The Green Flags of the Architecture Profession
Call for entries: The 14th Architizer A+Awards celebrates architecture's new era of craft. For early bird pricing, submit by October 31st.
My last article was admittedly a little cynical. By discussing the red flags of the architectural profession — the burnout culture, the silence around money, the employee disposability, etc. — I was looking to shed light on what keeps people outside the field. But, as always, things are never black and white. It would be unfair to only talk about the bad when there are so many firms that are striving for a healthy studio culture. So, what is it that keeps people in? What do firms and, more broadly, the architectural profession need to do in order to create a place where architects grow instead of grind?
Green flags are harder to spot than red ones — the latter are loud and easily recognizable, yet stubbornly persistent. Green flags, on the other hand, don’t announce themselves. They are covertly embedded in daily practices: a relaxed working atmosphere or a sketched pin-up on a drawing board. However, praising them is essential. It is not a matter of being optimistic but rather acknowledging (as explicitly as possible) what works well. At the end of the day, this is the first step towards making those practices the norm and not the exception.
Below are some green flags noted in the architectural field that can be used as an evaluation matrix for architects entering practice, because apart from an impressive portfolio, a firm’s culture and everyday habits are what make or break a collaboration.
1. The Sketch that Survives the Meeting
Image generated by Architizer using ChatGPT.
Generally, the market usually promotes a result-oriented culture. Still, architecture as a practice has always celebrated process. Especially in school, a messy sketch had equal value to a polished render or a set of drawings, and yet, this is somehow forgotten when entering the industry. Firms that still hold on to this notion of the sketch, without immediately disregarding the messy ideas, allow for an iterative design culture within which (especially young) architects have the space to contribute and evolve rather than be edited out.
2. The Empty Office at 5 p.m.
Imagine: the clock strikes 5 p.m., and suddenly all your colleagues pack up for the day; they switch off their computers, put away their sketchbooks and turn off the lights. Some would argue that creativity never sleeps and that design professions cannot operate in a 9-to-5 framework, but truthfully, this is just an excuse to romanticize grinding. Having an active life outside the office tends to bring more curiosity and perspective into the design process itself, and working in a place that not only allows but encourages people to do that is a sign of a studio that understands sustainability not just in relation to its buildings but in its employees as well. And yes, 5 p.m. is merely symbolic – the point is not to set an exact timestamp but cultivate the principle that good design outputs don’t depend on endless hours of work.
3. The Crit that Feels Like a Conversation
Image generated by Architizer using ChatGPT.
What if we replaced the word “crit” with the word “conversation”? The pressure immediately shifts, and presenting an idea is no longer a performative process but rather a knowledge exchange activity. A “conversation crit” then invites dialogue and questions, focusing not on what isn’t working but rather on what this brings collectively into the design. Although studios naturally operate within a hierarchy, the moment a design discussion begins, perhaps this structure should fade, making “the crit” the most liberating event within a firm’s culture.
4. The Firm With No House Style
Although this “green flag” may seem a little misleading, the way a practice operates architecturally reveals a lot about its culture as well. Specifically, “styles” in architecture school are greatly discouraged. The reason? Architecture is not merely an expression of its creator but has to respond to context, program, client briefs and so forth. In other words, “ego” has no place in practice. When a firm approaches each project with a fresh perspective, willing to listen and respond, rather than impose its own “signature look”, it reveals an innate respect for flexibility, a mindset that often extends to how it treats its employees.
5. The Building that Ages Well
Image generated by Architizer using ChatGPT.
Similarly to not having a signature style, a practice that aspires to create spaces that last throughout the years, paying attention to its immediate material, social and environmental impact is a clear sign of a thoughtful, future-oriented firm. Instead of striving for the Instagrammable shot – i.e., the building that captures public interest for a few months and then fades into obscurity – these firms aim to create architecture with lasting resonance. This mindset of care reveals a deeper understanding of architecture as stewardship – a value that is reflected in the studio culture as well as in the design approach.
Call for entries: The 14th Architizer A+Awards celebrates architecture's new era of craft. For early bird pricing, submit by October 31st.
Top image generated by Architizer using ChatGPT.
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