Alumni in Focus: Matthew Alfred
Matthew is a graduate of the School of Architecture and Built Environment,聽currently working at ARM Architecture鈥檚聽Adelaide office and was recently awarded the notable聽2020 Jack Hobbs McConnell Travelling Fellowship.聽
What are your hobbies?
I read often and widely. Architects have to be the 鈥楯ack of all Trades鈥 in a way, I鈥檝e really taken that to heart and try to consume as much information about everything. I also play guitar when I get the chance and my COVID hobby has been learning to play piano. Although that took a sharp decline when my free piano app trial ran out.
Favourite place to eat when in Adelaide
I鈥檓 a huge pizza guy. Most people I know would鈥檝e heard me say 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make a bad Pizza (just spoil a good one with pineapple)鈥. So anywhere that serves a good pizza, I鈥檓 in. Personal favourite would be Chicco Palms out by the airport.
If I could go back to my University days I would...
There are a lot of things that I could have done better. Been more efficient, explored more avenues, or better understood that there鈥檚 no one way of doing architecture. But I am the sum of my experiences, so I鈥檇 probably do it all the same.聽
Most prized possession
Probably my wedding ring. Apart from the obvious (I鈥檓 a pretty lucky guy), it was also designed to incorporate my late father鈥檚 wedding ring. So it has many layers of meaning to me.
I can鈥檛 get enough of...
Again, pizza comes to mind鈥 I could also sit around literally all day watching sitcoms that I鈥檝e seen 1000 times. I鈥檓 actually worried that Netflix knows how many times I鈥檝e watched Community.
Something that makes you smile
My wife Soraia.
Something you are grateful for
My ability (usually) to travel. I never had the opportunity to travel outside of Australia growing up, so I take nothing for granted and soak up everything. When you鈥檙e open to it, travelling can introduce you to new ways of thinking, living, interacting with people. I can鈥檛 overstate the importance of that as a designer. And generally as a human, come to think of it.
If I could pursue a different career I would...
My favourite part of architecture is its social side; the way that it can affect people鈥檚 attitudes, moods, interactions with each other. In聽short it can make people鈥檚 lives better. If I had to choose something else, it would be something that explored similar themes. Or I鈥檇 hop a plane and go make wine in the French countryside. Pretty much the same thing, I guess.
The most valuable lesson I have learned
When I was learning to drive, my dad told me to assume that everyone else on the road is an idiot. Cynical perhaps, but when you take it on board, you kind of end up ready for anything.
I cannot get through the day without...
A little bit of time to myself. No matter how busy it gets, I always try to take half an hour read, play some music, stare wistfully out of a window, that kind of stuff.
Your definition of success
Success is living life the way that you want to live it, however you want to define it.
My mother taught me
That I could accomplish anything. Sure all parents say that, but she was pretty convincing. I can safely say that it got me to where I am now in life.
Your career path in two sentences or less
I kind of feel like I鈥檓 flying by the seat of my pants a lot of the time, but I鈥檇 like to continue advocating for the architecture industry as urban decision makers.
Biggest career highlight
I鈥檝e been pretty lucky that each time I have a career highlight, it seems to be superseded by another. So I鈥檇 say my biggest highlight is the current one: being awarded the Jack Hobbs McConnell Travelling Fellowship. Once I鈥檓 finally allowed to leave the country I鈥檓 sure it will only lead to more great things, so watch this space I guess.聽
How I relax
I like to walk a lot. Not hiking or anything as glamorous as that, I just walk in and out of work and try to go for a walk at lunch. I find it鈥檚 a great way to clear my mind or let my thoughts wander. Some of my best ideas come to me when I鈥檓 walking.
When I get home the first thing I do is
It鈥檚 a combination of let our dog Leia out, and tell her off for barking. They鈥檙e usually simultaneous.
The biggest risk I have taken
Immediately after graduating my (now) wife and I moved over to NYC with no jobs, no connections and, at the time, I'd never even travelled overseas. Luckily I had a solid education under my belt so everything worked out well.
Three words your closest friends would use to describe you
Pretty, Laid, Back.
A misconception about you
Probably that I鈥檓 pretty laid back. I think that鈥檚 a fa莽ade. I鈥檓 often a ball of anxiety (don鈥檛 tell my closest friends).