"If I'm not careful I do get a bit too lost in PhD-theory-history-research-isolation-mode", notes Reishin, one of the University's VC Scholarship students who's undertaking research into architecture and decolonialisation. Find out how Reishin tackles this issue common to many PhD students, and what impact Reishin is hoping this research will have in the wider architectural world.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background/previous career?
After graduating my bachelor's in architecture at Cardiff University, I spent some time working at my family's Japanese restaurant in Finchley Central while trying to find a job in the field. I was lucky enough to find an intern job working for an architectural design office in New York, where I worked on cultural competitions and showroom projects.
I then moved into a short career as a design manager in modular construction. This was on international projects across North America, Europe and Asia, but I specialised on modular housing projects in urban seismic zones. I wanted to use my experience on my own projects so later decided to complete a master's degree in architecture at the Architectural Association. At the AA I was able to explore more ideas about the architect's agency and its entanglement with colonial structures.
Around this time I was also balancing part-time work in an architecture office, family restaurant and organising work with groups like the architectural workers union, SAW. Using decolonial theory, my final master's project culminated in a video essay on the entanglement between architectural practice, history and institutional building material.
What made you want to study your PhD at London Met in particular?
When I was on the lookout for PhD opportunities around my interests in architectural practice and decolonisation, I was quite worried that it wouldn't be possible. It seemed to me that there weren't many supervisors or funding streams that would fit the kind of research I wanted to do. So when I saw the call for applications for the VC scholarship which aligned perfectly to my research interests I felt really excited and lucky. Funding is very rare and especially so for architecture and decolonial study so I jumped at the chance. I was also impressed with the University's acknowledgements towards decolonial justice and commitments to fund research around social justice. I was also intrigued by how this could fold into the School's Art, Architecture and Design department as an interdisciplinary setting.
I understand your PhD deals with the role of the architect – can you tell us more?
Sure thing! I'm interested into the historical events around a government policy document, the Warne report, which in 1993 recommended to abolish the legally protected title of the architect. Architects at the time responded in shock and anger at the time, critiquing it as part of the conservative government's unjust deregulation agenda. When I look at the contents of the report however, I find its provocation a worthwhile challenge to consider. Perhaps, as it recommends, the abolition of title might free the profession from its ideological challenges? I'm quite interested in how the cultural issues like professional elitism, alluded to in the report and anecdotally known by practioners, relate to architectural practice.
I'm inspired by the work of Stuart Hall in seeing this a structure of whitenness and I attempt to untangle the architect's historical construction as a male, aristocratic, white power figure. Like many decolonial, queer and feminist authors, I'm interested in seeing if the interruption of these structures may lead to other ways to be, know and practice.
What do you hope the impact will be of your research?
Not many people are aware of the historical events or signficance of the Warne report. I think it's quite helpful context for a lot of architectural practioners today and more widely in professional studies. I also think that a decolonial approach to architectural professional history is understudied and valuable work. I hope that it might ask academics, educators and practioners ways to think about a different form of architectural practice.
What's been most challenging about being a research student?
I love doing my research but I have found the lifestyle change quite challenging. PhD comes with a lot of freedom but this can be lonely and hard to balance if you crave structure. I've been trying to contribute to and enrich the postgraduate community and space. It's really helped my research and experience. Talking to your peers about research and research life is so valuable!
How have you found the professors / teachers?
I really love working with my supervisors, Dr Jessica Kelly and Dr Claire Jamieson! They understand the positionality of my research and push me to stay focused. I value their feedback and enjoy feeling like I'm in a kind of research team with them. For example, I'm co-organising a symposium with one of my supervisors in September, and really looking forward to how it will unfold. My supervisors' work is also really interesting and they're also empathetic supervisors. I feel very blessed with this match!
What drives you?
I think I grew up internalising a lot of structural injustice around me, and as I got older, became more conscious about how it was all connected.
I'm very passionate to work towards a world that might be kinder and braver than it was yesterday. That the struggles I've faced, or my family's, or my peers, might be made obsolete in the future.
I think it's really important to recognise the privledged position I'm in and use that to nourish others. I use that motivation to pursue research as an intervention and hope that it might one day empower someone else. When someone says 'your work really moved me', or 'I felt seen', or 'what do we do now?' I feel particularly inspired and that keeps me going.
What are you most proud of in your life so far?
Well, probably getting accepted as a VC scholar! But I suppose it was highly influenced by my final master's project, and that's something I'm very proud of. I feel that it was a precursor to a lot of my current PhD research but also a culmination of my technical skills in architecture, theory, visual media and political expression. It was also a nice a moment because I could really incorporate so many parts of myself, and it was also the first time I centred myself in my work. Which is both terrifying but also empowering. It also represented almost ten years of architectural training so that was signficant.
Mostly I'm really proud of how many people have watched the video or engaged in the work and told me how much it resonated and connected with them.
Are you working whilst studying?
I do pick up some freelance work every now and then. Sometimes it's a restaurant shift, helping on some research admin, community engagement or teaching. It is challenging to fit into my studies to be honest, and I'm trying to get better at balancing my life..! But I've also found that I enjoy working alongside study and it does have positive mental health impacts for me. If I'm not careful I do get a bit too lost in PhD-theory-history-research-isolation-mode. I try to pace myself and pick up work that aligns to the research I'm doing already. Luckily with the VC scholarship and a supportive community around me I can afford to be a bit picky about that.
Have you used any of the services at London Met?
I've used the counselling service. It's great! Shoutout to Sejal. It's a great resource and as a student, amazing to receive for free. Talking to a professional is really valuable and helps keep me feeling like my best self. So it feeds the research as well.
Tell us a little bit about your interests outside of uni and why they are important to you.
I'm very active in the architect's union, the Section of Architectural Workers (SAW) as a branch of Unite the Union. I think it's important to back up the theory and intention of justice work with grassroots organising. It's an amazing community and forum to test a lot of the ideas I'm grappling with. It's important work but it also feels good to help people find a voice and agency in their workplace. I also enjoy being part of something bigger than me and explore what it means to organise collaboratively.
What's your plan when you complete your PhD, and how do you think London Met will help you succeed in this?
What a question! One of the challenges I've had in PhD is trying to make the research very focused. I can get very passionate and interested about so many different things, so I'd love to be able to pick up some of my many research interests after PhD. So I suppose it will be amazing to find a place or position to keep my research going, both for myself but also in ways that engage with others. I'd love to be able to keep researching, writing and doing some teaching, like many other decolonial authors who have inspired me. Of course the support I get through the VC scholarship already helps a lot and building networks through the University will really help me with these goals.
Any tips for research students new to London Met?
Seek out community! It makes you feel better and it strengthens your work.
"I was impressed with the University's acknowledgements towards decolonial justice and commitments to fund research around social justice. I was also intrigued by how this could fold into the School's Art, Architecture and Design department as an interdisciplinary setting."