Episode 5

Hello and welcome to Going Abroad, an original podcast by the Architects’ Council of Europe, supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

In this podcast series, we explore the decisions, challenges, and lessons involved in taking an architectural practice abroad. Each episode features architects from across Europe sharing their stories, strategies, and advice.

In today’s episode, we focus on recommendations and advice for architects aiming to bring their services to foreign markets. Let’s dive in and hear from our guests about their experiences and insights.

Let’s hear from our guests about their experiences.

First up, we have Lina Lahiri and Julia Knaak from Sauerbruch Hutton in Germany

Q: Lina and Julia, could you share your recommendations for architects looking to expand internationally?

---26:10---

LL - “many countries mainly do open international competitions. So in our experience, most of East of Europe, Scandinavia, Spain, they have open competitions. And my recommendation would be to take part in these because there are any office, independent on the existing portfolio, has the possibility to sort of dig into it. And it's often not required that you travel there, which can, of course, be very costly. But you can take part sort of from afar, and we use a paid, website to find the different, the different competitions, which is, of course, the most efficient way, but also cost quite a lot of money.”

“But you can also go into the different architecture, association web pages in the different countries. Many of them list what the current, competitions are, and, I think that's quite a good way to, get in, to different markets to show who you are. It's also good to have contacts with universities to try to, maybe also to friends or colleagues that you have met, see if there is a way in to meet young architects from that country, maybe represent your work in a in academic lecture or sort of place what you what you're doing in different context because it's the world is really, really small. When there is good work around, the word spreads really fast. And I think, when one can't travel, to all the places one wanna work in, I think now is such a easy way with the digital world.”

“You know, everyone is on everyone's Instagram accounts. It doesn't matter where you sit, and one can really rapidly see how good good offices, no matter how small they are, when they're doing really good work. It's sort of talked about at least Europe wide very, very quickly. But I think this international open competition is a really good way. That's how we started as well or how the office started here as well, through these open competitions.”

---28:22---

JK - “And, of course, it's it's, it's good to have the network and but it will perhaps take a bit more time to really get to to to a job. But, the the regular databases, like, the platforms, they're quite well done and Europe wide, sorry, quite well presented, so you can indicate the size of the, of the scope, your interest in, in different programs and all this. So it's worth investing in in in this. I think it's this gives a very good in, overview. And then, of course, there according to if you're interested in working in universities or or or there's some kind of consultants who can also, who can publish also on their websites the different, programs and, competitions to come.”

“So this is also a way of, looking onwards. And, of course, we talked about the NAX, the architectural export network. They they are present represented at the MIPIM. So, initially the idea was also that young officers can present their work and that they are bit more seen internationally. So this would, be also an approach.”

“I think it's important to find different ways of, of, spreading the word that, there's interest to work abroad. And then looking for a partner on, on-site who is perhaps not who can't can't do the the scope himself, or the office is too small or whatsoever, then to to share the the references to be able to apply for a job is very good good way onward too.”

---30:20---

Next we have Penny from Elytron in Greece.

Q: Penny, how would you advise young architects to gather information about foreign markets?

---16:40---

“I can say for a new architect to best obtain information for foreign markets, what I can tell you is what we do, up to now. We our main source is the information from the Internet and, of course, from LinkedIn.”

“So whenever we received a business proposal, what we do is we cross check the information by looking we're looking up the details about the project and the clients. LinkedIn allows us many times to gain insight into the client's background and also regarding the credibility of the specific opportunity. And we also rely on a network of engineers that, are working internationally, and we know them. So through them, we get, first hand information about working with, our potential client. And we also, get information and details about the country that we want to to work, about the business practices, the regulation, etcetera.”

“So we use both online and, tools and also the the network that we have. I believe that for the new architect, what this association does right now, it's very helpful. Maybe, there is no need of any of the tools that we use. And and because I think that what you do is you build a network that can support a new architect to start, their career, without facing main difficulties and problems. There's, I don't know if you if I can add something regarding how we most of the time, how we enter in the market right now is that most of the time, what we do because the there are they is the the the our project are big, and it's very difficult to get directly a big, hospital project.”

“What we do, we work as subcontractors For large scale, hospital project, most of the time, they ask for the request is for large designing firm, with very high revenue and strong financial capacity. So, it's not easy for us to enter because we are a very small office. So what we do, we operate as a specialized design subcontractor for this company. So I recommend, especially for young architects, in order to enter to a new market to try to find projects like that. At least in the beginning, working as subcontractor, he's more protected, and he can gain experience, and, he can build build connections and develop his the skills that he is needed for later on for the future to have a dependent project.”

---20:10---

Let’s move to Ray in Malta from Demicoli and associates.

Q: Ray, what advice would you give to young architects looking to expand abroad?

---28:36---

“It's a really difficult question. I think with the with the growth of the Internet and the power of putting something out there, That's interesting. You're planning to get attract attractive. You know?”

“People are it's a very different game to when I was, the Internet brought a big change and, how things happen, how business is done. So it's much easier now. But you first of all, I recommend to any architect to first build something proper to show, and then you can start crossing the seas and the boundaries, have something to show your capabilities.”

---29:48---

Do you use any specific information tools, databases to do your research? 

---29:55---

“We do. Now it's another amazing phase that's extremely exciting with AI. It's a whole new world, a whole new adventure out there. It's incredible. I mean, the stuff I'm seeing these young architects here at the office come up with is just incredible.”

It's really, really amazing. It's a very exciting time.”

---30:34---

Thanks Ray,

On to Reda from AW 2 associates in France,

Q: Reda, how can young architects best position themselves for success in foreign markets?

---20:33---

“For young, architects, that want to go abroad, I would, obviously, the the path of the competitions is one that is that is there, and and we there are many, many different, magazines and and websites that actually give the list of, competitions that that are available and where where you could enter, around the world. But other than that, I think there are also, in different countries, there are also associations that it can actually get you to better understand which markets are available and how you can tap into them. The difficulty for the younger, architects is obviously to convince your, to convince the the the clients that they are the right firm to do their project for them. And as I was saying, I think for for me, one of the the the the solid things is to when you have a specific type of project that you, where you can show your ability, to produce great work is is, I think, where you can convince. So working towards something that makes you identifiable and makes you sort of, a a sort of obvious solid choice for a client is something that I would also work towards.”

“I think the worst thing is is for architects to present themselves and say we're generalists and we can design anything. Because most of the clients would then not know what to think of that.”

---22:17---

Q: Do you use any specific information tools, databases to do your research? 

---22:30---

“Well, there are networks in each specific markets, there are networks of, local embassies, and and, you know, chambers of commerce and and business, people at the level of the embassies that can assist you understanding a local market, understanding the tax structure, understanding the fee levels. So there are, I mean, a lot of the European countries are structured in order to offer that information and it's available for for most, for most countries.”

“I think architects are not used to having their sort of business mind of scouting and understanding the markets before they move on to a project. But it's it's actually worthwhile exercise to do, especially if it's a completely new thing and that you're not used to exporting.”

---23:30---

On we go to Simon in poland from APA

Q: what would you recommend to a young architectural office, young architects, how to best obtain information about foreign markets? 

---37:57---

“My advice would be to look for the windows of of opportunities, which may appear everywhere.”

“For example, one of the windows of of opportunities will be, for example, in Ukraine, the time of rebuilding. The other will be probably the, use of artificial intelligence. I don't know what. But the the the windows opportunities appear, and it is their role when they are agile and and, full of energy to try to enter this, window of opportunity with all force, with the full, understanding that this may fail and exploit to to to to them. We happened to to use such a window for opportunities, and we're lucky to serve to succeed.”

“And what are these windows opportunities? I don't know. But they did stay role to look at, and it stayed at all to kind of, go around us. We are big fat cats establishing the market. And they are nimble, agile, and full of ideas.”

“And this is their role to find the way around us to find the the the chances. I don't know how to how to do it, but, I'm I'm sure that they will know. There will be some new offspring school who who who will find a way, will will, use the opportunities to enter. And, don't be afraid of, time of chaos. This is the best opportunity for for new, new forces to enter.”

“When everything is organized and and established, it's very, very difficult. Possible, very difficult to enter. But when there's chaos, there is always a lot of cracks to explore.” 

---40:26---

Thank you so much, everyone, for your great insights.

That concludes today’s episode of Going Abroad. We’ve explored some of the challenges architects have faced when going abroad. In our next episode, we’ll delve into Planning and Market Entry and where to find Useful Informationwhen taking your architectural practice abroad.

Thank you for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast. Going Abroad is curated by the Architects’ Council of Europe, supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, and produced by the Agence Calliopé.