Meet The Team – Joanne

Last year our team was strengthened by another talented Technologist – Joanne. She originally graduated in 1991 with a B.Ed. in Primary Education and worked in several schools in Scotland and England until 1997, whereupon she took an extended career break to raise her 3 children.

The moves were associated with her husband’s employment, which also led them to spending 4 enjoyable and interesting years in Calgary, Canada. During this time, she developed an interest in interior design and, subsequently, architecture.

 I UNDERSTAND THAT ARCHITECTURE WAS NOT YOUR FIRST PROFESSION AND YOU PREVIOUSLY WORKED AS A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER. COULD YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHY YOU DECIDED TO CHANGE TO A CAREER IN ARCHITECTURE? 

I was a primary teacher many years ago, prior to having my children, so it’s been a long process to finding my way into architecture. I was a ‘stay-at-home mum’ for around 20 years and in that time I dabbled in many interests and courses, one of the most influential being an interior design course. It was while doing this, and various house renovations, that I realized I really enjoyed the designing of spaces.

When planning what I wanted to do when my children left home I discovered a degree course at Edinburgh Napier University, BSc Architectural Technology, which offered a fantastic combination of the design and theory of architecture and construction. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and by doing it part-time, over 6 years, it brought me to this point; when my children were looking to their own futures and I was ready to embark on my new career path.

I believe ACA are experts in the area of self-build and what’s amazing is that they willingly want to share this expertise. They freely give out information about how to do a self-build and use as many social media forums as they can in order to teach people.

This helps to take the mystery and fear out of the process and should help promote this aspect of the housing market.

I love working in designing residential one-off homes. I find it exciting and challenging; exciting that a client can determine what’s important to them in creating their perfect home, and then challenging to design that dream following the relevant building standards. It’s like solving a puzzle!

I like the flexibility that self-build can offer clients. Everyone has a different opinion of what makes a good home, what looks attractive and the spatial arrangement can vary because every family works differently. For these reasons, working in the self-build sector is fun, exciting and challenging.

When time permits, I try to go to CPD events, many of them organized by CIAT (Chartered Institute of Technologists) of which I’m a member, in order to keep up to date with the latest technologies. In fact, it was at an event about CLT (cross laminated timber), that I first met Allan (Corfield)! I also subscribe to various magazines from the industry and when I’m on holiday (and my family allows me to) I like to go on architectural tours of the places I’m in.

I had an enjoyable tour of Toronto the last time I was there and I particularly enjoyed visiting Villa La Roche, by Corbusier, the last time I was in Paris. I had studied this building in depth during my degree.

Having spent many years in and around the home, I have had the opportunity to pursue many interests. Currently, I am part of a book group, sewing bee, St. Michael’s Church of Scotland and the local netball team, the Linlithgow Flyers.

Crazily, I also decided to learn to play the trumpet when I started my degree and I have recently transitioned from the Linlithgow Reed’s Training Band to the Main Band and I am looking forward to taking part in their numerous engagements in the coming year, none more so than marching from 7am until 5pm on Linlithgow Marches Day in June!