Designing and drawing plans for buildings, whether they be small houses or huge modern skyscrapers. They look at cost, safety, environmental impact, and how the building will be used to craft the greatest building they can imagine.
There are three qualifications to being an active architect. You must first have a degree in architecture, but depending on the state you live in, the degree might have to come from one of the 117 schools approved by the National Architecture Accrediting Board. You must then gain experience as an intern with a preexisting architecture firm, and finally, to get a license you must complete an exam in architecture. Most architects receive a 5-year bachelor’s degree, and some go on to get a master’s degree. Bedside’s the educational qualifications, there are many attributes that are crucial in the job including: creativity, spatial skills, collaboration skills, and communication skills.
The job of an architect is to design the buildings in which people can live their everyday lives. While there is a large artistic portion of the job, the architect’s creations must be safe, functional, and meet the demands of the client. The architect is often a part of the process from the beginning, talking to the client to the first time, through drawing up drafts and blueprints, to explaining their thoughts to other clients and construction companies. Since much, if not most, of an architect’s time is spent communicating their thoughts to others, they must be able to communicate and collaborate with others. Architects spend most of their time in offices drawing up their plans and meeting with clients. The mean wage for an architect is $74,520 annually, approximately $26,200 above the mean salary in the United States. Job growth in the field of architecture is rising faster than average, and is expected to rise from 14% in 2012 to 20% by 2022.
After considering the lifestyle and work that an architect maintains, as well as reading an interview with Gyo Obata, who is a renowned Architect, I have decided that the life of architect is one I am interested in. First of all, I enjoy drawing and designing objects and spaces, one of the main roles of an architect. Secondly, the idea of combining the ideas and needs of a client with those of my own seems like it would be an fun and exciting creative adventure that I would have the opportunity to go on every day. Finally, the chance to put my permanent mark on the world is what excites me the most, and I cannot think of a better way to do it than with a habitable, livable, piece of art. One question I do have left about architecture: What is the best architecture school in the world, based on academics?
What are some of the things that you would do while working? What materials would use as well?
As I said in my post, I would spend most of my time talking with clients and drawing up blueprints for new buildings. I would use sketching tools and materials, three-dimensional models of my designs, and probably also digital modeling programs. Everything I would do would be to create and communicate my designs with clients.
Wow! This is really an amazing job, the way you explained it even made me want to become Architect. In the second paragraph you mentioned the National Architecture Accrediting Board. Who are they and how do you get them to approve it?
Glad you liked it! The National Architecture Accrediting Board (N.A.A.B) is an organization that was founded to regulate architecture education. It was founded in 1940 after many predecessors, and since has been adapting to the change in education and the demands of architecture to achieve its mission. To become approved by the N.A.A.B. you must simply graduate from an accredited architecture program.