Architecture Social

What does it actually take to start your own architecture practice in 2026?Alex Sutton founded Studio Sutton in August 2019 at the age of 29, just six months before the world locked down. In this conversation with Stephen Drew, he opens up about building an award winning international practice through a global pandemic, a war, an interest rate spike, an AI shake-up, and the hardest personal moments of his life. No fluff, no romanticising, just the real story of what running a small practice looks like when the cards are stacked against you.If you've ever thought about starting your own studio, or you're already on that path and wondering if it gets easier, this one's for you.Studio Sutton: studiosutton.co.ukAlex Sutton on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-suttonWant to sharpen your skills and stand out?We've partnered with ArchAdemia, an online learning platform built by architects, for architects. Courses on Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio building, project management and more.👉 archademia.comUse code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on the annual membership._____Curated content, insights and opportunities to accelerate your career in Architecture, Design, Development and Real Estate to the next level.💻 Find more content at https://www.architecturesocial.com📐 #Architecture #ArchitectureStudent #Architect #architecturepodcast Chapters:00:00 - Intro05:08 - Meet Alex Sutton06:14 - How Alex got into architecture08:34 - Starting out at Sevil Peach10:07 - Setting up Studio Sutton at 2912:19 - Six months before the pandemic16:33 - Losing a year of work overnight17:44 - Pivoting to Oslo and Stockholm20:09 - The reality vs romance of running a studio23:40 - The personal cost of being a founder26:29 - The hidden cost of winning work30:14 - Why better design doesn't always win34:00 - Tick box forms and SME barriers36:36 - £40,000 just to be in the room38:52 - Where does design get lost?43:34 - Where are the Mavericks?45:08 - What actually creates value51:02 - Advice for new founders57:16 - Losing work to AI58:49 - Is starting a practice in 2026 a dead end?01:03:07 - Why architecture still matters01:08:14 - Hiring and building a small team01:17:05 - What architecture school doesn't teach01:18:30 - The Bartlett and the culture of fear01:26:08 - Where to find Studio Sutton

Stephen Drew speaks with Francesco Casella, Director at KPF, about building a long-term architecture career inside a global practice, including hiring, progression, leadership, BIM, AI and the skills that still matter.

Stephen Drew speaks with Carlo Magni of EPR Architects about leadership, introversion, soft skills, delegation, public speaking, career progression and the move from technical work into managing people and projects.

Stephen Drew speaks with Jon Arnott about moving from early BIM adoption into digital leadership, consultancy, entrepreneurship, AI in construction and what young professionals can learn from building technical confidence.

Stephen Drew speaks with Lucy Bullivant about urbanism, writing, publishing, curating exhibitions, retrofitting, public engagement, Temple Bar Trust and how storytelling helps shape better cities.

Stephen Drew speaks with Ayo Abbas about the biggest architecture marketing mistakes, including weak strategy, poor storytelling, inconsistency, the marketing unicorn trap, social media and building authority through content.

Stephen Drew speaks with Hakan Agca of Cross Works about building an architecture business, risk, clients, hiring, office culture, technology, forecasting and the commercial reality of running a practice.

Stephen Drew speaks with Hollie Welch of dMFK about workplace design, commercial offices, sustainability, post-pandemic office culture, attracting staff, AI and the future of architecture practice.