Architect career
Special reference to landscape architecture: An architect is a licensed professional, who designs houses, office buildings, skyscrapers, landscapes and even townships. Offering information on the career of an architect, it can be said to be a diverse and multifaceted field, not only involved with designing concrete structures. There are many opportunities for specialization, like architectural journalism, architectural engineering, landscape architecture and industrial designing.
Information on the Career of Architecture: An architect’s role is to design new buildings and conserve and restore existing ones. He is responsible for designing spaces in and around the construction area. Architects are involved in projects from site selection and design to completion, working closely with clients. They work with a range of professionals like surveyors, engineers, builders and interior designers and officials from the local planning and building control departments. The liaison between the various departments involved in a construction project, is headed and coordinated by the architect.
Training and Development: An architect is required to complete a minimum of seven years training, comprising of a five-year full-time degree course. The course is usually divided into two parts, namely a three-year course, RIBA Part 1 and another two-year course, RIBA Part2. An internship in any established architect’s office for two years is also required. Students then take the Professional Practice Examination, known as Part 3, in order to qualify as licensed architects. The recognition received on establishing a business is related to the qualifications of the architect.
Landscape Architects: Landscape architecture is a profession that combines art and science. It is committed to creating a healthy environment that is secure too. It involves designing, planning and managing the land. The profession has its roots in the USA. It revolves around constructing the project to blend with the natural environment and highlight the nature’s hues with the synthetic exterior and interiors.
Landscape architects deal with the very complicated relationship between the built and the natural environment. Places like parks, residential societies, educational campuses, gardens and commercial premises, resorts, corporate centers and waterfront attractions are planned and designed by them. The restoration of natural terrain disturbed by humans, such as wetlands, stream corridors, mined areas and forested land is also included in some of their undertakings. Landscape architects also plan preservation projects for national, regional and local historic sites.
They work with architects, city-planners, civil engineers and other professionals and play an important role in environmental protection by designing and implementing projects that cater to both, the needs of people and the environment.
A formal education, with a bachelor or master’s degree in landscape architecture and an internship are essential to gain the required skills and knowledge in the field.
Skill sets required for an Architect: Architects and landscape architects need to excel at verbal and written communication, good presentation skills, strong organizational skills, time management, problem solving, computer knowledge, drawing skills and mathematical skills. Architecture concerns a variety of subjects and requires total involvement. The structural beauty of any construction is attributed to the imagination, skill and innovation of the architect. He is responsible for the entire project, from initial blue-print layout to the concrete replica.