Architects spend a good part of each day communicating with clients by phone, e-mail or in face-to-face meetings. Architects work closely with clients to help them articulate what they need and then make sure they get it – the architect is face of the project for the client.
The work of an architect is both exciting and varied, and no two days are alike. On any given day, an architect may collaborate with colleagues and clients, sketch new ideas, and visit job sites.
Architects spend much of their time in offices, where they meet with clients, develop reports and drawings, and work with other architects and engineers. They also visit construction sites to ensure that clients' objectives are met and to review the progress of projects. Some architects work from home offices.
Architects design structures such as office buildings, businesses, stadiums, schools, malls, and homes. They might also design outdoor spaces. An architect will collect all information for a project to include site selection, environmental impact, zoning laws, building codes, and access to buildings for the disabled.
Some architects sit at a desk all day. Some architects are outside all day visiting construction sites. Some architects draw all day.
But although modern architecture can be used to create impressive buildings, it cannot be considered artistically pleasing. The harsh lines, blank walls, and monotonous floor plans of many modern designs cause them to clash with our aesthetic sense of beauty.
Architecture school is a ton of fun! Traveling the world, meeting cool architecture people, staying up all night, working really hard alongside your best friends and always testing the limits. Some people (myself included) never wanted architecture school to end because it was soo much fun.
Definition of 'aesthete'
In general though, most architects have a diversity of projects they work on and a diversity of tasks. It's not all drawing designs all day, it's creatively solving problems. The main thing you are trying to accomplish is getting each project built and solving the problems that come with it along the way.
Architecture Careers are Not for Everyone.
It's not an easy profession, an architecture career is a lot of work. Successful Architects have all made incredible sacrifices and worked extremely hard to get there.
From the moment we attend our very first lecture to the peak of our careers, architects are plagued with stressful events that are unlike any other profession. Meeting deadlines, dealing with planning and fabricating the dreams of our clients, our job can be intense and extremely demanding.
One advantage of being an architect is that the hours are sometimes flexible, especially when you don't have urgent project deadlines. This flexibility allows you to work in personal or family commitments around your meetings and drawing time.
Unlike most professions, I don't believe Architecture is a 9-5 profession. Almost all jobs I've had have required me to work overtime at some point. It's almost a given. The role of an architect is to deliver a result or make something happen.
Architects typically work in comfortable offices, spending most their days designing structures, developing plans and meeting with clients. They often travel to construction sites to review construction progress. Architects work 40 hour weeks, often working extra hours and weekends to meet deadlines.
Technically, at least in the US, architects are "rich." An upper-level manager, a partner or a principal generally make more than about 95-98% of the U.S. It's also sort of the same way how people believe those working in the tech industry or engineering believe them to be well off.
We see that many architects actually earn very little, considering the work that they do and the responsibilities they carry. Long hours, a lot of stress, strict deadlines, demanding clients, lots of responsibilities and working during the weekend; all of that for a moderate compensation in a highly competitive market.
Your working week will probably be a standard 40 hours, though you may be asked to do more at busy times. Most architects are paid a respectable salary when compared to other professionals such as teachers. Moreover, there are opportunities for travel, and the profession is highly regarded by the public.
To be an architect, you need to have a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BS Archi). BS Architecture is a five-year degree program that focuses on providing students with technical and aesthetic know-how about constructing any physical structure.
Asked why so many architects lived long lives, Philip Johnson quipped, “Of course they live long—they have a chance to act out all their aggressions.” Johnson must have had a lot of acting out left to do, for his well-publicized “retirement” at 85 turned out to be only the first of many, and he continued to design and ...
Architecture Careers generally do not pay very well
After college, entry-level salaries have always been very meager, and long hours are required. Many architects don't start seeing good money until after they become somewhat experienced, licensed, and accomplished.
Architects have been voted the sexiest male professionals, in a survey of women's ideal partners.