Studio Pacific Architecture
THE INTERMEDIATE
Frances Moughan
Frances Moughan, an architect for Studio
of Pacific Architecture in Wellington believes
that architecture is a slow art. With the
rising generation of corporates flitting from
one to job to another, Frances cautions that
architecture is an industry that requires
longevity.
���To become registered ��� first off ��� requires
you to stick with a good firm for at least four
years in order to see a project through,��� Frances
explains. ���It���s a lot of responsibility in that,
with other creatives, if you were to produce
an artwork or piece of writing that wasn���t your
best, people can avoid it but it���s very difficult
to avoid architecture.���
Frances studied in Auckland for five years to
attain her Bachelor of Architecture then headed
to Palmerston North to secure her registration.
���Registration is experience based where
you see two to three projects through from
start to finish. Many architectural graduates
struggle to get that variety in work to become
registered but I worked for a firm that did a
lot of residential, education and commercial
quick turnaround projects. For my registration
projects, I did a new house, a school swimming
pool and a commercial building which was
brilliant.
���While it can take five to ten years to
become registered, you do gain so much
knowledge and experience during that time,���
Frances continues. ���The process also ensures
that you gain the ability to manage a job and
recognise the importance of ethics. When
you���re hired by a client you run and manage
a project from start to
finish so if there are any
disputes around money or
workmanship, you need to
be seen as fair. The registration
process teaches you this.���
Because of the length of time, range of
experience and dedication the registration
process requires, Frances looks forward to
a time when women registered architects
in architecture are the norm ��� not the
exception.
���It would be nice to have more females
in the profession to get that breadth. I think
the difficulty lies in females coming out
and being able to stick around and get the
experience and support to become registered
and move up into senior positions.���
While design skills are important for an
architect, Frances believes that management
and communication are also essential.
���Up and comers may forget that there
is a business element to this career ��� design
is about 20 percent of what we do. One
moment you could be at your desk drawing
and the next you���re underneath a house with
a builder checking out the foundations of an
80-year-old building.���
www.studiopacific. co.nz
[Rose]���Just to let you know that we moved back in to our renovated house ��� we���re really
thrilled
with how it all works and wanted you to know that your design is excellent. The house is all
opened up to the light and the view and all functions beautifully with the way we live���
[Rose]��� Our building project is going really well ���
It���s looking fantastic and the neighbours are happy too!! ���
Rose Dowsett - Registered Architect
rennie dowsett architects
P.O.Box 5409 Wellesley Street, Auckland, 1141
Ph: 360 - 4157 renniedowsett@xtra.co.nz
www.h e rmagaz in e .co.n z | 23
