What a typical workday at CUUBUUS is like, what skills you need, and what makes the real estate industry so fascinating—our employees tell you all about it. This time: Serap, our colleague from the architecture team, talks about the theory she learned in college, the hype surrounding smart small apartments, and why she’s glad she chose design planning and related fields over the stage and the microphone…
In today’s episode, we’re talking with
DI Serap Kaya-Firat, Architect & Social Media Expert
Ms. Kaya-Firat, what led you to the real estate industry? Did you want to be an architect even as a child, or did that career aspiration come later?
From a very young age, I was fascinated by creative forms of expression. Alongside my love of music, I discovered my passion for drawing. Fields of study like medicine or law never appealed to me, because the opportunity to express my creative side was always an important aspect for me. As a result, I was torn between pursuing a career in music or architecture. During my teenage years, I devoted myself to both singing and guitar lessons as well as creative projects like designing our school building, through which I actively contributed to its renovation. Ultimately, I had to make a decision: study music or study architecture. I chose to keep music as a hobby, as I feared it might lose its appeal if it became my profession. So I began studying architecture and enjoyed it immensely from the very start. It felt right and allowed me to take my creative passion to a new level.
You completed your master’s degree at the Technical University a few weeks ago, but you already have several years of professional experience working at various architecture firms. Now that you’re officially a “fully qualified” architect—would you say that what you learned in theory is still relevant to real-world practice?
The deeper insights I’ve gained through my work experience so far have, overall, made it easier for me to understand the theory, especially when it comes to technical drawings and details. Whether the theory taught in college is still relevant to real-world practice is a complex question. In my experience, while a university education provides a solid foundation, it is essential to supplement this knowledge with practical application and experience. The architecture industry is dynamic and requires constant learning and adaptation to new technologies, trends, and requirements. Therefore, it is important that theoretical education be flexible enough to meet current practical needs while also imparting fundamental principles and concepts that are timeless.
Specifically regarding your current role at CUUBUUS: What exactly does your job entail, and which areas do you enjoy the most?
In my current position at CUUBUUS, I primarily work on the “DAS ARTMANN” project—located in a historic brick building—handling construction planning and supporting the team in various areas. My responsibilities range from designing tile backsplashes to handling smaller details, as well as preparing materials for the Federal Monuments Office. In a way, I’m an all-rounder. Over the past few months, we’ve also been busy planning a series of events that took place in the attic of our “DAS ARTMANN” project. In this role, I was responsible for coordinating the schedule and monitoring the on-site implementation by the contracted trades.
In addition to my work as an architect, I’m also responsible for managing CUUBUUS’s social media presence, particularly on Instagram. Photography and videography have always fascinated me, and my eye for detail really comes in handy here. This creative work provides a valuable balance to the technical aspects of construction that I deal with as an architect. Together, these two aspects make my job so exciting and varied.
How and through what means did you actually come across CUUBUUS? Were you already familiar with our projects or the company?
My friend Bianca, who was working as an architect at CUUBUUS at the time, told me that the team was expanding and that new positions were being filled.
When I decided in early 2023 to resume my studies and finish my thesis, I was also looking for a part-time job. It was important to me to work without neglecting my studies. I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to find a position with reduced hours in this industry. But CUUBUUS turned out to be a real stroke of luck: they were extremely supportive and allowed me to have a flexible schedule—both in terms of working hours and responsibilities—so that I could finish my studies without any problems.
Interestingly, I was already familiar with the “DAS ARTMANN” project, since I enjoy walking along the Danube and had noticed it on some of my many strolls. I remember visiting the CUUBUUS website and checking out their projects. However, I never would have thought that I’d one day be part of the planning process myself. Sometimes life takes a fascinating turn, and it’s exciting to see how things seem to develop on their own.
The architectural profession is, after all, fraught with numerous clichés and prejudices. Which of these, would you say, are actually justified, and which stereotypes do you want to dispel once and for all right here and now?
Where should I even begin? 😉 The cliché that all architects wear only black and tend to be rather conservative in their style is definitely outdated. Many in our industry are fashion-conscious and appreciate a variety of styles in their clothing—perhaps not least because the profession of architecture requires creativity, and not just in the design of buildings. This is sometimes reflected in the way we express ourselves, or indeed in our choice of clothing.
Unfortunately, I can’t dispute the stereotype of high coffee consumption, although this phenomenon isn’t actually limited to the architecture industry. In fact, people from various professional fields and different industries enjoy drinking a lot of coffee to boost their energy, focus, or simply take a short break. Furthermore, in the office or other work environments, the coffee machine is often a central gathering spot where colleagues catch up with one another. Therefore, drinking a lot of coffee isn’t just an architect’s cliché—it’s likely to be found anywhere where people work long hours.
By the way, there’s a funny Reel on our CUUBUUS Instagram page featuring some of the most common clichés and funniest stereotypes about our profession.
What does it take to become a really good architect—both in terms of professional skills and on a personal level?
I believe the combination of technical skills and personal qualities is essential. From a technical standpoint, a deep understanding of building technology, building codes, materials, and construction is crucial. This technical knowledge naturally expands and deepens with experience, but fundamentally, there should be a commitment to continuous learning. Equally important is creativity, which is essential for developing innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs that are both functional and visually compelling. The ability to visualize ideas and translate them into precisely drawn plans and models is also of fundamental importance.
On a personal level, teamwork, empathy, and flexibility are immensely important. Architects must be able to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams: They are not only in close contact with their own colleagues on the project, but also in constant communication with consultants, contractors, building owners, and clients. It’s also worth noting that we live in a world and an era of constant change, and therefore we should be highly adaptable to evolving requirements and new technologies, as well as strongly committed to quality and sustainability. In my opinion, perseverance and a continuous willingness to learn round out the profile of a successful architect.
Speaking of the CUUBUUS team—what is it actually like to work here? Are there any specific aspects that make this company special?
What I originally planned to be just a temporary solution until I finished my studies has, thanks to the family-like work atmosphere, the team’s wonderful support, and the combined expertise and valuable, long-standing experience of my colleagues—who are always willing to share their knowledge— has turned into a workplace where I not only feel completely at home, but—above all—can learn a great deal.
Currently, CUUBUUS is primarily developing residential projects. Planning, designing, and building for people inevitably involves numerous requirements and, in some cases, restrictions—such as building code regulations, guidelines for building services, or similar factors—that the average person out there is probably largely unaware of or doesn’t even realize exist. So people just end up asking, “What was the architect thinking?” Do you sometimes wish for more “understanding”? Or are these standards and requirements something that perhaps even frustrate you or make you feel restricted when you’re planning?
Especially at TU Wien, there’s very little connection between our design work and the numerous demands of the “real” world. The focus is on creativity, and we were literally allowed to “let our imaginations run wild” with our concepts. When I started my career and began working on “real” projects in the professional world, this transition was very difficult for me, and at the time I often got frustrated that the university hadn’t prepared us better for this “harsh reality.” When I returned to university after a three-year break from my studies and started designing again as part of my program, I realized just how much I had missed that freedom to design. 😊 Of course, it’s important to have a certain framework to follow, since a project becomes increasingly complex, especially during the in-depth phases. Still, it frustrates me sometimes, too, because it naturally limits the design process.
Returning to the sense of fulfillment and joy that this profession brings: What inspires you most about your work?
I’m generally the kind of person who takes on new challenges with great enthusiasm and dedication. I find the architecture industry to be very diverse—one day you’re on the construction site, the next you’re drawing in the office. You’re constantly interacting with other people. You work on different projects, and you learn something new from each one. What I find particularly fascinating is how the drawings become more detailed over time as the project phases progress, and are ultimately built exactly as drawn. What initially exists only on paper can be seen and touched in just a few months.
What project would you definitely like to take on at some point in your future career? Or is there a design from the past that makes you think, “Wow, I wish I had designed that!”
Of course, there are works that fascinate me as well. Still, I wouldn’t want to have designed them myself. I think architecture is very diverse, and every design is actually unique and specific to that architect. So it’s rather unlikely that I would end up doing something exactly the same way myself.
In general, though, I always find museum buildings very interesting. The spatial design plays a huge role in how visitors experience the exhibitions. For my final project in my bachelor’s program, I designed a science research center that included a museum. Ever since then, it has definitely been my dream to work on something like this someday and to amaze visitors with architectural elements such as ceiling heights, the way light enters the space, and the layout of the pathways.
Aside from buildings, what do you think the future of housing and daily life will look like? Are there any trends in this area?
I feel like the living space in households is getting smaller every year. There’s currently a trend toward small, smart apartments with shared common areas. Personally, I’m not a big fan of that. It was very important to me to have plenty of living space, large windows, and high ceilings in my apartment, which is why I ultimately decided on an apartment in an older building. Interestingly, this shows that the quality of living that was once considered normal is now viewed more as a luxury.
And one final question: Do you live in a “typical” architect’s apartment? Is there even such a thing? 😉
I’m actually very interested in interior design. Just as with the question about the “wow” factor in other architects’ work, I’d say that there isn’t such a thing as a “typical” architect’s apartment. Everyone has different preferences and tastes. What I can definitely confirm is that we give a lot more thought to living spaces, design, and furnishing. For example, I took my time choosing my furniture. And even my guests who are visiting me for the first time say you can tell that a couple of architects live here. 🙂
Thank you very much for the pleasant conversation and the interesting insights!
