7 things you should know if you plan to study architecture |
Posted: April 13, 2019 |
A love of beautiful buildings is not enough to become a great architect. It takes, passion, drive, skill, and more than a little preparation
Have you always had an appreciation for beautiful buildings? The way the shape, curve and the materials all combine to create something both beautiful and functional? If so, then a career in architecture might be for you. But before you start filling out a course application, there are some things you should know about life as an architect. It's not just about admiring pretty houses. Here are a few of the most important things you should know if you're considering a career in architecture.
University is a mustThere is simply no way around it. It you want to be an architect, you have to go to university. Architecture is a profession, not a hobby, and to become a fully-fledged architect you'll need detailed knowledge of the field, and experience working with experts. Getting on to an architecture course can be quite difficult. Admissions boards look for students with excellent mathematical skills, and ideally with some experience in design, usually through internships or summer jobs. Start researching different schools now to see what they require of you.
You'll need to study hardYour architectural education will continue long after you've earned a degree. The life of an architect is a life of study, as fashions and technology change and advance, and new schools of thought emerge. You'll need to keep on top of all of this if you want to maintain a competitive edge over fellow architects.
Be a creative problem solverPeople who hire architects hire them to solve a problem. They want to build something that provides a certain function. That is a problem the architect must solve both spatially and creatively by designing a building that fulfils those requirements. Additionally, the construction process presents its own problems, as unforeseen circumstances with the site or materials could force you to adapt your ideas part way through construction.
Learn your historyIt's important to know all the architectural styles, thoughts and figures that have come before you. This will help you learn the basic truths of the profession, and appreciate what techniques have and haven't worked, and why. You should even study periods of architectural history you're not keen on. By learning the rules, you can learn how better to break them.
TravelIf you have the cash, travel to well designed cities to see what great architecture is capable of achieving. Architectural designs developed at a different pace and in unique ways across the different continents of the globe, so travelling to lots of destinations will show you everything architecture can be.
Details are everythingWith buildings we tend to focus on the main product, but ninety-nine percent of the time, being an architect is about focussing on small but crucial details. You'll find that most of your career will be consumed by angles, precise lines, and minute measurements.
Summer school is a big bonusWhen you're applying to architectural courses, you'll need to be able to prove a certain level of skill and experience in the field. That can be hard if you're a high school student, as most schools don't offer architecture as a subject. If the closest you've come to architecture is maths and art classes, you may not fully comprehend the scope of studying Architecture at University. That's why summer school is such an amazing option.
Summer schools offer much more courses than ordinary schools, and teach subjects in much greater depth as well. The Immerse Education summer school in Cambridge offers architecture courses taught by some of the best university tutors in the world, from such prestigious institutions as Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. If you're serious about a career in architecture, summer school could be the way to go.
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