Architectural Traineeship (placement)

ABOUT AL-JAWAD PIKE

Al-Jawad Pike is an award-winning London-based architectural studio. The studio operates across a variety of sectors including private residential, multi unit housing schemes, office fit-out, luxury retail store design and temporary installations. The studio has a strong design focus and is recognised for the quality of its built work. We strive to produce architecture that positively transforms the experiences of its users and the wider community. Our process is both meticulous and exploratory, underpinned by research, technical expertise and collaborative dialogue with clients, consultants and constructors.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Architectural work experience placement carried out by candidates with a strong interest in architecture and the built environment. The programme will give emphasis towards hands-on collaborative, studio-based learning, provided by studio mentors (architects) over a fixed period of 4-weeks. The placement will provide the opportunity for local people to acquire new experience and skills in the architectural field, working across three local Hackney-based housing projects, which are at an early concept design stage.

The role will enable candidates to contribute invaluable local insight and participate in the development of the places where they live. The placement would suit a local college student looking to pursue a career in architecture, design or another built environment discipline and we would encourage people from under-represented backgrounds to apply that would otherwise have limited entryways into the field of architecture.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?)

Examples of some of the tasks and training that the candidate may be exposed to during the placement include:

1. Exposure to architectural design processes and the different work stages of a project.
2. Insight into how the project and site requirements can inform specific design approaches and solutions.
3. Development of skills including understanding of scale, types of drawings (2d & 3d), physical and digital 3d modelling processes and presentation techniques including document creation and photography.
4. Insight into technical elements required in architectural practice such as: Science and materials, principles of sustainability and energy, principles of structural design in architecture.
5. Insight into architectural systems and processes used in practice such as materials sampling and archiving, scheduling.
6. Site visits and local engagement – where possible to see buildings in their context and participate in local engagement events.

What support will you receive?

Al-Jawad Pike will provide the following in support of the trainee’s work experience placement:

• Practical support, facilitate an understanding of the studio culture and standards and overview of the projects it is working on.
• Assign to candidates tasks and responsibilities to promote their knowledge, skills, competencies and training objectives and ensure that appropriate equipment and support is available.
• Appoint a mentor to advise candidates, help them with their integration in the studio environment and monitor their progress.
• Issue a work experience certificate for the student upon completion of the internship (“certificate of practice activity”).
• Monitor the progress of the traineeship and take appropriate action if required.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

The appointed candidate agrees to:

• Comply with all arrangements for their traineeship and to do their best to make the traineeship a success.
• Abide by the rules, regulations and policies of Al-Jawad Pike, its normal working hours, code of conduct and rules of confidentiality.
• Present the work they have contributed to at the end of the traineeship.
• Be able to perform the tasks. The minimum level of language competence expected from the student/trainee in the main working language(s) is an intermediate knowledge of written and spoken English.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

TO APPLY, PLEASE SEND THE BELOW APPLICATION DOCUMENTS TO: Delroy.Lammie@hackney.gov.uk

• (up-to-date) CV (in a PDF format).
• COVER LETTER (no more than 1 A4 page).
• Examples of relevant creative work you have completed to date as a PDF attachment (no more than 10 pages).

Your cover letter should cover the below points:

1. What you are applying for and why.
2. Why do you want to work with Al-Jawad Pike?
3. What qualifications or training (if any) do you hold that are relevant to this position?
4. What SKILLS, EXPERIENCE and KNOWLEDGE will you bring to the position?
5. What personal qualities do you have that will be useful for this position?