WHO IS AN ARCHITECT

The Architect’s primary concern is the built environment The architect is not the one who
decides to build or not to build. That decision is made by others who control the financial and
material resources necessary to build, those who own the land or represent the government.
Architects do not build, they make designs that instruct others what and how to build. People
need places to live,eat, play, learn, worship, meet, work, govern and shop . Architects are
responsible for designing these places. {private or public; indoors or outdoors;etc}. Architects
are licensed professionals trained in the art and science of building design who develop the
concepts for structures and turn those concepts into reality.

As an architect you are unlikely to spend all your life designing at the drawing board or on the
PC using computer -aided -design programmes. In addition to time spent in the office, the
architect moves around between various building sites and is in constant contact with clients
and the many disciplines involved in the building process. Skills such as computer literacy, site
supervision and project management are essential.

Architects create the overall look of buildings and other structures, but the design of a building
involves far more than its appearance. Buildings also must be functional, safe, and economical
and must suit the needs of the people who use them. Architects consider all these factors when
they design buildings and other structures.

Architects may be involved in all phases of a construction project, from the initial discussion
with the client through the final delivery of the completed structure. Their duties require
specific skills — designing, engineering, managing, supervising, and communicating with clients
and builders. Architects spend a great deal of time explaining their ideas to clients, construction
contractors, and others. An architects must be able to communicate their unique vision
convincingly.

The architect and client discuss the objectives, requirements, and budget of a project. In some
cases, architects provide various predesign services: conducting feasibility and environmental
impact studies, selecting a site, preparing cost analysis and land-use studies, or specifying the

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requirements the design must meet. For example, they may determine space requirements by
researching the numbers and types of potential users of a building. The architect then prepares
drawings and a report presenting ideas for the client to review.

After discussing and agreeing on the initial proposal, architects develop final construction plans
that show the building’s appearance and details for its construction. Accompanying these plans
are drawings of the structural system; air-conditioning, heating, and ventilating systems;
electrical systems; communications systems; plumbing; and, possibly, site and landscape plans.
The plans also specify the building materials and, in some cases, the interior furnishings. In
developing designs, architects follow building codes, zoning laws, fire regulations, and other
ordinances, such as those requiring easy access by people who are disabled. Computer-aided
design and drafting (CADD) and building information modeling (BIM) technology has replaced
traditional paper and pencil as the most common method for creating design and construction
drawings. Continual revision of plans on the basis of client needs and budget constraints is
often necessary.

Architects may also assist clients in obtaining construction bids, selecting contractors, and
negotiating construction contracts. As construction proceeds, they may visit building sites to
make sure that contractors follow the design, adhere to the schedule, use the specified
materials, and meet work quality standards. The job is not complete until all construction is
finished, required tests are conducted, and construction costs are paid. Sometimes, architects
also provide postconstruction services, such as facilities management. They advise on energy
efficiency measures, evaluate how well the building design adapts to the needs of occupants,
and make necessary improvements.

Often working with engineers, urban planners, interior designers, landscape architects, and
other professionals, architects in fact spend a great deal of their time coordinating information
from, and the work of, other professionals engaged in the same project.

They design a wide variety of buildings, such as office and apartment buildings, schools,
churches, factories, hospitals, houses, and airport terminals. They also design complexes such
as urban centers, college campuses, industrial parks, and entire communities.

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Architects sometimes specialize in one phase of work. Some specialize in the design of one type
of building; for example, hospitals, schools, or housing. Others focus on planning and predesign
services or construction management and do minimal design work

Usually working in a comfortable environment, architects spend most of their time in offices
consulting with clients, developing reports and drawings, and working with other architects and
engineers. However, they often visit construction sites to review the progress of projects. In
2008, approximately 1 in 5 architects worked more than 50 hours per week, as long hours and
work during nights and weekends is often necessary to meet deadlines.

Architects must be able to communicate their ideas visually to their clients. Artistic and drawing
ability is helpful, but not essential, to such communication. More important are a visual
orientation and the ability to understand spatial relationships. Other important qualities for
anyone interested in becoming an architect are creativity and the ability to work independently
and as part of a team. Computer skills are also required for writing specifications, for 2-
dimensional and 3- dimensional drafting using CADD programs, and for financial management.

An Architectural Designer is an Architect who excuses themselves from the construction

aspects of the building process, choosing instead to spend their time focusing on the actual
design. This is a somewhat privileged position for an Architect to attain-most Architects prefer
to design, but involve themselves in construction management because of business demands.
So if you want to stay on the creative side of architecture as an Architectural Designer, nurture
your innovation, and make your time more valuable behind a pencil than on the build site.
Architectural Designers sketch out all sorts of structures, from hospitals to restaurants to
bridges. In fact the range is so broad, that typically you’ll choose an area to specialise in. But no
matter which area you choose, your process is always somewhat the same. You begin each job
by researching the proposed project and interviewing the client. You need to be aware of the
lot size for the building, budgetary restrictions, utility availability to the site, building codes and
the customer’s desires before beginning your design. taking all of these components into
consideration, you use hand drawings and CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software to create
structurally sound and visually enticing building that suits a client’s needs. In most cases, given

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that you specialise in the design side of things, you’ll hand off the project to someone else after
these designs are created. Depending on the company you work for, you may work as part of a
design team or as an individual to create blueprints from scratch. For this reason, you must
work well with others, be detail-oriented, and love expressing creativity.

Architects design all kinds of buildings. They design schools and skyscrapers. They design
hospitals and hotels. They also design churches, train stations and plain old regular houses.

Any building that is used by people was probably designed by some architect.

Okay then, but what does the word “design” mean? A design is simply a plan. Before
constructing a building, an architect needs to draw a plan of the building. Sometimes architects
will make a cardboard or plastic model of the building.

The building is then built by a construction company which follows the directions of the plans
for the building. The architect will closely supervise the construction company to make sure
that the building is built according to the plans.

Okay then, but but what does an architect do when he or she draws up a plan?

Architects have to thnk of many things before they draw up the plans for a building. First they
have to think about what the building will be used for. How many people are going to use the
building at the same time? What types of activities will these people do in the building.