Architecture Life

5 Responses on I want to become an architect. Are there any out there that might give me an overveiw of a day at work?

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  By branddxb at November 14th, 2008

  it is obvious you have the interest and the aptitude for architecture. there is no way you are going to be miserable doing what you naturally like and are good at. architecture is sociologically the most useful form of art. go ahead!

  ps: look up architects blogs to speak to some pros.maybe you can read ayan rand (she wrote a book on architects, dont remeber the name) for inspiration.

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  By kita at November 16th, 2008

  An architect’s talents involve more than having a creative imagination and drawing skills. They extend to proficiency in areas such as engineering, computer literacy, and oral and written communications. Self-discipline is also necessary, beginning with a total of approximately eight years of higher education and mandatory post-college internships.

  Below are a few sites you might want to check out. My bf’s dad is something like that and all I can say is it is a very busy job. Long shifts depending on who you work for . It really depends on what you want to do as an architect.
  It is usually good money though. =]
  the last site i posted is the best one it gives you exact details like this
  What is this job like?
  How do you get ready?
  How much does this job pay?
  How many jobs are there?
  Are there other jobs like this?

  just take a look and read it tells you everything

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  By Anand at November 17th, 2008

  Please visit and you will get to know what an architect does. There are many careers you can pursue with your love for maths and drowings, especially to to do with industrial designers, architects, animators, etc… normally the job of an architect is;

  Architects are the licensed professionals trained in the art and science of building. They are involved in all the phases of the building construction i.e the functional, safety, economical and has to satisfy the needs of its occupants. They are responsible person for the planning, designing and supervision of construction works for houses, office buildings, skyscrapers, landscapes, and even entire cities. An Architect is a combination of artist, professional and businessperson. They ideates, sketches, makes blueprints of their designs and then sees them come to life as cottages, skyscrapers and even monuments. Apart from designing and construction, architects are trained in activities ranging from conceptual problem solving to project management.

  to know more.. log on to, your online career guide, India’s premier career assessment and career guidance portal.

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• 
  By faerdla at November 17th, 2008

  Most architects have jobs that require them to be in the office most of the day. When you first start working as an architect, it probably won’t be as fun as you’ve imagined (after all, it’s like that with most jobs - you just have to work your way up). You’ll probably be doing mostly computer drafting work.

  Depending on which type of architecture you focus on, you could be doing a variety of things…from attending meetings with clients, engineers and contractors, to designing, drawing, researching, construction site observation, on site measuring and documenting….it all depends on where you work and what types of projects you work on.

  To avoid getting stuck doing the same thing everyday, work hard and be proactive in getting what you want. It’s the same in every type of work situation, and with architecture, you can really do a variety of things.

  Lastly, I don’t know where you are in life right now, but you can always try to get an internship at an architectural firm and although you won’t get to do a lot of “real” architect work, you will be able to see what they do first hand, as it’s a little different everywhere.

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  By Ron C at November 17th, 2008

  I see this question often. You might benefit from reviewing some of the answers I have given previously, but basically I haven’t seen a typical day in some time.

  Honestly, even if the events of my work week did repeat often enough to be called typical, the other types of architects I work with would have their own typical day.

  The thing about architecture is that it is a very broad field. It’s one of those professions where if you do not fit in in one place you will eventually find the place where you fit perfeectly. As long as your true passion relates to architecture, you can find some way to make that part of your career.

  Look at Gehrey, he is designing jewelry now. Obviously his passion is sculpture, but after failing many times in his career as an architect he became very successful combining sculpting with building.

  My days generally go by very fast as their is a great variety in my work day. Several days a week I start off in the office with ensuring my teams working on what direction I had left for them the nioght before and answering any questions or concerns that they might have. I then go to my email. This is a tough one tomanage so that it doesn’t consume my work day.

  Architects are communicators, wheather its graphically or orally or in a written form. Basically most of what I do is communicate all day in one form or another.

  Other days I start my day in the field. This may be a meeting or observation on a jobsite with any number of people including contractors, construction managers, clients or my engineering consultants. It could also be a meeting at the buiding department.

  Most days I have meetings as well. These can be face to face or on video or teleconferencing. This is another tough one to manage. Often I have three or four major projects going on at the same time. Smaller projects like retail rennovations or such I may have many more, but these all require a similar process, which meetings are part of.

  You need to develop a comfort level in leading these meetings too. Generally eveyone looks to the architect to be the coordinator even if someone else called the meeting.

  Now in the states there are few places where local architects are required to get jobs done and there are just as few places that an architet can make a living only working in that immediate community. I do have to travel several times a year. This may be to another town or another country. I find it rarely exciting as it is work or sales.

  Do not be fooled into thinking architects are not salesmen. Every profession, doctors, lawyers, engineers and Architects have to sell themselves and our product. This can be done in formal presentations, business lunches, business golfing, or just a friendly phone call to just talk. Relationship building is also sales.

  Part of being an architect is a lifetime of continuing education. This means that we may have someone into the office to present their product so we can stay in touch with the latest advances or we may go to a conference, workshop or seminar. These ma be my whole day or just a small part of it.

  At the end of my day, weather I am in my office or in Japan, I have to sit down and review the work my production teams have accomplished and provide some guidance for the next day.

  Of course there are some things which are not so much fun, but fortunately they are uncommon and often an architect may have support from assistants or a team to accomplish these tasks.

  As I said though. This is the things that may happen in my day but I do not see all the architects I work with doing all of these things.

  Some of them spend a lot of time actually designing more than doing anything else. They create sketches or renderings or meet with vendors of materials they want to use. They spend their whole day bouncing around the different facets of the design solution and creating a design intent. This is the job everyone wants when they are in school.

  I personally love the variety that my job brings.