Our team—from A for Acquisition to Z for Civil Engineer—is united by a passion for construction, design, and architecture. The best people to describe what a typical workday at CUUBUUS is like, what skills are necessary in this industry, and which tasks are particularly fulfilling are those who work there day in and day out. This time: our colleague from the architecture team talks about the dream of design planning, the atmosphere on the construction site, and the future of collaborative living spaces…
In today’s episode, we’re talking with
Katarina Ivusic-Kuvikova, Architect, Certified Civil Engineer, and an experienced expert in the field of building construction.
Ms. Ivusic, to start off with a basic question: Did you always want to be an architect, or how did that come about?
I’ve never really thought about it. Actually, even as a child, I loved to draw and do crafts—but don’t we all? Maybe my father had an indirect influence on me; he’s an architect himself, and I’ve always been fascinated by all those pens and those big rolls of paper.
Can you give our readers a little glimpse into what it’s like to work at CUUBUUS? Why don’t you tell us a little about your projects and your impressions of the team here?
My current project at CUUBUUS is DAS ARTMANN. It is a building that is partially listed as a historic landmark and is being converted into a residential building. The challenge lies in creating a high-quality, harmonious living space while complying with regulations that are becoming increasingly stringent.
Housing is very close to my heart, because it creates spaces where stories unfold.
At CUUBUUS, great importance is placed on quality and architecture—aspects that many developers have neglected.
With the CUUBUUS team, this is easy to achieve, because their years of experience, expertise, and attention to detail come together to form a strong team that can handle any task.
Right from the start, you feel like you’re part of the team. All of my coworkers are very helpful, supportive, and open to new ideas. The atmosphere is harmonious and friendly. Even in crisis situations, we try to support one another.
How and why did you actually come across CUUBUUS? Were you already familiar with our company?
I wasn’t really familiar with CUUBUUS. I happened to come across CUUBUUS in a conversation with a friend I met on construction sites, where he was working as a site coordinator.
My first impressions of the website ultimately convinced me that CUUBUUS was a company where I would enjoy working. Shortly thereafter, I submitted my application there.
What would a typical workday in Katarina I’s life look like? Does it generally follow the same pattern every day, or is there sometimes room for the unexpected?
I find the work very exciting and varied thanks to the different areas of responsibility, projects, and site visits; no two days are alike, and I really enjoy that.
In fact, it’s usually not possible to prepare a fixed schedule of tasks for the day, because you always have to respond immediately to requests, especially during the execution phase.
And in your opinion, what personal qualities are needed to do this job? What technical skills are essential, and what talents or abilities are nice to have but not a must?
As an architect, you are, so to speak, the link between the client, consultants, and the contractors. That is why it is always important to remain objective and impartial and not lose sight of the goal.
I think that as an architect, you should have a good imagination and not overlook even the smallest detail in any approach. You have to be knowledgeable in your field, or at least have an idea of where to look up information, whether it’s a law, a standard, or something similar.
And, of course, you should have a technical aptitude—on the one hand, to understand the processes on the construction site, and on the other hand, because IT skills and proficiency with drafting software are essential in today’s world.
Speaking of coworkers: How do you feel about working together as a team and on the construction site? Is the atmosphere there really rough, or do you, as a woman, experience a different kind of treatment?
I am pleased to see that more and more female colleagues are working on construction sites—not only in planning and billing, but also increasingly in hands-on roles.
I have already met with clients who were concerned about having a woman serve as the local construction supervisor for their project, but I was able to allay their fears and quickly convince them of my abilities.
Admittedly, as a woman on construction sites, you might not be taken very seriously at first, but once you’ve shown that you know what you’re doing, your gender no longer matters.
The industry is still predominantly male-dominated. Do you see a paradigm shift happening in the near future, or will there still be more male architects than female architects even 10 years from now?
Yes, I’m seeing more and more women in this profession. I can’t say for sure whether there will be more female architects in 10 years.
Since projects typically last an average of two years, you end up working on the same thing for a very long time. Do you see that as a positive, or do you sometimes wish it would “go by” faster so you could move on to the next project? 😉 What are the pros and cons?
Architecture—the entire process leading up to the completion of a building—is a long process. The building itself remains the same, but the stages of planning are always different. You start with a feasibility study and plan the entire building down to the last detail. Then comes the construction phase, during which you must ensure that the plans are implemented correctly.
You deal with a lot of people—at the beginning, it’s the clients who express their wishes. Then there are the various specialist planners and government agencies… And once the planning phase is partially complete, you’re dealing with the various contractors almost every day. This entire process is necessary, and its duration always depends on the client’s decision-making ability and the complexity of the building.
What do you personally find most fulfilling about your work? If you could decide again, would you choose this career?
I think I’d choose this job again; I think it’s great to see something in real life that was initially just on paper.
A quick note on the construction and real estate industries in general, as well as architecture and planning: To what extent do you think development, construction, and housing have changed over the past ten years?
Over the past 10 years, construction trends have increasingly shifted toward sustainability and self-sufficient living, but at the same time, smart homes have also become more popular.
In the realm of housing, people are creating more and more shared spaces in the home where they can spend time together and enjoy life, and are doing so at the expense of spacious private rooms. The focus is on togetherness.
And in your opinion, what do you think the future of housing will look like?
Collaborative living—featuring smaller living units and shared multifunctional spaces, such as guest rooms, urban gardening areas, or even larger common areas that can be used flexibly—is becoming increasingly important for adapting to different life situations.
Finally, a question for non-experts: Is there such a thing as THE typical architect’s apartment? In other words, when you visit your home, is it immediately obvious that someone “in the field” lives here?
I don’t think so, but the visitor always says you can feel it 😊
Our apartment is a rental, so we haven’t made any structural changes. The apartment’s atmosphere is defined by the furniture and accessories. When it comes to furniture, I really focus on quality and would rather buy something high-quality, secondhand, than something from a furniture store.
Thank you very much for these fascinating insights!
