surreal at times!”

Anna Nicholls

Collaboration

On Arkitrek you may have to play the part of Architect, Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager and Builder. However, the construction work on all our projects is really sustained by local craftsmen.

“Armed with several wet drawings and a model made from two empty soy sauce bottles, I asked the guys to construct a unprecedented bamboo joint, which they later told me they considered ‘completely impossible’. Eventually, everything (literally!) slotted into place. They told me that, once they knew how to do it, the connection was easy to achieve and stronger than any existing alternatives. I can’t use a parang (machete) and my carpenter friends would never have thought to join bamboo in this way. The joint epitomised the perfect collaboration between designer and the guys with the skills.”

Isabel Sandeman

Participatory Design

Working in a participatory situation highlights the importance of designing with the user in mind. It is enlightening to work directly with the client and users of the buildings and our workshops are carefully designed to engage and draw out ideas from everybody.

Environmental / Social Response

You will come face to face with socio-environmental issues, for example transporting materials (and waste) on and off a remote island is challenging and understanding the value of materials is unavoidable.

Testing

Arkitrek projects provide a unique testing ground for trying out ideas on a small scale, for example building with alternative sustainable materials, such as driftwood, bamboo and biocrete.

Scale

Working on a design build project heightens your sense of spatial awareness in a way that would not be possible by just working on drawings in a studio or office, where sensitivity to location, material texture and space can be lost. Prepare to be surprised by how seemingly small differences in measurements can make a large difference to how it feels to inhabit a space.

Decisions, Decisions

Although the level of autonomy given over the projects can sometimes be daunting, we have proved time and again that the more responsibility you give a team, with the right support, the higher they rise to the challenge.

“as we put pen to paper there were going to be repurcussions: good or bad, we were leaving our mark on their site.”

Jonathan Livesey

Above All

It’s a lot of fun, and we hope, a brilliant opportunity that will live with you as you continue your adventure.