Tomorrow is International Labour Day — a public holiday in many countries. Historically, it’s a day to honour workers’ rights and contributions. But perhaps it’s also a good moment to pause and reflect on our own professional identity beyond job titles: What is my role, really?
Although I left the traditional path of architecture 18 years ago to become a project manager, an airport planner, and later an airport client representative, I still see myself as an architect. In fact, I usually introduce myself as „architect … and airport planner.„
There’s a story behind that:
In my early twenties, while studying architecture, I found myself standing at a bar next to Anatole du Fresne, then a well-known architect in my hometown of Bern. He was a senior partner at 𝘈𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 5, the practice famous for its pioneering housing projects in the 60ties and 70ties.
Proudly, I told him how much I admired his work and that I was studying architecture myself, excited to soon step into the profession.
He looked at me and said: „Young colleague, you need to understand one very important thing: Architect is not a profession, it’s an attitude!„
He went on to explain that an architect is someone who finds joy in crafting holistic solutions to complex problems – someone who constantly seeks to improve, without ever losing sight of what is feasible and reasonable.
In his view, not everyone who carries the job title “architect” truly fits the definition – some, he said, were more like artists (which he saw as equally valuable, but something different). Meanwhile, he considered certain engineers and even some of his clients to be real architects – because they embodied that forward thinking, holistic and balanced mindset.
After 18 years of working across various disciplines in airport planning, I still believe that definition best captures the role in which I can deliver the greatest value.
So if you’re in a country where tomorrow is a public holiday, enjoy the time off – maybe even take a moment to reflect on your own professional journey: What’s the mindset behind your role?
