Özlem Yeter

Sir George Monoux College

Özlem was mentored by BDP

“I am Özlem Yeter, a year 13 student, currently studying Btech Art & Design. When I leave college I would like to study architecture and pursue a career as an architect in the future while developing and changing people’s lives for the better. I would like to study architecture as this is something I imagined for quite a long time since knowing what architecture was. When I found out about the Accelerate course I knew I wanted to join as I wanted to develop my knowledge of architecture as well as my digital and practical skills, and I can definitely say it has boosted my confidence in working together with new people.”

Sara Escalona

Harris Westminster Sixth Form

Sara was mentored by Archer & Braun and Jestico + Whiles

“I would like to be a part of the design and construction industry in the future, working as either an architect or a civil engineer, thus I applied to Accelerate to deepen my understanding of the process of applying and to know more about the different routes I can take after studying it at university.

The concept of fragments and the city enabled me to explore the importance of the relationship between the movement of people with the built environment.

Accelerate has expanded my horizons in terms of learning about abstract scales and proportions in designing 3D structures, making models and the significance of sustainability in the longevity of buildings.

Having been to two different architect mentor practices with different objectives in their architectural ambitions - where one focused on small scale extensions and analysing the surrounding context of the site in major detail and another made large-scale projects such as educational campuses - I found myself leaning towards converging nature within everyday buildings; demonstrated in integrating green spaces and natural bodies of water in buildings. I have learnt the importance of understanding the surrounding context of a site first: analysing where the influx of people come from to the site and where transport links are, in order to make it more easily accessible for all.”

Aderito Tran

Walworth Academy Sixth Form

Aderito was mentored by BDP

 Jayshree Senthilkumar

Bishopshalt School

Jayshree was mentored by Stanton Williams

“When I started Accelerate, I had a faint idea of what architecture was and thought that it was just designing buildings. Whilst I still think architecture is the design process of buildings, I now have come to realise all the work behind this due to all the skills workshops I took part in and the mentoring opportunity I had.

Whilst mentoring with Stanton Williams I had the chance to design an intervention and create a model of it. The design process includes the exploration of a theme, the history of the place, the structural engineering side to the building, and the safety and practicality of the building must also be considered. Realising and experiencing all this made me more fond of the idea of becoming an architect in the future.”

Hagi Sivathason

Rickmansworth

Hagi was mentored by Jamie Fobert Architects

“Where do I see myself in 15 years? The vision began as an architect and through research, hands on projects, and exploring. I see myself as an architectural designer working on big urban residential/mixed-use developments. My strengths lie in maths and physics academically (I find these therapeutic at times) my passion lies in art, and bang there’s architecture for me. I am heavily invested in the sustainability side of it. Blurring the borders between man, nature, and the built environment. Through the Accelerate workshops I have developed my skills, which were used in the mentoring sessions at Jamie Fobert Architects. The aim was to redesign the bandstand at the Boundary Estate using fragments from the local site. Using timber arches of different scales, a focal point was formed where locals come together and get involved in developing the bandstand further through self-planting opportunities. It provides seating spaces and a central sheltered space for community activities to take place.”

Sania Alam

Ark Globe Academy

Sania was mentored by Whittaker Parsons

“I have learnt a lot in my Accelerate journey. From learning things about the smallest of fragments to designing my own building on a site in Bethnal Green. It was really nice working with Whittaker Parsons where we got the brief and had the chance to design our own building on a site where it facilitates our beliefs. My project was called ‘Project Desi’ which helps children from the ages of 11-16 to establish their South Asian descent which was reinforced by the type of activity and area. I began my journey thinking architecture was merely about designing buildings but I soon realised that is so much more and my aspiration to become an architect is now set in stone.”

Saad Ali

Sir George Monoux College

Saad was mentored by AHMM

“I applied to Accelerate to gain more of an understanding of architecture. I have gained knowledge of the importance of meaning within a building and how it acts as a mouthpiece in any area. In my mentoring sessions I have been working with several concepts hence creating my own ideas in order to create a new staircase concept for the public that matches the area’s pastiche, so understanding an area where a building is placed is important as it makes an impact to people’s lives. Due to Covid, there have not been many real-life workshops but the sessions have been very engaging online.”

Elvin Aliu

LASWAP Sixth Form

Elvin was mentored by Civic Engineers