Emilia Plichta -
podcast #55 of the series "Foundations"
The episode and the entire series are also available on Soundcloud and Spotify:
In the latest episode of the "Foundations" podcast, Emilia Plichta talks about her path from studying architecture in Poland to working in an international design office in Tirana. The young architect talks about emigration, her first job abroad, designing high-rise buildings, and everyday life and work in rapidly developing Albania.
© Emilia Plichta
Emilia graduated with a first degree in architecture from the Sopot Academy of Applied Sciences, and decided after her defense that she wanted to try her hand outside Poland. As she admits, from the beginning she was keen to gain experience in an international environment and prove herself in a new professional reality.
In the podcast, she tells why she chose Tirana in particular. The Albanian capital, which is developing dynamically and undergoing an intensive urban transformation, became for her a place full of architectural opportunities. Emilia points out that the city is seeing an increasing number of modern high-rise buildings and bold developments often designed by foreign studios.
© Emilia Plichta
Architecture in Tirana - bold projects and international cooperation
One of the main topics of the conversation is the specifics of working as an architect in Albania. Emilia talks about cooperation with offices from Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, and what the design process is like in an international environment. She stresses that Tirana gives architects much more design freedom than many European cities, and less restrictive regulations allow for a more experimental approach to architecture.
The young architect also talks about what the path to getting a job abroad was like. She talks about preparing a portfolio, creating her own website and sending applications to foreign design offices. As she emphasizes, determination and willingness to try again and again proved crucial.
© Emilia Plichta
The topic of recruiting for international studios also comes up in the interview. Emilia mentions questions about the design process, approach to architecture or vision for her own career - issues she didn't expect as a fresh graduate.
What is the daily life of an architect working abroad like?
The podcast also shows the everyday side of working in a foreign architectural office. Emilia talks about working on concepts for multi-family buildings and private villas, design consultations and communication in an international team conducted in English.
The work culture is also an important thread in the conversation. The architect emphasizes that there is no overtime in her office, and work-life balance is taken very seriously. She also notes the openness and support of the team, which helped her find her way in a new country.
© Emilia Plichta
The new episode of the podcast "Foundations" is an inspiring story about courage, design and building a career outside Poland. It's also a story about how architecture can become a ticket to explore the world and work in an international environment.
Aleksandra Skorupa
Listen also to other podcasts
From the "Foundations" series
49. is it worth studying architecture in Switzerland? About Marta Lata's experience
50. Erasmus or studying in Poland? Architecture through the eyes of Krzysztof Jędrzejewski.
51. studying in Berlin or in Poland? Architecture through the eyes of Karolina Gula
52 Does architecture begin with an idea? Experiences of Wiktoria Sitko
53 How international experiences change architects and female architects?
54 Between sketch and screen. What does studying architecture really look like?
