I recently sat down with 5-year-old kindergarten prodigy and future renowned veterinary explorer Kate Borson to discuss architecture. Kate has her finger on the pulse of her generation and Life of an Architect was lucky to catch her between engagements to get her take on the current state of the practice and profession of architecture.
Life: Hi Kate, can I call you Kate? Thanks for taking the time to answer some of my questions today. There are no wrong answers, I just want you to tell me whatever comes to mind.
Kate: What are we talking about?
Life: Do you know what I do for a living?
Kate: You’re an architect.
Life: What does an architect do?
Kate: Design buildings
Life: What kind of buildings?
Kate: All kinds – houses and playhouses.
Life: Anything else?
Kate: I don’t think so.
Life: So who does the really big buildings?
Kate: Other people
Life: Who are the other people?
Kate: They are builders
Life: Do you need any special skills to be an architect?
Kate: Super-duper skills….and you have to be good at drawing and picking stuff out.
Life: Do you think it’s easy being an architect?
Kate: No!
Life: Why not?
Kate: Because sometimes you have to go to work and help the builders know what they have to build.
Life: What are some jobs that are more difficult than being an architect?
Kate: Building them…because you get all sweaty and you can hurt your muscles.
Life: Do you have to be smart to be an architect?
Kate: Yes
Life: How do you know this?
Kate: Because you are smart and you’re an architect.
Life: Is being an architect a difficult job?
Kate: No – I think it would be fun.
Life: Why do you think it would be fun?
Kate: You get to draw all day and you get to talk a lot.
Life: Do you need any computer skills?
Kate: Yes, so you can make videos of your projects.
Life: Are architects men, women, or a mixture of the two?
Kate: They can be either one but there are more men than women.
Life: Why do you think that’s true?
Kate: I don’t know. Maybe because men are strong and can lift heavy things.
Life: Do architects need to lift heavy things?
Kate: No – so I want to change my answer to women.
Life: Do architects have to work a lot of hours?
Kate: Yes
Life: Do I miss anything because I work a lot?
Kate: No because you are the boss and can leave when you want to as long as you get your work finished.
Life: Do architects have to go to school?
Kate: Yes, a special school – it’s called the Architect’s School.
Life: And do all architects go there?
Kate: They do if they want to become an architect.
Life: How do people know if you’re a good architect?
Kate: You prove it to them.
Life: How can you prove such a thing?
Kate: You do it in front of them.
Life: Do what in front of them?
Kate: You design their house.
Life: Does it take long to design a house?
Kate: Yes
Life: How long?
Kate: 5 hours
Life: How long does it take to build a house?
Kate: 5 days – but that’s for a simple house and it’s 5 days straight with no breaks.
Life: Do you think being an architect is a good job?
Kate: Ummhmm – it’s a good job. In fact, it’s such a good job I want to do it when I am a grown-up.
Life: Do architects make a lot of money?
Kate: Yes – they make a lot; like $300.
Life: $300 huh? Total?
Kate: No – that’s per house.
Life: Well, it’s time for you to get out of the bath. I would like to thank you for allowing me to ask you these questions today; you did a great job.
Kate: Thanks, Daddy.
There is a wealth of information to be mined from this interview but I’ll let you discover its value for yourself. As for me, I have no doubt that I will come back to this interview and reread it for years to come.
