STUDIO FIRST is a summer program at Carleton University for students from other fields who wish to pursue graduate studies in architecture. 

It introduces people to studio culture, which is at the heart of architectural education, and helps them to prepare portfolio material appropriate for application to any three-year Master of Architecture accredited degree program.

This post provides a glimpse into the experience of two students who have gone through the intensive five-week program – one online and one in-person.

Exploring if architecture is the right path

Calvin Kwan, 22, grew up in Calgary, AB in a family of civil engineers, and it seemed fitting that he would study civil engineering.

At the University of Toronto, he focused on the structural and sustainable aspects of civil engineering.

“From there, I found myself more interested in the architectural aspect of buildings and façade engineering as well, where it bridges architecture and engineering,” he says.

Calvin decided to explore his interest in architecture by taking the STUDIO FIRST program in summer 2020 before heading into his final year of civil engineering.

Fiki Falola, 25, of Cambridge, ON, always wanted to be an architect. 

She started architectural studies at the University of Toronto, but soon discovered many other things she also wanted to learn.

“If architecture is right for me, I will come back to it,” she thought.

Fiki graduated in 2017 with a double major in philosophy and architectural history, theory, and criticism. After graduation, she began to look into graduate programs in design, including graphic design.

She applied to STUDIO FIRST because she wanted to create a portfolio and experience architecture studies to decide what she wanted to do next.

Online versus in-person

In summer 2020, the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism delivered STUDIO FIRST online due to pandemic restrictions. 

Calvin debated the pros and cons.

“From what I’ve heard, a lot of studio culture is based on that high collision of ideas in that environment,” he says. “I did see some benefits as well. Being in my own home and not having to find accommodations in Ottawa.”

The online version allowed him to continue working at his summer job as a structural intern. He was able to negotiate a working schedule of evenings and weekends to take the course.

For some of his peers, it provided a once-in-lifetime opportunity to take the course without needing to travel or take five weeks off work or away from their families. It also opened the program to students from other countries.

Fiki took STUDIO FIRST in the summer of 2018. She travelled to Ottawa by bus and stayed in residence on the Carleton University campus.

“It felt a bit like an adventure,” she said.

The group took a field trip to the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal, which has become a place Fiki loves to visit.

“Being in an environment where everybody was coming from different backgrounds was inspiring for me,” she says. "The information exchange between people is really unique.”

How does it work?

Three mornings a week, Calvin attended digital labs to learn architectural software. Afternoons were devoted to design studios and reviews, portfolio workshops, lectures, and guest speakers.

 Activities during studio time included individual critiques, virtual pin-ups, group discussions, and lectures.

Before STUDIO FIRST started, the school sent each student a “mystery box” of materials, containing items such as wood blocks, pastels, modeling clay, glue sticks, paper, a piece of dismantled piano, and a page from a book.

The students created work for three projects titled Traces of Time/Presence and Absence; From Home, with Love, and The Architect, the Visionary.

“I enjoyed it,” he says. “It was interesting to see and understand this perspective of design beyond my engineering background. I learned a more holistic approach, the human aspect, and human interaction of design and how the things we design are incorporated into society.”

In the Architecture Building, Fiki followed a similar schedule – digital labs in the morning and studio in the afternoon. 

She worked on three projects based on the theme of (In)Visible Networks. The first involved cutting a handbag into pieces and then photographing, scanning, and drawing it.

“The projects were really interesting,” she says. “There is a lot of freedom to explore what is interesting to you, at the same time as working on your drawing and architectural conventions.”

Challenges?

“The projects were difficult in terms of expanding my creativity,” says Calvin. “I’m so focused on the technical stuff that I’m always playing within the boundaries. Pushing myself to think beyond was probably the most challenging part.”

He remembers the words of instructor Adriana Ross. “She told me, ‘Don’t think about doing it. Just do it.’ That stuck with me. Even now, I don’t think how it’s going to look in the end. Just try it out and see.’”

In addition to at least 25 hours a week of instruction, Calvin estimates he spent another 10 hours a week working on his projects. 

“I tried to put in as much time as I could,” he says. “I wish I had put in more work, to be fully content with my projects. In the end, I was fairly content.”

For Fiki, the challenge was getting used to the pace of studio. ”Everything was fast-paced.”

What next?

Calvin has decided to apply for a three-year Master of Architecture program.

STUDIO FIRST, he says, “gave me a sense of how to structure a portfolio and present my ideas in terms of layout and good storytelling.”

Fiki was accepted into the three-year Master of Architecture program at Carleton University and started in fall 2018.

She is now in her final year and planning to become a licensed architect.

Interested in learning more about STUDIO FIRST?

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Email studiofirst@carleton.ca

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