Paving the Way to a Successful Architecture Career: Paul Buljevic (Interview)

Paving the Way to a Successful Architecture Career is a short series by Chaim Lieder, a recent job-seeking Bachelor’s graduate based in Melbourne. Chaim launched this initiative to re-frame his own challenges into an opportunity to help others in the same position.

Interview 4: Paul Buljevic

Paul Buljevic is the Managing Director at PBD Architects, a multi-disciplined design practice working on residential, commercial and interior projects all over Sydney and more recently in Queensland. The ethos of PBD Architects combines functional, efficient spatial planning with quality, timeless architecture.

What are the most important skills for students, graduates, and emerging architects to develop as they embark on their careers?

Developing a holistic approach

I believe to be a holistic architect you must be a holistic person first and foremost. Early in your career, you don't know what you don't know, therefore you must put work in on your own accord, to sharpen your skillset across the broad spectrum of architecture and beyond. Try to expose yourself to and understand as much as you can, from the relevant software to how an office works. You want to be involved in projects from inception to completion. Understand what happens in its delivery, what happens during procurement, and everything in between. The sooner you can get that overarching experience, I believe the more holistic and competent architect you will be.

What are some unconventional ways students, graduates, and emerging architects can elevate their careers?

What you're doing shows a lot of initiative. Getting involved in extracurricular endeavours that you don't necessarily need to be doing because you've got a passion for what you do and want to help other people is a great thing and will definitely elevate your career.

What do you see as a challenge and opportunity facing the next generation of architects and how can they approach it?

Mind, paper and pen

When I went to university, we had a professor who talked at length about the connection one has hovering above a drawing table with the hand, the mind, the paper and the pen. Unfortunately, the hand skills are not necessarily there with the next generation. They lack the ability to sketch in front of a client and resolve something in plan or elevation immediately without having to say sorry, I have to come back to you in a couple of days after I've modelled it. There’s a disconnect due to the lack of understanding that comes from the repetition of having looked at a problem in three dimensions with your hand and your mind so many times.

Identifying deficiencies

The greatest opportunities come from identifying deficiencies around you and developing your skillset around them. If you've got a new generation that's all moving in a certain direction, how do you make yourself stand out in that pack? Carrying on from the last example, an opportunity may lie in the ability to develop a better understanding of the connection between a pen and paper. This can enable you to explore options so much quicker and can give you a more intimate understanding of size and proportion and how things are put together.

What is a mistake one should avoid as they progress through their architecture career?

Early in your career when you’re learning from those above you, it’s easy to pick up their traits unconsciously. It wasn't until later in my career that I found out that when someone in a higher position says something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it's correct or the best way to do things. Everybody's got their path and you want to believe in what you're doing in your career. Don’t just accept things at face value, do your research and come to your own educated conclusions.

What was a transformational moment in your career?

There's no doubt it was when I started my own practice. I don't think I was ever the same person before that I was after that, mainly in mindset. It changes your whole perception of how you deal with people and every situation really. The ground-breaking moment was making that decision although there were definitely other defining moments during that initial two or three year period where you develop a regular client pattern, and your brand begins to gain exposure.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

One of my mentors would say that if you have aspirations around starting your own practice you need to get out there and meet people, sitting in front of a computer all day is not actually how the world works. You need to understand that there are so many opportunities out there and there are so many people doing incredible things in architecture. Networking exposes you to many people and entities, where it can take you in life is amazing and that is obviously amplified when you have your own practice.

Did you catch the previous article in this interview series, with Shoba Cole? Read it here.

If you like hearing about the career paths of others, check out the 2020 Emerging Architects Forum Replay.