Welcome back to The Broke Architect Podcast, where I continue my theme of the life of sole practitioners in architecture. We shine a light on the challenges and the uncomfortable realities of being an architect today.
This week I’m joined by Niall Hedderman, architect and founder of Real Life Architecture. Niall has built a reputation for speaking openly about the issues too many in our profession prefer to ignore: low fees, low salaries, and a system that too often undervalues architects and the work we do.
With years of hands-on experience running his own practice, Niall brings sharp insight into the economics of architecture and why so many of us continue to struggle financially. Together, we dig into some big questions:
Why so many architects earn more working for themselves than as salaried employees.
How fragmentation of the profession, too many small practices, not enough scale, affects innovation and career growth.
Whether the surge in architecture graduates has really pushed fees down.
The impact of the public sector’s retreat from housing on fees and incomes.
How greater transparency around fees could transform the profession.
Why business training needs to be part of architectural education from day one.
The ultimate question: why does a profession that demands so much education, responsibility, and skill still struggle with low salaries and fees — and what can we do to change that narrative?
Niall Hedderman is the founder of Real Life Architecture, a practice that doesn’t shy away from asking the tough questions about what it really means to be an architect today. Through his work and outspoken online presence, Niall has become a voice for change in a profession that urgently needs new ideas about value, business, and survival.
If you’re an architect tired of low pay, undervaluation, and outdated business models, this episode is for you.
👉 Listen now, share with a colleague, and join the conversation about building a profession that values its people as much as its projects.
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