What Architecture Discipline Should You Choose?

Architecture sounds like one of those fields where you dress up impeccably and go to a fancy office only to be seen wearing a hard hat later in the day while you oversee a construction site. Now let’s set this image aside for a bit to actually see what are the career options that are available to you if you are considering studying architecture to become an architect.

For this, it is very important to know what an architect does. To put it as simply as possible, the primary job of an architect is to design buildings. The scale differs from designing a small room to planning an entire city. A large number of steps fall under this category of architecture. It starts from designing, moves on to developing and presenting, and finally ends with supervising any project that may have been taken up by the architect. It requires an amalgamation of technical knowledge, creativity, and design to put together a project. Architects utilize different methods like graphic design and product design to put forth a model that is then followed by the construction company.

Now that you have an idea about what architecture entails, let’s get into the different types of architecture there is.

Residential Architect

residential architecture example

In the current scenario, a residential architect is someone who develops and designs ideas and concepts for residential buildings, homes, condominiums – basically structures where people live. The design process is supposed to be centered around making the space look good while staying functional. While there has been an increased move towards a particular type of architecture when it comes to homes, residential architects do sometimes get the chance to test their creativity in some neighborhoods where they customize residences. They try to lay down plans and layouts after consulting with the clients and are also responsible for estimating the time that will be taken, along with the costs of materials and services.

Commercial Architect

commercial architect example

Commercial buildings are distinct from residential ones but they do share the common pull towards functionality coupled with aesthetics. Under regular circumstances, the designing and development of a commercial or public building is dependent on the needs and limitations of those people who own the building and those who will be operating out of it. Commercial architects are the people in charge of getting this done. A good example here is of a mall. It has to be designed in a way that shoppers find their way around easily and don’t get lost. An office space, similarly, will have different requirements. These are catered for by commercial architects, who also keep in mind the building codes, safety regulations and costs of construction.

Industrial Architect

commercial architect example

The functionality and efficiency of any industrial facility is dependent on the way it is designed and this is where industrial architects have a major role to play. They understand all the processes that are supposed to take place within that building and get down to designing it in a manner that allows for greater efficiency and safety. It is a highly specialized job that requires a great amount of expertise and understanding of the different industrial functions.

Green Design Architect

green architect example

The Earth is unable to replenish its resources at a rate that is fast enough to keep up with human consumption. This has led to some major changes in our environment and contributed to climate change. As the amount of non-renewable energy resources decreases on the planet, the role of green design architects is becoming more and more important. These architects are responsible for bringing in the sustainability factor into architecture by utilizing eco-friendly and energy efficient designs and methods that will have a minimal negative impact on the environment. Along with the common areas of expertise that architects need to have, green design architects also have to familiarize themselves with concepts like aerodynamics, sun and shading and the impact of certain materials.

Landscape Architect

landscape architect example

Landscape architects are the people who are responsible for designing concepts related to the outdoors. This includes spaces like parks, gardens, common areas in neighborhoods or other public spaces. This type of architecture must be appealing to the eyes but aesthetics aren’t the only priority. They also lay emphasis on efficiency and closer harmony with the environment. Decisions taken by a landscape architect range from picking the type of material used for walkways to choosing what types of plants, trees, and bushes come in which area of the open space. Expertise in the field of urban horticulture is important for landscape architects.

Interior Designer

interior designer example

There are professionals that are hired to design and style how your house or office space looks from the inside. Similarly, even commercial spaces hire professionals known as interior designers for this task. Interior designers are required to have a good sense of what works well with what and all the technical knowledge of getting the space to look a certain way. This includes knowledge of materials, fabrics, colors and furniture design.

Urban Designer

urban planner designer example

We have discussed a number of different categories before but this one is unique in the sense that it employs the expertise of building architecture, landscape design, and green design in one place. Urban designers work at a larger scale where they conceptualize and develop the likes of cities or neighborhoods and are responsible for giving them a certain shape and sense of order. This can be done by just reworking the existing structure of the city or starting from scratch. Urban designers are deeply influenced by factors like the economy, politics, and culture.

Architecture is a vast field that covers a lot of ground when it comes to possibilities. You must keep in mind that this path isn’t an easy one to follow. If you choose to study architecture, you will have to put in a lot of hard work and dedication. This has to be supplemented with a creative side that adds the extra element to your work. Before you make your decision, it is recommended that you talk to professionals in the field and teachers in your educational institutions as they may be better equipped to acquaint you with the realities of the profession and the many fields that are in front of you.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list either. There are so many other areas you can specialize in. I’ve talked to architects that had a history of pharmaceutical laboratory projects and loved it.

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