Designing a Life: The Making of an Architect
In Semester One 2026, St Catherine’s College welcomed back alumna Soumya Gupta (FR 2023), who completed her Master of Architecture and now works at Suzanne Hunt Architect in Nedlands.
Soumya spoke with students about her pathway into architecture, the differences between studying in India and Australia and the experience of finding work in the profession.
The evening began with a welcome from Dean of College Rebecca Wood, who noted how the College setting reflects passive design principles, including the use of natural light, airflow and shaded outdoor spaces.
Soumya came to Perth after completing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture in India, which included a year of practical training. She then completed her Master of Architecture at Curtin University while living at St Catherine’s.
Speaking to students, she acknowledged the uncertainty many feel while studying.
“Architecture was not some grand passion for me at the beginning,” she said. “This is not an 'oh, when I was a child, I had the dream of becoming an architect' story.”
Soumya came from a science background and chose architecture because it combined creativity and science.
“I thought architecture was really artistic, sketching buildings all the time, but nobody told me about the sleep deprivation and the huge printing costs.”
Over time, her interest in the profession grew through the process of studying, designing and understanding how spaces affect people.
“Sometimes passion doesn’t come first. Sometimes you work hard at something, slowly become better at it, gain confidence, and then you begin to love it.”
Soumya described her undergraduate study in India as practical and construction-focused, with a strong emphasis on structure and engineering.
“It was more the engineering side of it,” she said. “Not really my cup of tea, but very practical.”
At Curtin, the approach was more research-based and design-led. This required a shift in thinking.
“There were students creating seven-floor buildings with no columns,” she said, laughing. “My brain was working like it’s not possible.”
Soumya said the Australian approach helped her become more comfortable with developing ideas before limiting them too early. It also changed the way she worked, encouraging her to sketch more often and focus less on perfect outcomes.
She also spoke about the importance of communication in architecture.
“I thought that mattered only at university, but I’ve realised it carries on to the office as well. You can have an incredible idea, but if you cannot communicate it through drawings, presentations, or confidence, people may never understand your work.”
On networking, Soumya said industry events were useful, but not in the way she first expected.
“I genuinely thought that someone would come up to me at an industry event and say, 'Congratulations, here’s your job,' but that didn’t happen. That’s not how networking works.”
Instead, she said networking helped her become familiar with people, firms and the broader architecture community in Perth.
“You start recognising faces, firms and people, and that matters.”
Soumya encouraged students to attend industry events, speak with lecturers and make use of opportunities for informal conversations.
“I had good discussions with a professor in the dining hall here. Once I saw him, I was like, attack. I could see on his face: “Can I have my lunch in peace?” And I was like: “No, I have the perfect opportunity. I’m going to ask everything.”
Soumya also shared how she secured her internship. As part of her Master of Architecture, she needed to complete 100 hours of work experience. She emailed more than 75 firms, delivered her CV in person and attended industry events.
A professor later connected her with a possible opportunity at a real estate development firm. Soumya said she felt unsure about pushing back but explained that she wanted something more closely aligned with architecture.
“It felt very uncomfortable because I was still a student and I didn’t feel like I had that authority.”
That decision eventually led to a placement at Suzanne Hunt Architect. She began there to complete her required hours and stayed on after the placement.
“Your portfolio and technical skills definitely matter, but your attitude matters just as much.”
Soumya said she tried to approach each project as if it were her own and learned that care and consistency are noticed in the workplace.
“I tried to consider every project as mine. People notice when you care for their work.”
During the Q&A, Soumya was asked about passive design in Australian practice. She explained that, in residential architecture, passive design often appears through practical decisions such as sun orientation, window placement and ventilation.
She described a project near North Beach designed by her principal, Suzie Hunt, for clients who wanted a home without air conditioning. The design used the roofline to help draw ocean breezes through the house.
“Those kinds of strategies are used at the residential level, but you don’t always see them labelled as passive design.”
Soumya said her next professional goal is registration as an architect, which requires supervised experience and examination. She is particularly interested in residential and interiors work and hopes to one day build something of her own.
She closed by reflecting on how her relationship with architecture has changed since she began studying.
“I went from choosing architecture because I didn’t know what I wanted, to genuinely loving the process of designing spaces and working with people.”
Her message to students was clear: a career path does not need to be fully formed from the beginning. Interest can develop through persistence, experience and a willingness to keep learning.
About the Author
Farnam Namvar, a resident at St Catherine’s College, is studying a Master of Renewable and Future Energy at UWA. He has a keen interest in sustainability, green architecture, and energy policy.