Parlour

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In a departure from architecture’s traditional hierarchies, the benefits of adopting a more collaborative approach to design within practices is becoming increasingly apparent.

A key part of this is mentoring which is critical to ensuring this new culture becomes a reality within architectural practice, according to Technē Architecture and Interior Design director Steve McKeag.

McKeag highlights the culture at Technē, where team leaders will often ask younger staff to identify goals and key tasks early on, as providing staff with the confidence to undertake projects of any size and budget.

The creative side of architecture can be very time exorbitant, so communicating with staff in a way that gets them to lift their heads up and identify the critical task at hand is very important.

McKeag is keen to share a number of initiatives the practice has implemented; initiatives he believes can improve culture across the sector.

Additionally, the studio follows a deliberate policy of project exposure and knowledge building. Wherever possible, junior staff are brought in on meetings with clients and contractors.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/technes-steve-mckeag-discusses-his-appointment-as-director-and-his-favourite-pubs">Speaking previously</a> with urban.com.au McKeag discussed how fellow directors Nick Travers and Justin Northrop provide a lot of autonomy which in turn fosters a supportive and nurturing workplace environment in which team members share skills, knowledge and experience.

The leadership team encourages an open dialogue between employees at all levels, creating a space where resources and knowledge can be easily shared. According to McKeag, contributing to open forum type discussions assisted his own development and progression to director. 
 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/techne_directors-2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Technē's directors (L-R) Justin Northrop, Steve McKeag, Nick Travers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/techne_directors-2.jpg?itok=bmi0fdZi" title="Technē's directors (L-R) Justin Northrop, Steve McKeag, Nick Travers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Technē's directors (L-R) Justin Northrop, Steve McKeag, Nick Travers</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Across the industry we’re beginning to see inspiring outcomes that are the result of intelligent collaboration, of multiple architects and designers pooling their talents, rather than as the expression of a single architect’s ‘genius’. Such collaboration begins early with mentorship

We take a collaborative approach on our projects that is almost the reverse of the old-fashioned model. When they establish a new project, Technē founding directors Nick [Travers] and Justin [Northrop] might outline the core challenges along with the client’s needs, but from there we open it up so that whoever comes up with the best concept is given the opportunity to develop that in collaboration with the project leaders. It’s design led and not top-down. 
We give everyone as much exposure as possible to the different facets of the decision making process. It’s part of learning on the job.

Opening up a project to studio-wide feedback has the advantage of inviting a fresh perspective. Brainstorming outside the project’s known constraints can generate new ideas, which the team can then tailor within the boundaries of the brief or the client's expectations.

And if you’re retaining staff that’s a competitive advantage, because of the flow-on effects of greater corporate knowledge, which in turn leads to innovation.

These are skills so important to project communication and which senior practitioners can cultivate simply by helping their mentees.

It’s really bringing back some of those tactile processes and focusing on the concepts – then sharing that through conversation and mentoring – rather than concentrating on photo-realistic renders from the outset.

- Steve McKeag, Director Technē Architecture &amp; Interior Design
</blockquote>

Mentoring benefits both parties, McKeag stresses, and the benefits for both the mentor and the wider practice have been shown to result in a better workplace culture, improved staff morale and reduced turnover. 
For the mentee, working collaboratively has shown to improve career advancement, job satisfaction, promotion and pay increases. Additionally, those who receive mentoring are far more likely to persist with their chosen career.

The industry’s peak body, the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), recognises the importance of mentoring, with various state chapters overseeing different schemes. Mentoring can help overcome barriers to gender diversity and, 
alongside a focus on graduates entering the industry, the AIA Victorian Chapter looks for mentors to mature-age women returning to the field after a period away, perhaps after parental leave.

Other advocacy groups such as Parlour have also long lobbied and promoted equity in the industry and fair rights for all irrespective of age or gender. Parlour is also a strong proponent and advocate of mentoring, with the topic discussed in a series of essays on their site which you can read <a href="http://archiparlour.org/topics/mentoring/">here</a>.

Other initiatives implemented at Technē which are designed to encourage collaboration and enhance project outcomes are the Friday design reviews. These present an opportunity for studio members to express their interest in joining a project team, or simply to share relevant experience or ideas.

Technē’s Carlton studio also features pin boards which run the length of the work area and exhibit projects currently in progress, encouraging staff to share their insights and experience to colleagues passing by throughout the day.

The office's workshop provides a space where physical models and prototypes can be tested and has been designed to facilitate and promote both digital design and older more traditional methods of learning, something McKeag considers to be a point of difference with many other studios.
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Laurence Dragomir

Technē's Steve McKeag discusses the importance of mentoring within architectural practice

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Following on from the success of <a href="http://www.urbancreativestudio.com.au/">Urban Creative's</a> Kickstarter campaign (<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/kickstarter-campaign-homes-for-homeless-youth">Homes for Homeless Youth</a>), Urban.com.au would like to draw attention to another notable crowd funding campaign: Parlour's <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.pozible.com/project/195898">'The Next Step' via Pozible</a>. A strong proponent and advocate for equity within the architecture industry and the adoption of improved practices within the profession, Parlour needs support to continue to push ahead with their research, as well as the ongoing advancement and development of various programs and resources.

<blockquote>
Parlour needs your support. Over the past three years Parlour has become an important ‘space to speak’; a strong and respected platform providing research, resources, advocacy and discussion about gender equity and architecture.
<cite><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.pozible.com/project/195898">Parlour's Pozible page</a></cite>
</blockquote>

As such Parlour is seeking assistance from sponsors, donors and supporters in the form of like-minded organisations, business and individuals who value and appreciate the work that they do. Parlour aims to raise AUD$25,000 by the 13th July deadline which will go towards the following:

<ul>
<li>$5,000 – to develop the website into a responsive site, which is easily read on mobile devices. Parlour is a great site, but things move fast in the online world. Updating to a responsive site is particularly pressing as Google is downgrading non-responsive websites in its searches from June 2014.</li>
	<li>$10,000 – editor. Parlour has great content. This is carefully planned and commissioned. Funds raised through this project will contribute to the costs of commissioning and developing new content over the next year.</li>
	<li>$15,000 – subeditor. Parlour has high editorial standards and all content is carefully and professionally edited. This is part of our success so far. Professional subediting is vital to ongoing quality and the credibility of the publication.</li>
</ul>
In order to gain a better understanding of the work that Parlour produces, it's worth taking a moment to read through their <a href="http://archiparlour.org/parlour-guides/">Guides to Equitable Practice</a>, which have been developed with a view towards making Australian architecture a more equitable profession for all.

<blockquote>
The architecture firm of the future ­– with increased flexibility, meaningful part-time work, acceptable career breaks and reasonable hours ­– will benefit us all. Many of the challenges that face women in architecture also affect men, however they tend to impact on women in exaggerated ways.
<cite><a href="http://archiparlour.org/parlour-guides/">Parlour: Parlour Guides to Equitable Practice</a></cite>
</blockquote>

As someone who works in an architectural practice on a part-time basis, supplemented by my work with Urban.com.au, I can't begin to emphasize enough the importance of feeling encouragement and support from your workplace to pursue other interests and activities outside the demands of your role within the office environment. For some of my colleagues and peers this also translates to time dedicated solely to their families.

At the time of writing 119 supporters have pledged a total of $17,365 (or 69% of the target). With only 11 days to go, let's help get them over the line. Watch the video below and pledge your support!

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/126445291" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="100%"></iframe>

<figcaption><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/126445291">Parlour: the next step…</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/greylight">Eric Macdonald</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</figcaption></figure><h2>About Parlour</h2>

Parlour is a site for active exchange and discussion, bringing together research, informed opinion and resources on women, equity and architecture in Australia. It seeks to expand the spaces and opportunities available to women while also revealing and celebrating the many women who already contribute to the industry in diverse ways.

Parlour is an Incorporated Association. Its aims are as follows:

<ol>
<li>To promote gender equity in architecture.</li>
	<li>To develop advocacy programs and resources based in independent, rigorous research.</li>
	<li>To provide a vital space for the discussion of gender equity in architecture and publish informed opinion and generate debate and discussion.</li>
	<li>To develop and strengthen networks and communities of interest around the issue of gender equity in Australian architecture.</li>
	<li>To celebrate women active in the architecture profession, and to provide opportunity and profile for the many women working successfully in architecture.</li>
</ol>
The Parlour website is curated and edited by Justine Clark, with support from co-editors Naomi Stead, Karen Burns, Sandra Kaji-O’Grady, Julie Willis, Amanda Roan and Gill Matthewson. Parlour was initiated as part of the Australian Research Council-funded research project Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work, and Leadership.

For more information, check out the Parlour website: http://archiparlour.org/
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