This is Apt

This year’s Apt conference took us to Prague for three days of architectural exploration, team integration, and finding inspiration in the layered history of the city, spanning from medieval Gothic churches through baroque, art nouveau, cubism, to modernism and contemporary architecture.

Making Space II is a programme of contemporary art, curated by Jonathan Watkins for the Studio space of Apt architects, St John Street, London. Comprising three solo exhibitions of work by British artists who have a strong interest in the nature of architecture – Rasheed Araeen, Farwa Moledina and George Shaw - it conveys distinct propositions of how space is made, through both representation and process.

I joined Apt in 2021 as part of its apprenticeship scheme, proud to have secured a place at such a highly regarded architectural practice, but also nervous about whether I would live up to expectations. Walking into such a creative, fast-paced studio environment for the first time was exciting, but undeniably overwhelming. I was suddenly surrounded by busy, knowledgeable professionals whose experience and confidence I admired. From the outset, however, the team at Apt were incredibly welcoming and supportive, which quickly helped put me at ease and made me feel part of the practice.

On a sunny early morning train in mid-October, I said goodbye to Florence and the Apt Autumn conference and made the 2-hour journey north to Venice.