LSA Grad with 12 years experience in academia + practice in London / Hong Kong.

Find out more about Ian

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  My interest in the built environment started as a teenager. When travelling with my family, my father would always include visits to see interesting architecture. Memorable visits were Ernö Goldfinger's 2 Willow Road, Culloden Battlefield visitor centre by Hoskins Architects and the Guggenheim in Bilbao.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I enjoy helping students to clarify the narrative of their project and exploring how their design proposals can make a positive contribution to a place. I am quite handy with the various software applications used in architecture school, but with so much educational content easily accessible online, I am reluctant to spend too long on software help.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  At school my design & technology teacher was a great inspiration and during my undergraduate studies the building technology lecturer had a somewhat legendary status - both perhaps inspired my interest in the technical side of architecture.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Patience, humility, enthusiasm, reliability, clarity.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  It took me the best part of 5 years - studying undergraduate and work placements in London and Hong Kong - to find the confidence to guard a better work / life balance. Work smart, not hard!

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  There is a lot to learn, tension between being a generalist and a specialist.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I am passionate about the built environment, but I'm increasingly aware that architecture is downstream from higher level political and economic ideas and discussions. Macroeconomics is an emerging interest of mine.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering this interview questions :-P) ?

  My experience, my commitment to helping students build confidence and navigate architecture school with less stress.