{"id":13279,"date":"2016-07-15T15:27:31","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T05:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.architecture.com.au\/news-media\/?p=13279"},"modified":"2016-07-15T15:29:08","modified_gmt":"2016-07-15T05:29:08","slug":"quick-chat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.architecture.com.au\/news-media\/quick-chat\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick Chat – 18 July"},"content":{"rendered":"

Name and photo:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yuri Leong Maish<\/p>\n

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Where do you work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

May & Russell Architects<\/p>\n

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Current job title and function?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Architect<\/p>\n

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Why did you choose architecture as a profession?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because I have always loved drawing, art, design, problem solving, maths, music, photography, working with people, gardening \u2013 architecture needs to consider all of these things, and more, so I seem to have been channelled into it.<\/p>\n

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What are you working on now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currently the project architect for the National Archives Preservation Facility which is under construction in Mitchell.<\/p>\n

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Most challenging or interesting project you\u2019ve ever worked on and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The current National Archives project. It has been by far the most complex project in terms of the design and coordination required that I have been involved with. Working on projects like this keeps me level headed, where I have to just take each day at a time and never be surprised with what each day may bring. It has been a steep learning curve and it\u2019s been invaluable to have the continued involvement through the construction phase.<\/p>\n

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Who is your role model?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t say that I have a single, particular role model, however I have three key inspirational people that I can identify as providing me with the support to really change my life. One was my year 4 primary school teacher Mrs<\/p>\n

Margaret Knight. I was very shy in my early years in primary school, partly due to my prominent birthmark which covers my whole left cheek. Mrs Knight gave me the support and encouragement to really stride out of my shell, and have confidence in myself and all that I do.<\/p>\n

The second was Catherine Marshall at the Belconnen Library, who oversaw my community service as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. She encouraged me to paint murals and design holiday activities and programs for children. When she heard that I was planning to follow in my sister\u2019s footsteps and study law, she exclaimed that it was a real shame to not utilise my creativity and follow through with something that I was obviously passionate about. Because of Catherine, I decided to keep doing art as an extra subject through year 11 and 12, and look into other creative options which definitely appealed to me more than law.<\/p>\n

The third was Dr Peter Armstrong, an academic at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Architecture. I met him on open day, thinking I\u2019d like to study fine art, but he inspired me with all things architectural, and made the decision for me to study design and architecture a very appealing one.<\/p>\n

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Any advice for young architects just starting their career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Architects need to know a little bit about everything. Don\u2019t limit yourself and take your time! Each project you work on will be a new experience with a different client, different brief, different outcome. Think of everything you do as part of the learning curve. Also make sure you take the time to get a bit of perspective. I would recommend travel \u2013 gain more of an understanding on how different people work, think and play. You\u2019ll grow more as a person and be more rounded and absorb details.<\/p>\n

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What is your favourite piece of art?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Van Gogh\u2019s Starry Night<\/em>. The first time I saw the real thing was at the Musee D\u2019Orsay, Paris, where I stood in front of it for hours and got lost in the swirl of colours and the physical depth of the painting.<\/p>\n

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What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the architectural profession?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Partial services – where we are losing control of key aspects of architectural services. Many failures in building quality and construction are being blamed on the architect, where the original architect may not have had the opportunity to have any involvement past a particular milestone stage such as lodging the DA. This is vastly misrepresented in the community, with architects unfairly blamed for issues they had no involvement in.<\/p>\n

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If you weren\u2019t an architect, what do you think you would be doing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would seasonally be doing at least some of the following:<\/p>\n