Welcome back, Archi Hacks family. As we talk a lot about architecture in various ways, there are so many reasons why an individual could pursue architecture! Ultimately, our team felt that these five reasons sum up the majority of architectural designers and why they chose this profession.
See the Fruits of Your Labor
Remember building forts or imagining all the ways you can customize your space? Well, there’s no sweeter joy than witnessing your first built project! Architects, along with other professionals, can see their labor very clearly. It’s as big as a building! Any scale will do justice because it’s not the fact of being the center of attention, but the thinking, sweat, and headaches poured into bringing a concept all through its stages until completion!
We want to put a disclaimer that architectural projects, depending on the scale, can take several years to complete construction. This can be a substantial negative both in design and personal accomplishments. Architectural projects can be innovative in the moment of creation, but they could lose some of their grandiose unveilings if technology advances faster, making it “old news.” In a more personal timeframe, individuals can have the patience to wait for a project to be completed in one year or more, but it’s not for everyone. Be sure to evaluate if you have the patience to see the fruits of your labor! If you recall our previous article with Eastina Zhang, one of her reasons for leaving architecture for UX design was the difference in scale and process which allowed for a quicker iterative design.
Flex Creative Muscles
Architecture embraces the individual for the artistic expression of every designer. One’s development of personal style is highly encouraged. For the modern-day Picasso or Warhol, this can be a selling point!
Architecture is an excellent career that challenges individuals to balance the creative aspect and real-world limitations, whether laws, codes, building construction, etc. Architects are renaissance people. We consume all sorts of information and expertise in other fields and culminate all this information to inform a design! Ask yourself, do you like puzzles and a challenge? One thing is for sure; there’s always a new challenge and solution around the corner.
Surfing Innovation
Architecture is constantly evolving with the needs of society, the environment, and technological innovations. With new practices forming and evolving, architects and designers must navigate how to design spaces with these innovations while progressing the profession. This doesn’t fall under the umbrella of computer software, but as scientists research how to create a healthier environment and consumption, designers pursue an elevated human interaction of space, design, and technology.
Architects can benefit from collaborating with pioneering companies to create their workspace and get to shape how the public interacts with innovations. Architects work with these companies and push the “industry” forward.
Passion
This profession can often mean a lifestyle for many architects – not just a means to an end. Whether it be a greater appreciation for design or planning your next vacations around a project you want to see in a city, architecture often finds its way into the daily lives of those who know where to look.
Beyond buildings, the practice of design doesn’t revolve around being the most stylish, most sophisticated, or innovative! It’s all a part of this ongoing discovery to construct better, inform, understand the human experience, and make a space better for the public. We don’t believe this will ever stop once you have become a designer, just packaged in different ways as you grow older.
Make A Difference
Architects make a considerable difference in the daily life of people. Ultimately, people are the heart of architecture, and a community can be built or broken around it. This can span from a simple project installation to a full-scale civic building the community uses, and architects and all other professionals have a hand in this. In our recent article, What is the NYC Mega Jail, there’s clear evidence that a project can and will negatively impact the culture-rich Chinatown!
Have you ever wondered why there’s an odd building in your community that doesn’t make sense or the complete opposite? Chances are, an architect or designer in the AEC industry had a hand in it, but it’s crucial to recognize that architecture can also be political. If you love architecture but aren’t interested in becoming an architect, there are various ways other career fields can support good architecture.
What made you decide to pursue this field? Let us know in the comments below. As always, that’s all we have for you today! I hope you found this article interesting and took something from it! Sharing is caring! We hope to provide you with valuable insights and share them with someone who might find this helpful. Make sure to follow our Youtube and Instagram for more content!