He Started His Own Architecture Practice at 29

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.uk

Alex Sutton on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-sutton

____

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Md1Fakkn7Q

Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for:

https://architecturesocial.com/

The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects:

https://archademia.com/architecture-social/