Alumni Portrait Anna Vogt

ANNA VOGT

DEGREE

Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc Arch)

STUDY PROGRAMME AT THE UNI LIECHTENSTEIN Architecture

CURRENT POSITION

YOU COMPLETED YOUR ARCHITECTURE STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN 7.5 YEARS AGO. IN WHAT STAGES DID YOU START YOUR CAREER? I already knew in primary school that I wanted to be an architect one day. I remember many days in the summer holidays when I spent hours drawing ground plans of castles and palaces on A4 paper. But it was always clear to me that I wanted to complete an apprenticeship and not go to grammar school. After completing my apprenticeship as a structural draughtswoman in 2009, I spent two years at the part-time BMS in Vaduz, specialising in design. I worked at the same time. Even during my three years of study, I always worked at least 20 % – and 100 % during the summer holidays – as a structural draughtswoman. After my last internship in summer 2014, I was offered a permanent position, which I gladly accepted. The start of my career as an architect was therefore smooth.

Architect

WHAT DO YOU DO TODAY? COMPANY

I have been working as an architect for Jürgen Becker in Vaduz since 2018. I started with a workload of 80 %. I am now a full-time mum and work 30 % in the office.

Becker Architektur AG, Vaduz

WHAT ASPECTS OF YOUR CURRENT JOB DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? It is above all the versatility that I love so much about my job. I enjoy doing design work just as much as the implementation planning with attention to detail. I see my basic training as a structural draughtswoman as the perfect complement. I think it's a shame when people only see themselves in design after graduating – that's not me. Architecture is the whole. The biggest motivation for me, however, is the ever-changing circumstances. Other people, other places, other tasks – they make up the versatility.

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« IT IS ABOVE ALL THE VERSATILITY THAT I LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT MY JOB. » ANNA VOGT

YOU RECENTLY HAD YOUR FIRST CHILD. CONGRATULATIONS! NOW YOU WORK 30 % AS AN ARCHITECT. HOW WAS IT FOR YOU TO RETURN TO WORK AFTER MATERNITY LEAVE? Thank you. Yes, our daughter is now 1.5 years old and time flies. I started working again after maternity leave with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was really happy to be able to work in my profession again. To get out of the house – to have a change of scenery and absolutely different thoughts. On the other hand, there was my guilty conscience towards my daughter, the hormones and the whole change. Since I was still breastfeeding my daughter at the time, it was also the organisation that was awkward at first. But I guess you grow into it!

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE FAMILY AND CAREER? I think this is very individual from situation to situation. For my part, I am very grateful that my boss has accommodated me with a 30 % workload. I know that this is not a matter of course in our profession. Working much more is not an issue for me at this point. Our daughter is looked after within the family and here too I am incredibly grateful that this is possible. Early and open discussions are important, especially with the employer. From the beginning and at all times. I think reconciliation is about compromise in many areas. Whenever possible for the good of the child.

HOW HAS THE WAY YOU WORK CHANGED SINCE YOU BECAME A MOTHER? I don't think being a mother has changed the way I work. Maybe I have become a bit more “practical” in some areas. What I think is that I have become more efficient because of my small workload. I work around 13 hours a week and I want to achieve as much as possible in those hours.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RECONCILE FAMILY AND CAREER? This is an extremely difficult and individual question with numerous points that should be looked at from my point of view. Both from employers, politics and society. I am thinking of the duration and type of parental leave, the image of women, but also the role of men as sole breadwinners, the costs of care, and much more. There are various laws and regulations that I don't know how they are supposed to work in everyday life. For example, I breastfed my daughter for eleven months. As a mum, you have a certain amount of time available for that.

How this is possible with a workload of 50 – 100 % is a mystery to me. I think a new regulation of parental leave – for both parents – would be a step in the right direction.

HAS BEING A PARENT CHANGED YOUR VIEW OF SOME PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS? I think it has strengthened my view of sustainable building and the use of our resources.

Condensed building and dealing with existing buildings are also important aspects of architecture with regard to our children.

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES YOUR DEGREE MAKE YOUR EVERYDAY PROFESSIONAL LIFE EASIER? I don't know if I can really answer that. My studies were also a kind of school of life and both together had a great influence on the person I am today.

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« WHAT I ALWAYS APPRECIATED WAS THE 1:1 SUPERVISION BY THE LECTURERS AND THE SMALL WORKING GROUPS. » ANNA VOGT

WHICH SKILLS ACQUIRED AT UNIVERSITY DO YOU RELY ON THE MOST? Topics such as architectural theory and context have always interested me during my studies.

For me, they are an important part of the design process. A house belongs in its environment and its history and is not possible in exactly the same way a second time. What also helped me during my studies was free thinking. Away from feasibility – deleting the previous knowledge from teaching for a short time, so to speak. The challenge then is to bring the resulting ideas back into the legal framework.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN NOT ONLY WANTS TO PROVIDE ITS STUDENTS WITH AN EDUCATION, BUT ALSO OFFER THEM SPACE TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONALITY. TO WHAT EXTENT WAS THAT THE CASE FOR YOU? In my days, the curriculum was still quite different. But what I always appreciated was the 1:1 supervision by the lecturers and the small working groups. You were perceived and supported as a person, which I don't think is possible at a larger university. The lecturers always took time for personal discussions and were always available to answer questions. That's what made the University of Liechtenstein special for me.

« LIFE COMES DIFFERENTLY, BUT IT COMES WELL! » ANNA VOGT

WHAT COMMITMENT DURING YOUR STUDIES ARE YOU PARTICULARLY PROUD OF? I have to be honest, I wasn't one of the students who did things with or at the university in their free time. But I am really proud of the fact that I financed most of my studies myself.

I worked during the time I was not studying, which gave me financial freedom and also professional experience.

WHICH DECISIONS DURING YOUR STUDIES AND ON YOUR WAY TO PROFESSIONAL LIFE WOULD YOU HAVE DONE BETTER WITHOUT? Actually none. Every decision has led me to where I am today – and I like being where I am.

IN WHICH DIRECTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY? At the moment I'm very happy and I appreciate the privileges I have – both privately and professionally. I like going to work and as long as that is the case I am happy. But I would like to see the whole industry develop a little differently. Away from “bigger and bigger, faster and faster” to “more and more conscious and thoughtfulˮ. That hasn't quite arrived in Liechtenstein yet.

WHAT TIPS WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WHEN CHOOSING A COURSE OF STUDY? In today's fast-paced and short-lived world, I would always choose the University of Liechtenstein. Because it was the protected framework for me to focus on the essentials. During my studies, I had the pleasure of meeting Diego Giovanoli on an excursion to Bergell. He said something to me then that has accompanied me in my life ever since and I am happy to pass it on: “Life comes differently, but it comes well!”

Interview: Samantha Zogg. The Interview was conducted in February 2022.

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