In this episode, I chat with Mikayla De Gouveia — a third‑year architecture student at Cardiff University who’s also built an authentic online presence sharing the highs and lows of life in studio.
We get into:
What it’s really like studying abroad as a South African architecture student
How social media can be both a creative outlet and a pressure cooker
The sleep‑deprived chaos of studio life (and why that’s a problem)
Her hands‑on design‑build experience in Guatemala
If you're thinking about studying architecture — or already deep in it — this episode gives a grounded, no‑BS look at the grind, the growth, and the creative spark behind it all.
🔗 Follow Mikayla: @mikayla.deg📍 Mentioned: Jewish Museum Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind — a key stop in exploring how built spaces can tell stories jmberlin.deberlin.de+10en.wikipedia.org+10jmberlin.de+10,
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro and who Mikayla is01:30 – Balancing social media and studying architecture03:00 – Time pressure and the studio grind05:00 – Tutor feedback and the design power dynamic07:00 – Toxic work culture in architecture09:00 – UK architecture qualification route explained10:30 – Why many don’t go all the way to registration12:00 – How Mikayla got into architecture13:00 – Artistic background and choosing architecture over fine art14:30 – Study trips: Berlin, re-adaptation, and sketching15:30 – Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind (Link)18:00 – Emotional responses to buildings and overstimulation20:00 – Looking ahead: graduation, internships, and fear of the unknown22:30 – Big firm vs small practice: where to start your career25:00 – Who actually makes it through the architecture degree?27:00 – The wide skill set architecture school builds30:00 – Content creation, building community, and staying authentic33:00 – Sharing vulnerable moments online (and the crying TikTok)35:00 – Dealing with negative comments36:00 – Starting a studio: the business side of architecture39:00 – Social media and getting clients41:00 – Hiring graduates — and what firms actually want44:00 – Guatemala design-build experience with Cocoon Studio48:00 – Real-world construction vs architecture school52:00 – Being a woman in architecture and calling out bias54:00 – Is studying architecture worth it?
📍 Mentioned:
Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind
🔗 Follow Mikayla: @mikayla.deg
✅ Like the episode? Subscribe and help us grow the conversation.🖤 Follow us on Instagram: @BlackSableZA📺 Find more on our channel: @BlackSableZA on YouTube🌍 Visit our site: www.blacksable.co.za
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