Showing posts with label Architect Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Architect Education. Show all posts

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The True Beauty of Architecture

There are some fields in the world which students are hesitant to study. Architecture is one of them. People basically do not understand this field properly, hence they assume wrong. Just like any other field, if you have strong desire in you to become an architect only then should you opt for it. This field is so much time consuming that you would have to give up all of your social life. If you are interested in this field then such a compromise would start to eat you up and you would not be able to concentrate on work. People who love the study of architecture take it to be an art and devote their time to it. Some people just think that there isn’t enough scope for such a profession. Well such thoughts are laughable since people are not going to quit making homes and building or renovating them.

All in all architecture is a very important field and needs to be studied by determined and interested students. You can also say that this field is the oldest among all that you might know. Design of any structure, which has a purpose, comes under this field. It might seem easy but giving every aspect of a structure, a purpose, is not an easy thing. Not even a creative mind can do it. For this reason people are getting education in this field, which allows them to harness a great level of skills regarding architecture. People who are familiar with this field take it to be an implemented art. Art is basically anything which you draw over a paper. Implementing that art would mean to recreate the drawing. This is not as easy as it might sound. Implementation of a good piece of art would make you feel proud. However, there is so much room for error that every now and then an architect leaves a dent in the art. Basically the key role of an architect is to make something look beautiful and ensure that the design has purpose and meaning to it as well.

When you look at the tallest building in the world, Burj Dubai, you find its design quite attractive. However, you would not know the reason for its design to be like that. As the building is tall, it has to face quite some high winds in the upper altitude. If the design would not have been such then the building would have rocked from here to there and eventually the structure would have broken. Taipai in Taiwan is also a tall building which faces extremely high winds. Same goes for the shanghai world finance center. These building are the greatest examples of seeing a design support a vital function and the true art of an architect.


Apart from the design, an architect must also involve themselves with the construction material. People usually think that a civil engineer looks over such things. However, the conclusion is reached with the help of an architect. In simpler terms, an architect knows the design; he or she knows which material would best uphold the purpose and glory of the building and give it strength alongside as well. Using masonry to build tall buildings might seem to be a good idea since they end up producing the strongest of structures. If you consider the weight of the building and the flexibility required in a building, you would come to know that the strongest material is not always the best solution.

Architecture is a field worthy of admiration rather than hesitation. The study of this field allows a structure to fulfill its purpose throughout its life.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Architecture Is Only Bounded by the Human Mind

Certain things cannot be traced back to their origins. People find it easy to label their origins of such fields to exist as “since man came into existence”. Architecture is one such field which falls under such a label. There is no definition to it, nor can its discovery or invention can be dated. This is such a creative field that one can only grow it and make as vaster as they want. You cannot say that architecture only came into existence after certain level of civilization. People living in caves and in the wilderness also designed their habitat in such a way that they were comfortable in it. You can relate an igloo to architecture as well.

While such structures are just for mere survival, there are some which are made out of competition or luxury. One of the most famous competitions among buildings is not about their beauty but their height. The reason behind it can be the fact that beauty cannot be calibrated and height can be. Man continues to show the marvels of architecture and builds sky scrapers taller and taller. There was once a time when Empire States building used to be a definition of sky scrapers. However, these days, its height (1,250 ft), is not that much of a competition when you compare it with other tall buildings. With a height of over 2,000 ft, Burj Dubai, also known as Burj Khalifa, is the tallest building standing today.

Thanks to the design and creativity of architects, building such tall structures became possible. It seems that the creative mind of an architect can manipulate a building according to the dreams of a person. However, just like everything else in this world, the art of architecture is not always perfect. To construct such tall buildings their lifespan had to suffer. This is exactly what is happening to structures these days. In older times, the structures used to be made out of masonry. To reach the skies, architects had to let go of the stone and find a lighter alternative. This does not mean that these tall buildings are not safe. These building would just not be able to share the glorious and long life of old structures like The Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Egypt, Coliseum (also known as colosseum) and etc. The secret of such extra ordinary lifespan of these amazing structures lie in their architectural design.


It is up to an architect to design a suitable structure and select the best possible material to build that structure. This also includes the method of preparation of the structure as well. Masonry is the art which gives these old buildings such extra ordinary life. It is the oldest method of making any structure, even an igloo is made by using this method. Masonry involves usage of large blocks made of brick or concrete as the building blocks of a structure. In case of an igloo the same principles are applied but the blocks are made of ice. The skill of masonry is quite expensive these days because of its scarcity. The skill is also rare as there is much less demand for it. People prefer taller buildings to the stronger ones these days. However, in places where earthquakes are frequent, masonry is much needed.


If you think that masonry does not go under the heading of architecture then you are wrong. People usually think that such a building would not be beautiful hence it would not require any aid from the architect. Taj Mahal is the most beautiful example of masonry, so think before labeling masonry as non-architectural.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Tips for Becoming an Architect

 It is certainly hard to find a job that fits all of our specific needs. This is not truth only in architecture, but in about any other career. Jobs are normally not what we want, or not what we were looking for exactly. There are always factors like payment and working hours that can make a job not totally pleasant. The best way to actually start as an architect is asking around your area’s architect firms. One of them might need a fresh starter. Always present yourself as a person with fresh ideas and a lot of talent on what you do. Make sure you have some samples of drawings and your design that really reflect your ideas and personality. Make sure you carry a good amount of copies of your resume with you. Remember that those firms that don’t need architects in the moment might need them later. This way your name will become a little more famous in the industry.

Make sure that you get your degree, and your title very nicely ordered. No company is interested in hiring anyone out of the street just because they can make a couple of nice drawings. Any serious firm will want to test you and make sure you fit all their needs as well as their style. It is certainly hard to enter in one big firm as a fresh starter. This is why it is important to look for the best opportunity, but never reject a little firm that opens its doors. The best way to start is from the bottom. So then you will have the chance to know some bigger architects who, after knowing you, can hire you for their projects.

Remember that little firms are normally a lot nicer to work with than huge companies. This is a reality in almost all careers. In big companies, an employee is nothing more than a number that produces some other numbers in the computer. It is hard to break into offices to talk to your boss and get his or her help in something. However, in small companies, you might be one of the 5 or 10 architects working, which gives you a great chance to get along with your superiors. This is why small companies open their doors to fresh starters. They know that architects that have just graduated are totally willing to do their best and make strong efforts. That’s the kind of people that can work in a small company. Older architects might seem to work a little more calmly and not make such a great effort.

Remember that not all architects firms that need workers will make it public, or place an advertising outside that says “Architects needed”. It is your call to stop by and kindly offer your services to the person in charge. Never leave your information or request in the secretary’s desk. Make sure you try to take it to the highest level superior you can. This way you ensure that the one in charge will get to read your proposal, and maybe think about it. Never let the situation let you down. It is proven that 1 of every 10 firms consider their job proposals. However, they normally save interesting resumes in order to have people for later projects. This is why you will leave a copy of your resume, and some samples of your work. If you are good, and your school is well recognized, it is almost for sure that you will get a job even faster than you think. However, the most important thing to do is move and visit as much firms as possible.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tips Into Architecture Developed

At first, structures were constructed for mere survival. Though there was no beauty in the design but there was some purpose to the specifics of a structure. It is not just man who resides on structures for survival, animal use such methods as well. You all would be familiar with the beaver; it constructs a dam and secures the surroundings of its habitat by the water. Looks are important but they do not summarize the vast field of architecture. No matter how unattractive a structure might be, there is a reason for its outlook. There is no exact date from which the field of architectural designs started. However, from studies it has been found that first structures which included architectural design with respect to beauty were the worshiping places.

The culture and religion of a place have a major role in the type of architectural structures present there. The geography of a place also plays an important role in the types of buildings present in a location. Architecture is no less than science these days. These days all a person has to do is think up of a design. The rest of the work is done by the architects, to make it all possible. The development of skills of an architect can easily be seen due to the structures present today. Huge bridges, tall buildings, strong buildings etc. all of these are present thanks to the creativity of architects.

This field is not just restricted to structures. In every field, in every product which you see today, architects have played a role in it. It all depends on which type of education you have gained. For instance a person, who can design the body of a car, cannot design the structure of a sky scraper. The engineers are taught to construct their work under given limitations of design. Reason for this is that, no product can be constructed, unless or until there is a proper design for it. As far as cars are concerned, well you might not know but the engine is not the only thing which makes a car go fast. If that would be the case then a truck would surely be faster than a car. The aerodynamics of a body and the weight of the body are all the works of a certain architect.

Whenever a person thinks about architecture, they relate its origin to be from Greeks. This would not be an entirely wrong assumption. Greeks were a far more advanced race in the older times. They used to see architecture as an art and constructed beautiful buildings with symmetry and white marble. Some people think that the Romans were the pioneers; however, you can see that much of the roman architecture is influenced by that of the Greeks. Just take a look at the arches. The curves and arches have been enhanced, but the origin of the inspiration still remains to be the Greeks.

Taking a look at the wonders of the world would explain the influence of cultures on the architecture of structures. It might surprise you to know that the Americans have not been this much advanced in the field of architecture. This has been mainly because they are much more business minded. If you look at their history you would find that they have been an industrial state. Hence, it is again proved that the structures are affected by the cultures of a place.

In short, the development in architecture has been, and is, going on. However, the types of developments have been different due the certain factors, which are mentioned above.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Graduated as an Best Architect

Today, architects are very well known for designing mind-blowing structures and making them look exactly as they want. However, some people don’t know that architects also have to look after the building’s functionality, safety and efficiency. These are aspects that can’t be wrong in a structure, even if the layout is perfect. This means that architects require two main kinds of skills. They need to be very creative but also analytic. In most of all countries, architects have to obtain a license to work after they have graduated. In order to obtain this license they need to prove that they count with these two skills. If an architect doesn’t have this license, it will be too hard to get a job.

Architects study a lot more than just design in college. The career consists of 5 years of study and that carries a wide variety of subjects inside. Subjects like: history, law, technology, management, IT and of course, design. This means that the student will gain numerical knowledge, as well as management and computer skills. This is the reason why a over a twenty percent of all architects are self employed. They have enough managing knowledge to carry on with their own business.

After being graduated you should know that most of all architecture jobs are directed to pure architecture projects. Not many architects are hired in government projects or residential firms anymore, and the rest are self-employed. Being self-employed seems to work very well for architects. However it takes a different initiative than being employed does.

There are many types of architecture careers. Licensed architects can opt to work in almost any project as they are the most required and hired. It is imperative to be licensed then. A very low percentage of all jobs accept unlicensed architects, and they are not very well paid. So it can be said that the first thing to do after graduating is obtaining a license and getting verified. Then you can start opting for several jobs that may include:


  1. Discussion of budget: Having a project analyzed and taking care of its prices. This is the only way to calculate the final price for a project.
  2. Pre-designing: some clients look for simple designs that they might use to gain an idea of what they want. For this they need an architect.
  3. Final Designing: After a pre-design has been approved by a client, and all the ideas and objectives are clear in a project, it is time to create the final design. In the final design, the client and the architect reach an agreement about prices, styles, and time in which the structure will
  4. Final Designing: After a pre-design has been approved by a client, and all the ideas and objectives are clear in a project, it is time to create the final design. In the final design, the client and the architect reach an agreement about prices, styles, and time in which the structure will be finished. If there is an agreement, the architect goes on and starts with the final design which is normally paid in advance.
  5. These are the most common architectural jobs found today. However there are some unique cases in which an architect can find jobs for campus reconstruction, plan corrections, building inspectors, codes consultant, landscaping, graphic designing, etc.

The only reason why an architect can opt for so many jobs is because the career includes studies for all of them. Architecture has a very constant work flow. In most of all countries, an architect is considered a good designer, manager and structure maker.

So as a just graduated architect, you should not be worried about not finding a job. However, it is important to get a license and start completing jobs that will generate experience and fame. Some of the first jobs that you will be completing might not be the highest paying, but they are a great place to start as an architect.