What do you need to know to be a great Architect, what are the clouds of development in the profession, when to start working?

We continue the special issue “Professions under the microscope”, where we tell you about traditional (but not very) specialties. We analyze what skills are needed for real work in the field and their alternatives. The first article was about the profession of a presenter, today about the profession of an architect. Keep professional instructions.

“Architecture is NOT science and art, as Wikipedia tells us, but the process and result of planning.”

About the profession

The architecture consists of several clouds (industries):
– Urbanism and urban planning.
Provides work with visualization: drawing diagrams, diagrams to quickly explain the content of the project, its features.
To work in this area you need to have drawing programs: AutoCad , ArchiCad.

– Working with volumes
Designing residential and public spaces: homes, schools, kindergartens, libraries, media libraries, sports and recreation areas.
In this area, your inseparable friends will be AutoCad, Rhinoceros 3D, MicroStation (subject design).

– Interior design
The industry has a different scale of influence, unlike the previous two, you act more locally. You develop planning of private houses, you create a landscape design.
To work you need to be able to use such programs as Sketch Up, 3D Max, ArchiCad.

“Architect students often go to the interior because it is the simplest and does not require a certificate or license”.

Duties of an Architect

Basically, any “ clouds ”(branches) of architecture is planning: not only to draw a master plan and find a formula but to make a deep urban analysis. This also includes anticipating the future needs of residents.

“An architect should not think in terms of categories, but in analyzing half of the city where the object is located. Consider what everything will look like in the context of the street. ”

Industry Trends: Social Architecture. “It’s not enough, but there is already a demand for it.” This is a design for kindergartens, schools, libraries, public spaces.

For example, “During the design of the Sheptytsky Center, we held about 5 meetings with the UCU community alone. There was everything: from rectors, students to cleaners because everyone uses this place for their own needs. ”
The architect of the future is in the spotlight. An architect is a social manager with knowledge of the city.

When to start working?

It all depends on the student, although the sooner the better. “I started working in the 2nd year, doing not interesting and not creative work to fill my hand. In the 3rd year, I had a year of experience, understood how everything works in reality, studied several programs. These were difficult times: until noon in pairs, from noon to an evening at work. It was exhausting, but I do not regret it. It was also a science. In the 5th year, I started to freelance. I earned more, but it quickly exhausted me. Freelancing “takes root” when you have a laptop, coffee, pizza, paper on your desk. You work in sleep-work-food-sleep-work mode. This lifestyle keeps you in place. ”

How to become a professional?

In addition to working and honing their skills, it takes a student 3-5 years to build a project. Then comes to you an understanding of how the project killed and what was left of the idea in the final stage. It gives you a real understanding of needs.

Salary expectations

The student can expect from 300 to 1000 USD, depending on the knowledge, the amount of work and the company.
Architecture – a sense of the rhythm of life. It is better to know 50 programs, hone your skills, take on any projects to turn theory into reality and see how everything works in your hands.
A good architect who wants the market — sociologist analyst who will not just create a project, but anticipate the future needs of residents. Architect — is a moderator who involves specialists-engineers, designers, sociologists, technologists, residents, NGOs.