Parva Markiw is an architect and a speaker at the Young Architect Conference Series. Her interest in architecture goes back to when she was a little girl. She fell in love with the word architecture as soon as she heard it – it just drew her in.
Parva remembers trying to sketch the plan of the house they were living in when she was as young as nine or ten. She wanted to go on to study architecture, but it became clear that doing so in her native country was untenable because of religious persecution, so she and her family immigrated to the US.
Parva attended Kent State for both her undergraduate and graduate work in architecture. In college, she discovered that even after she’d finished her degree programs, she would need to take the architecture exams to officially become an architect. Pursuing passing grades on the exams was how she discovered the ARE boot camp.
In today’s interview, Parva talks about her experiences with the exams and how the boot camp helped her. She also discusses her work since graduating and becoming licensed, the activities and communities she’s involved in, and why representation is so important in architecture.
What You’ll Hear on This Episode:
- What inspired Parva to become an architect
- Where Parva went to college
- Parva’s experiences with the architect exams
- How Parva found her way to the boot camp
- What happened after Parva got her license
- What kinds of things Parva is working on with the emerging professionals committee
- What Parva is going to talk about at her Young Architect Conference panel
- Parva’s advice for aspiring architects
- What Parva knows today that she didn’t know then
- The book that changed everything for Parva
- Parva’s favorite resource, product, or gadget
- Parva’s best time saving trick
- The best way to connect with Parva
Top Three Takeaways from This Episode:
- Representation matters in architecture.
- Architects need to be involved in all aspects of a project.
- Getting involved in your community and with community projects is good for both you and your work.
Parva’s Advice for Aspiring Architects:
“My advice would be if getting your license is your goal and it’s your thing, because it may not be, don’t stop until you get there. You will get there, it’s just a matter of time, just keep pushing, keep putting those hours in. Keep working at it little by little. A little bit every day. It will get you to that finish line.
Favorite Quotes:
“How involved you have to be.” – What Parva knows now that she didn’t know then.
“I’m going to stick with MEEB; I think that one was so helpful.” –The book that changed everything for Parva
“I’m going to say it’s probably my calendar on my phone.” –Parva on her favorite resource, product, or gadget
“I would probably have to say multitasking at all times.” –Parva on her best time-saving trick
Resources Mentioned on the Show:
