Studying the built environment is challenging and, as DIT’s Lecturer in Design, Theory and Urbanism Noel Brady says, not something you can cram for at the end of your final year. We had a chat with Noel about his background, studying architecture and the future of the field itself.
1. How long have you been lecturing at DIT?
I commenced my work in the School of Architecture in 1990, following work and postgrad studies abroad, so 23 years.
2. What was your professional background before coming to DIT?
I am a graduate of the DIT School of Architecture, having received my Diploma in Architecture and BScArch from Trinity in 1985. Like many of my colleagues, I spent 2 years working in architecture in London before undertaking postgrad studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for my Masters in Architecture Studies. Following a further year working on large scale urban design projects in the US, I returned to Ireland in 1990 where I have had roles in practice and teaching part time, as well as establishing my own practice NJBA.
3. What are some of your activities of an average work day or week?
My lecture schedule covers 2 programmes, 6 separate years, over 300 students and between 8 and 10 hours of lectures a week. Preparing for these takes at least the same amount of time. Another 10 to 12 hours are spent in the design studio, providing guidance, critique, suggestions to students working on architectural and urban design problems. Preparation for both lectures and studio is key to ensure steady progression. If time allows there is always some research to be completed. New technology has made certain processes more efficient, but it has also expanded the expectation and volume of material to be processed.
4. Is there something you wish you had known about working in academia before you started?
Not really. It has been a challenging and demanding profession. It was always an ambition of mine to be involved in teaching, as well as practice, mainly to make a contribution to the improvement of architectural education. I was prepared for difficulties, as well as the opportunities. Work is a great antidote to frustration.
5. What is your favourite and least favourite part of the job?
My least favourite part is the over-elaborate and over-complicated IT systems for so called “learning enhancement”. My favourite part is working with students, expanding their capabilities and learning.
6. Do you have any advice for students entering architecture this year?
Work diligently and consistently. This is not a programme that you can cram for at the end. Attend everything, listen to everything, read everything and make up your own mind. There will be lots of times in the future when you will have to depend on your own thoughts. It is better to work from a foundation of knowledge than mere opinion.
7. The field of architecture has taken a hit in the past few years, but are things getting better? Will this year’s entering students have a better chance of securing related work upon graduation?
No things are not getting better. Any reports to the contrary have been based on very limited data. As for having a better chance of securing work, that cannot be said to be improving. However, due to the particular and broad educational experience, our students are much more adept at shifting ground into parallel careers. We have had recent entrepreneurial graduates move into many other areas, from fashion to air traffic control. The profession of architecture is under a lot of strain, with increased demands – it may not sustain the same quantity of architects as it had in the past. This may seem negative, but I believe this is an opportunity for a new type of architectural graduate who will use their background as a valuable foundation for other pursuits. Architectural programmes will have to adjust to this twin-track reality by providing the best-equipped student to undertake the technical requirements while fueling a creative approach to the problems of the 21st century. This is not an exclusive problem to architecture as many disciplines are discovering similar issues.
8. Any advice for studying in Dublin?
There is always time to take a break. Dublin is one of the best cities in which to study, you can walk nearly everywhere. In addition, with the aid of the DART, you are immediately in touch with one of the best shorelines available to a capital city in Europe. And for the architecture student, wonderful architecture is everywhere, the city is an open laboratory for study.
