A new Architect-in-Training joins our staff: Atia Rahman
Having recently completed her Architecture studies with a master degree from KSU, 阿提亚满怀热情地加入了我们公司. 对工作充满热情, she has quickly adapted to our office fast pace, and to her new life in Jackson; not a small accomplishment given her upbringing and initial studies abroad.
1. 是什么激发了你想成为一名建筑师?
My inspiration doesn’t come from anyone in particular, it just kind of happened. I grew up seeing tall buildings all around me, I really wanted to know what went in the process for those to be standing, which led me to choose engineering graphics for one of my main subjects in my high school, 然后我开始学习建筑.
2. When and where did you get your 建筑学硕士? 为什么呢??
I got my Bachelor of Architecture from India, which was very different from studying in America. I recently finished my master’s from Kansas State University. I wanted to come to K-State because of the education quality: its 建筑学硕士 program is considered one of the best in the USA, and I also wanted to experience a totally different environment from where I was brought up.
3. Was the education you received up to your expectations in both countries? 你发现了哪些值得注意的差异?
The education I received was quite different in its approach. From what I noticed the university where I completed my bachelor’s was focused more on the technical side than the creative side. 它教会了我建筑的基础. The master’s I did in the USA built further on the foundation.
4. 你打算什么时候拿到驾照?
I just started my internship journey after my master’s, 所以拿到执照需要一些时间, 也许3或4年后.
5. 你想有一天经营自己的公司吗? 在美国或你的祖国?
Someday, yes, I would like to open my own firm, most probably in my home country. I have much to learn and am really looking forward to everything in the future.
6. 你喜欢用什么软件?
I really like learning different software but the most I enjoy is SketchUp. It’s fun to play with different commands and come up with some unique structures.
7. 你最喜欢做什么样的工作?
After studying and interning in some firms during my bachelor’s, 我爱上了住宅设计, even though the projects are on the smaller side, a lot of detailing goes into it which I really like.
8. 是什么吸引你来DMA工作的?
I really like the projects DMA has done so far and I have always loved working for smaller firms rather than big ones. Here I get to learn everything from start to finish and get to have hands on the projects. And I couldn’t give up on living in a place like Jackson, it’s beautiful.
9. Is anything surprising you working in a business vs. 学校环境?
The business environment is very different from the school environment. 这里是DMA, we experience many fields and communicate with clients which is unlike at school where the project is “made up” by professors. 然而, in school I was able to work on an affordable housing project that was built on site and everything we did was individual, 而不是一群人, 这很有趣.
10. So far, how is it different from what you were doing before?
When I was studying for my master’s, we usually got to work on a project that was conceptual. Even when our class did the affordable housing project, there was little to no client interaction. Every project we do here in the office is different and is based on the client’s expectation and interaction, which increases the challenge risk and gives us more responsibilities.
11. Which skills do you think you will be developing further with us?
There are many things to learn in the office and I would really love to learn them, but I think communication with different clients is very important, 这是我必须提高的技能.
12. 什么和谁在建筑上激励你?
I really like the process of a building being built from start to final product, 这对我来说真的很鼓舞人心. My father always says that I should become like 扎哈·哈迪德，她是一个真正的鼓舞. I have a lot to learn though, it’s a very long way for me. 我想为自己实现很多事情. I am the first one from my family to study something other than medicine, so I have a lot to prove and maybe on my way I’ll become someone’s inspiration as well.
If we are talking about architects, I really like many works of 弗兰克·劳埃德·赖特扎哈·哈迪德和 I.M.裴. I also really like Japanese architecture and its use of spaces.
13. Is there a type of architecture that you prefer?
I mostly gravitate towards modern and minimalist architecture, or sometimes buildings with great historical value, 或者那些有故事要讲的人.
14. Given that the world of architecture is still largely occupied by men, 你对女性的未来有什么看法?
Women are rare in the field of architecture, but nowadays I see many upcoming talented women. When I first enrolled in my bachelor’s in India, half of our class were women. We have come a long way in architecture and play very important roles in challenging architectural projects. 我们还有很长的路要走, but I hope in the future we get to see many women taking on important roles and becoming leaders.
15. 你在空闲时间喜欢做什么?
In my free time, I usually enjoy watching movies and reading, I also love learning new languages.