Claire: Tell us a little about yourselves and the UrbanistasNW (as we know its not your full time role)
UrbanistasNW: We are all full time architects, and yes, UrbanistasNW is our side gig 🙂 A few of us are also keen runners, potters and yogis!
Claire: Where, What you do, how long?
UrbanistasNW: We are a group of seven female architects. Three of us set up UrbanistasNW in April 2019, with a further 4 joining the core group in May, so we are nearly at the 2 year mark!
Claire: Congratulations! We’ve been to many an Urbanistas ‘event in Manchester and can vouch for how great they are!
Claire: When/ where and what did you study?
UrbanistasNW: Most of us studied at the Manchester School of Architecture, with varying start dates across a 20 year period!
Claire: When/what made you want to be an Architect?
UrbanistasNW: The desire to play an active role in shaping our cities and environment, to make it a more equitable and diverse place to live, work and play.
Claire: Do you have a favourite project or one you are most proud of?
UrbanistasNW: We are very proud of our INSPO events, this is a platform for female role models to talk about their career achievements, encouraging more women to speak up in the construction industry.
Claire: Who are two of your heroes? (Work and/or otherwise)
UrbanistasNW: 1) We all admire the late Jane Jacobs; a writer, urban activist and power house 2) Marcus Rashford is our kind of guy.
Claire: Which building do you wish you’d designed?
UrbanistasNW: Any of the Maggie’s Centres. It would be a privilege to design something that was so focused on the end user.
Claire: If you weren’t an Architect what would you be doing?
UrbanistasNW: As a group we are all very people focussed, so a career that involved helping people would suit us down to the ground.
Claire: Now I always like to ask a couple of random questions so here goes …If you could live in anyone’s head for fifteen minutes (Being John Malkovich style), who would you choose?
UrbanistasNW: Being in Donald Trump’s head would be fascinating.
Claire: I often think the same truth be told … although I think if you did go in there it might send you a little crazy?!
And finally …
Claire: If you had to choose – what kind of biscuit would you be? And why?
UrbanistasNW: A chocolate digestive, just because they are the best to dunk!
