What is an Architect

 

A person or entity registered, licensed or otherwise authorized to use the title "architect" and to practice architecture in a province or territory.

The most basic definition of an architect is a professional who is qualified to design and provide advice - both aesthetic and technical - on built objects in our public and private landscapes. But this definition barely scratches the surface of an architect's role. Architects serve as trusted advisors, their role is holistic, blending diverse requirements and disciplines in a creative process, while serving the public interest and addressing health and safety matters.

Perhaps, it would be best to describe architects as conductors who orchestrate and take the lead in reconciling all the goals for a building or other structure. Architects do this by providing solutions through the use of:

• artistic imagination and creative vision to design spaces where their ideas and techniques-represented through form, light, textures, materials, and colours-combine to fulfill our aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural needs;
  
  
• practical and technical knowledge to create spaces that are safe, efficient, sustainable, and meet economic needs; and
  
  
• interpersonal skills, psychological understanding and ethical practice to craft spaces that fulfill the complex, and sometimes conflicting, needs of clients, users, and the community.

Preparing your CV (resume) for an internship application

Your CV is your chance to grab the potential employer’s attention and demonstrate what they will gain from employing you as an intern. A CV is effectively a “sales document”. Imagine you are marketing yourself like a product, be sure to highlight your strengths and provide the evidence to prove it to show how the organisation will benefit from your skills and experience. Usually the most effective CV format for an undergraduate student is the chronological CV, which clearly details your experience in reverse chronological order, most recent first.

What to include:

• Personal details – imagine your name to be the headline or title with your contact details as the sub-heading, ideally in bold. Include full name, contact address, telephone number and email address, date of birth and nationality.
• Profile – summarise your selling points; mention what you are studying, your key strengths and skills, relevant experience, internship field of interest and career ambitions. This should be a short, concise paragraph.
• Education – detail your academic experience since the age of 16, most recent first. Include dates, name and location of institution, level of qualification, subjects studied and grades achieved. For your degree, mention two or three classes relevant to your chosen internship field.
• Work experience (paid and/or voluntary) – include dates, job title, name of employing organisation, main duties/responsibilities, skills demonstrated/your style or approach (how you carried out your tasks?) and result or achievement. Where possible, quantify your results.
• Key skills and achievements – include knowledge and experience of Information Technology (IT/computing), foreign language ability, any awards or outstanding achievements etc. Mention anything you feel is essential to your application that is not mentioned elsewhere on your CV.
• Interests – this section offers the employer the chance to find out more about your personality, you as an individual. Try to be a bit different, avoid just saying “Socialising, reading and going out with friends”.

General tips and advice:

• Be concise – ensure that every sentence counts and includes relevant information, avoid vague, general statements; be specific. Your CV should be a maximum of two pages.
• Be eye-catching – ensure the CV is clear, easy to read, using bullet points to separate sections of text. Use bold for headings.
• Be positive – use active verbs in the past tense to emphasise what you did, for example organised, managed, coordinated, analysed etc.
• Be honest – always provide evidence for your claims.
• Be knowledgeable – research and identify the skills required for your chosen field and clearly describe examples where you have demonstrated those skills.

Malaysia’s tallest building to be called KL118 Tower?

The Warisan Merdeka tower, Malaysia’s future tallest building, could be officially known as KL118 Tower and will also feature four residential blocks, all worth some RM5 billion.

Until now, the 118-storey skyscraper has been known as Warisan Merdeka. But an established Finnish company, which was awarded a lucrative contract to supply elevators and escalators for Warisan Merdeka, may have opened the lid on the tower’s official name.

KONE Corp, in announcing that it has received an order from PNB, yesterday said: “...will be supplying 105 elevators and escalators to KL118 Tower, a 118-storey mixed-use tower developed by PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur”.

PNB Merdeka is a subsidiary of PNB, the country's biggest asset manager.

KONE said the project will feature more than 400,000 square metres of residential, hotel and commercial functions, and will be linked to a metro station.

“KL118 Tower is expected to be the tallest building in Malaysia upon completion in 2019, a new landmark of the country. Its second phase of development will consist of another four residential towers,” it added.

According to previous reports, the whole development will take shape on a 7.6ha site, located within the enclave of Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara.

The two stadiums will be retained as national heritage buildings. The project’s gross development cost is expected to be around RM3 billion.

Warisan Merdeka will be the tallest building in Malaysia at more than 500 metres, surpassing the 452-metre Petronas Twin Towers.

Business Times recently reported that PNB Merdeka is expected to award a few more contracts over the next several months for clearance works and infrastructure development.

The contract for the superstructure will also be tendered out by year-end or early next year.

In March, the first contract worth RM74 million went to Pintaras Geotechnics Sdn Bhd, a unit of Pintaras Jaya Bhd, which will undertake the foundation works for the tower.

KONE, which is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd in Finland, said the supply of 105 energy-efficient elevators and escalators for KL118 Tower was booked in the current quarter.

The company, however, did not disclose the contract value.

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com

The Recent Hype in Malaysia: Green Buildings

In recent years, Malaysia has been inching towards a greener mindset. There is now a much greater sense of environmental awareness than ever before in the country, though I must admit that it is still at a very humble level if compared to countries like Denmark, Germany, or Japan. In any case, there has been progress over the years and recently the hype is about green buildings. Inspired by green building rating tools such as UK’s BREEAM, USA’s LEED, Japan’s CASBEE, Australia’s GREENSTAR, and Singapore’s GREEN MARK, to name a few, Malaysia introduced its very own Green Building Index (GBI) in early 2009. GBI was jointly developed by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM).

One may question the necessity for so many different standards, but according to the official GBI website:

Green rating tools by its nature and role is very dependent upon location and environment and thus climate… Malaysia’s Green Building Index or GBI will be the only rating tool for the tropical zones other than Singapore Government’s GREEN MARK.

So in other words, Malaysia’s GBI is customized to suit local conditions – our climate, current state of development, and existing resources. The GBI rating is based on six key criteria (generally based on the LEED certification of USA):

1. Energy Efficiency
2. Indoor Environmental Quality
3. Sustainable Site Planning and Management
4. Materials and Resources
5. Water Efficiency
6. Innovation

A good example demonstrating the characteristics of a green building is the David Brower Center in Berkeley, California. The Center’s design includes:

1. Construction using 53% recycled materials;
2. Photovoltaic panels which will double as a sun shade device;
3. 100% daylighting of all office areas;
4. Collection and reuse of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing;
5. Extremely low energy mechanical systems using radiant heating and cooling within the building’s concrete structural slabs;
6. Solar shading devices on all south-facing windows;
7. High efficiency lighting with automatic controls to limit use when adequate daylight is available;
8. Concrete with slag to significantly reduce CO₂ and cement content, and to increase strength;
9. Vertically post-tensioned structure to minimize potential damage due to earthquakes;
10. Operable windows and low pressure ventilation via the raised floor system to maximize indoor air quality;
11. CO₂ sensors that call for extra fresh air if required; and
12. Exterior and interior materials that ensure healthy air quality, maximize recycled content, avoid off-gassing, and minimize environmental impacts from production and transportation.

The David Brower Center is expected to attain the LEED Platinum rating, the highest possible rating from the LEED program. As one can see from the above list of characteristics, many factors are taken into consideration right from the early design and planning stages of building a green building. Like the materials used for construction, the placing of photovoltaic panels for optimal exposure to sunlight, the positioning of windows and openings for day-lighting and natural ventilation, and the rainwater collection and reuse system.

With reference to item #8 in the above list of sustainable characteristics of the David Brower Center; slag is a by-product formed as a result of smelting, welding and other metallurgical and combustion processes involving metals or ores. Its use as a construction material in buildings not only diverts it from the landfill, it reduces the use of cement which in turn reduces the energy and resources required to manufacture cement. Fly ash, a by-product from coal-fired power plants, is also similarly used as a supplementary cementitious material. Both slag and fly ash not only helps in reducing the use of cement and its associated environmental impacts from manufacturing, they also make the concrete stronger, more durable, and more resistant to chemical attack than when it is constructed with cement alone.

Hearst Tower, New York

Aside from the David Brower Center, there is a long list of other green buildings with very innovative sustainable designs and functions. One other building significant to note is the Hearst Tower in New York that has a LEED Gold rating. Aside from its energy/water efficiency features and recyclable content used in its construction, what makes this building stand out is the use of the diagrid system (diagonal + grid). It is a system which uses a series of triangles to support the building which eliminates the need for vertical steel beams altogether. The diagrid system not only provides stronger support due to the force-distributing nature of the triangular framework, it also required 20% less steel in the construction of the Hearst Tower. That is a good 2,000 ton savings in steel.

The diagrid system used for the Hearst Tower

There are many more awesome green buildings out there to be discovered and even more hardcore ones to come in the near future. So far, Malaysia has only a handful of green buildings. Examples include:

1. Mesiniaga Tower in Subang Jaya, Selangor (1993)

2. Securities Commision building in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur  (1999)

3. Low Energy Office (LEO) building in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur (2004)

4. Zero Energy Office (ZEO) building in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor (2007)

Although the above-listed Malaysian buildings may not be as impressive as those abroad, they are definitely significant milestones for the development of green buildings in the country. Now with our very own green building certification, the GBI, equipped with specific guidelines and criteria for certification, it will not be long before we see the construction of green buildings that are on par with (if not better than) those abroad. Malaysia’s newest green building, named the Diamond building, is already under construction in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur. The Diamond building has a GREEN MARK Platinum rating from Singapore.

The Malaysian government is also very supportive of the development of green buildings in the country. In fact, recently it has been decided that all new government buildings must incorporate the features of GBI. Aside from that, in the recent tabling of Malaysia’s Budget 2010, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced tax exemption for building owners who obtain the GBI certificate. In addition, buyers of buildings with GBI certificates will also be exempted from stamp duty starting from October 24 2009 until December 31 2014 – a good five years. A RM1.5 billion fund will also be set up to provide assistance to companies dealing with green technology. With such political will, Malaysia is set to progress much more significantly than ever before in the development of green buildings. It’s about time anyway.

Source: http://umsgreenpulse.wordpress.com

Selecting Your Architect

Whether you are building your own home or designing a commercial complex, choosing the right architect is vital to a successful project.

Architecture firms come in a variety of sizes and types. The statistically average firm is made up of 9 or 10 people; many firms are smaller. There are also very large firms with staffs of 100 or more. Some firms specialize in one or more project or facility types. Others have very specific specialties. Some firms include in-house engineering (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.) or other design disciplines (planning, urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, etc.)  Many architects introduce specialty disciplines into their projects through appropriate consultants. Each architecture firm brings its own combination of skills, expertise, interests, and values to its projects. All good architects will listen to you and translate your ideas into a viable construction project. Look for a good listener and you'll find a good architect. 

The Right Architect

If you are a first-time client, or an experienced client facing a new situation, you probably have many questions about architect selection. Some of the more frequently asked questions are addressed here.

When, in the life cycle of a project, should I bring the architect into the picture?

As early as possible. Architects can help you define the project in terms that provide meaningful guidance for design. They may also do site studies, help secure planning and zoning approvals, help you work out financing, and a variety of other predesign services.

Should I look at more than one firm?

Usually, yes. One obvious exception is when you already have a good relationship with an architect and it makes little sense to change.

How do I find suitable firms to contact?

Contact other owners who have developed similar facilities and ask who they interviewed and ultimately selected. Ask who designed buildings and projects that you've admired or that seem especially appropriate. Many local chapters of the American Institute of Architects maintain referral lists and are available to assist you in identifying architects who can help you. 

What information should I request from firms?

At a minimum, ask to see projects the firm has designed that are similar in type and size to yours or that have addressed similar issues (for example, siting, functional complexity, or design aspirations). Ask them to indicate how they will approach your project and who will be working on it (including consultants). Ask for the names of other owners you may contact.

Why are formal interviews desirable?

An interview addresses one issue that can't be covered in brochures: the chemistry between the owner and the architecture firm. Interviews also allow the owner to  learn how each  firm plans to approach the project.

How many firms should I interview and how should they be selected?

Most people advise that you interview three to five firms--enough to see the range of possibilities, but not so many that an already tough decision will be further complicated.  Interview architecture firms that you feel can do your project because of their expertise, experience, and ability to bring a fresh look to your situation. Treat each firm fairly, offering, for example, equal time and equal access to your site and existing facilities.

What can I realistically expect to learn from an interview? How can I structure the interview to make it as informative as possible?

You can learn how the architect's team will approach your project by talking to key members. Ask how the architect will gather information, establish priorities, and make decisions. Ask what the architect sees as the important issues for consideration in the project. Evaluate the firm's style, personality, priorities, and approach: are they compatible with yours?

How should I follow up?

Tell each firm what you intend to do next and when you plan to make your decision. If you haven't talked with past clients, do so now. Ask them to assess both the performance of the firm and the performance of the resulting architecture. You may want to visit existing buildings to see them in use. Notify the selected firm, or short-listed firms, as soon as possible. Remember, conditions change, sometimes very rapidly: regulatory parameters, market conditions, and team availability.

On what should I base my decision?

Personal confidence in the architect is paramount.  Seek also an appropriate balance among design ability, technical competence, professional service, and cost. Once you've selected the best firm, enter into detailed negotiations regarding services and compensation. The AIA Contract Documents-the industry standard-offer an excellent starting point for contract negotiation.

What about selecting an architect by competitive bid?

You can ask for a fee proposal from an architect at any time during the selection process that you think is appropriate. The U.S. government, by law, depends on qualifications-based selection, whereby qualification for a project is the first consideration, and fee is secondary. You are engaging the services of a professional with whom you will work closely throughout the life of the project.

Choose your architect at least as carefully as you would your dentist or doctor. Factors such as experience, technical competence, and available staff resources will be important to your decision. So, if you are soliciting proposals from more than one firm, make sure that you can provide all the information required for definite proposals to ensure that the proposals you get offer the same scope of services, and you can evaluate them on a consistent basis.

Yours will be a business relationship. Find out how prospective architects do business, how they work with their clients, how responsive they are to your management and decision styles, and how well their work stacks up against their clients' expectations.

Ask questions. Approach the architect as a professional who will bring experience and specialized knowledge to your project. Don't be afraid to ask the same questions you've asked yourself: What does the architect expect to contribute to the project? How much information does the architect need?  How does the architect set priorities and make decisions? Who in the firm will work directly with you?  How will engineering or other design services be provided? How does the firm provide quality control during design? 

What is the firm's construction-cost experience?

Be frank. Tell the architect what you know and what you expect. Ask for an explanation of anything you don't understand. The more on the table at the outset, the better the chances are for a successful project. Remember, a good architect is a good listener. Only when you have outlined your issues can the architect address them.

Because you will be in a business relationship to acquire the professional skills and judgment of the prospective architect, you might also want to inquire about the ability of the architect to stand financially behind the services to be provided. For example, you might ask if the architect carries professional liability insurance--much like that carried by doctors, lawyers, and accountants. While not all architects carry such insurance, it can, in many circumstances, be an indicator of sound business acumen.

Be prepared to answer questions about your project's purpose, budget, time frame, site, and the team of players you anticipate being involved with the project. Once again, be frank, and inform the architect of any information you want to be kept in confidence. Protecting your confidential information is an ethical requirement for members of the AIA.

Selection Is a Mutual Process


The most thoughtful architects are as careful in selecting their clients as owners are in selecting architects. They are as interested in a successful project as you are, and they know that good architecture results from fruitful collaboration between architects and clients.

Even the simplest of projects are very complex. Each situation is different, including people, needs, site, financing, and regulatory requirements. Many of the owner's needs and expectations come into focus only in the process of design. As the owner and architect mutually evaluate alternative approaches to the project's design, priorities are clarified and new possibilities emerge. There is no substitute for the complex, time-consuming, and intensive dialogue and inquiry that characterize the design process.

Source: www.aia.org

Architect: Job description

Architects work in the construction industry and are involved with designing new buildings, extensions or alterations to existing buildings, or advising on the restoration and conservation of old properties.

They can work on individual buildings or on large redevelopment schemes, and can be responsible for the design of the surrounding landscape and spaces.

Architects work closely with their clients and users to make sure that projected designs match their needs and are functional, safe and economical. They usually control a project from start to finish and work with a number of construction professionals, including surveyors and engineers, producing drawings and specifications that the construction team works to.

The role of an architect is very varied and can range from freelance and small-scale project work to employment with multinational organisations working on iconic landmarks.

Typical work activities

Architects are involved from the earliest stages of a building project, which can start with developing ideas with the client, establishing budgets, assessing the needs of the building and its users, and its impact within the local environment.

They assist with site selection and work closely with contractors on site, ensuring that works are carried out to specific standards and that, above all, the building is sustainable, functional and aesthetically pleasing. They also need to have an awareness of commercial and financial considerations.
 Responsibilities vary but typically include:

• discussing the objectives, requirements and budget of a project;
• consulting with other professionals about design;
• preparing and presenting feasibility reports and design proposals to the client;
• advising the client on the practicality of their project;
• using IT in design and project management, specifically using computer-aided design software;
• keeping within financial budgets and deadlines;
• producing detailed workings, drawings and specifications;
• specifying the nature and quality of materials required;
• preparing tender applications and presentations;
• negotiating with contractors and other professionals;
• preparing applications for planning and building control departments;
• drawing up tender documents for contracts;
• project managing and helping to coordinate the work of contractors;
• controlling a project from start to finish;
• regular site visits to check on progress, ensuring that the project is running on time and to budget;
• resolving problems and issues that arise during construction;
• ensuring that the environmental impact of the project is managed.

Source: www.prospects.ac.uk

What Is The Difference Between Architecture And Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering and architecture are similar, overlapping majors and occupations, with some key differences.

Architecture

• Build public or private structures.
• Focus on the aesthetic principles of design. In school, you will take more art-related classes and fewer engineering- and science-related courses.
• Acquire the relevant certifications in the field of architecture.

Engineering

• Build public or private structures, with a focus on public structures.
• Also build hydroelectric dams, canals, roadways, or other structures with useful functions in society.
• Focus on science and engineering. In college, you will take fewer art-related classes and learn a lot more engineering and physics than you would if you majored in architecture. This major is usually considered more “difficult.”
• Acquire the relevant certifications in the field of civil engineering.

As you can see, there is a large crossover in what you can do with either degree. As an architect or a civil engineer, you can build public or private structures. Civil engineers typically do a lot more work on large public ventures like airports however than they do on private homes. But that doesn’t mean a civil engineer can’t also build a house. 

Architects cannot do everything that civil engineers can do, since they lack the scientific and engineering knowledge required for many jobs. An architect can build a house or even an airport, but probably will not be given the job of designing a power dam or a roadway for example. Those jobs require more technical knowledge and planning, and architecture school doesn’t really give you that knowledge since it is focused more on aesthetics.

Civil engineering’s main drawback is that it is a longer, more challenging pathway, and if you have no interest in technical projects, it would be more logical to avoid doing all that extra work just so you can build houses. Architecture isn’t offered as often as civil engineering however, so you may have an easier time finding a civil engineering course than an architecture course. So in summary, civil engineering is a broader degree field which allows you to do more types of projects after you graduate, but architecture is a more direct route if you already know you want to focus on more aesthetic projects. Talking to an advisor will help you figure out what you should do, but hopefully this gives you some starting guidance.

Source: www.careerqa.com

Top Ten Reasons to be an Architect

1. It’s a lifestyle, not a job.

Architects typically tend to think about architecture all the time, I know I do. Not just the big ‘A’ type of buildings or projects, but every little thing from every where I go. I go somewhere and start looking at materials, form, massing, lighting, etc. If I take a trip somewhere, I start by planning it around the buildings I want to visit. Probably 90% of all the books I buy (not including children’s titles) are about architecture – I even put them on my Christmas list.

2. People respect architects.

Even if they don’t really understand what we do, there is a perception that architects are ethical and responsible and will endeavor to make the right decision to our own detriment. It’s part of the reason that ‘architect’ is chosen so often as the vocation for title characters in movie and TV roles. Architects aren’t generally viewed as driven by financial rewards like doctors or as scurrilous as lawyers (can be).

3. Job is constantly evolving.

Architects are not artists – we have to address building technology and programming. There are constantly evolving materials and construction methods out there and we are required as a profession to address the demands of the public at large (building performance, energy consumption, incorporating recycled materials, etc.). Architects create new design concepts that push how modern day construction is executed. Architecture is one of the few professions that is never static.

4. Artistic freedom and personal expression.

As an architect, we are given certain project parameters that help guide the direction of our projects. We are then given the freedom to pursue the artistic embodiment of those parameters. 10 architects with the same client and the same project parameters will provide 10 different solutions. Every time.

5. You can be your own boss.

You can be your own firm of one and still be a viable service provider on almost any size project. You can enter contests and win commissions for major projects by yourself – I can’t think of another vocation that can provide similar latitudes. I have also seen a team of 3 people design and prepare construction documents on a mall over 1,000,000 square feet.

6. There are tangible (and sometimes euphoric) results.

Anyone who has ever seen a building that they worked get built knows exactly what I am talking about. I am still excited to watch one of my projects getting built – it’s like having your own laboratory where you can experiment and refine things that you consider to be important and worthwhile. It ties into the artistic freedom listed in #4 but architects generally have a sense of ownership on every project they work.

7. We can positively impact peoples lives.

It is rewarding to develop a personal relationship with your client, particularly when you know that the process will yield a more fruitful end product. By understanding the process, our clients appreciate the product. By appreciating the product, they are acknowledging the role it plays.

8. Experimentation is expected.

Despite architecture having to contain building sciences and technology, the final esoteric product does not have a definitively right or wrong answer. Because no two architects will ever come up with the exact same solution given an identical set of parameters, there is a liberating sense that you are here for the purpose of imparting your own personality on the project. We are expected to try new things, explore different materials, and incorporate emerging technologies into every project.

9. Longevity of Career.

You can practice the profession of architecture for as long as you want – you’ll always be an architect even when it isn’t your job anymore. Most architects don’t really start to become good until later in life – I’m talking in their 50’s. I imagine that you have to come to some sort of understanding as to who you are as an individual before you can start to be consistent with imparting your imprint onto a building.

10. Incredible variety of options within the profession.

Unlike other professions, you graduate with a degree in architecture without having to know what type of architecture you are going to focus on. This is really great because when you graduate, you don’t know enough about the possibilities to know what you want to do. You can float between big and little firms, the role of project architect, designer, or management. You can work on building types from different market sectors like hospitality, residential, civic, retail, etc. and will still be an architect. Your degree will have a marketable value beyond the time of your immediate graduation.

Bonus. We can wear ridiculous eye wear and get away with it.

People expect architects to be a little bit nerd mixed with creative artist. This conflict of known social paradigms allows generous liberties to be taken with your personal billboard (but you have to earn it).

Source: Bob Borson 

TOP 10 REASONS NOT TO BE AN ARCHITECT

1. The gene pool that is your social life will not have a lot of diversity

Architects are friends with other architects. This is either because they are the only other people you see because of item #3, or your interests align closely so you run into the same people (because architects don’t stop being architects at 5:00pm). I know of about 10 married couples where both are architects. I don’t know any lawyers married to lawyers, or doctors married to doctors – certainly not the extent that architect marry one another. Really, why is this?

2. The pay and benefits are not as good as they could be

I have not tracked this information but rather basing it on what I know from colleagues working at other architectural firms. A majority of architectural firms do not offer comprehensive benefit packages that would be considered standard in other professional industries. I am talking about 401K programs, dental and vision insurance, availability to get long term disability, flex spending accounts, etc. I have already written about the pay structure for architects . I am one of the lucky ones because I work at one of the rare (rare like finding a live platypus in your toilet kind of rare) firms that offers almost all of these things and we only have 6 full time employees. The fact that we do it here is evidence that other firms can do it as well if they made it a priority. There are occasions when my wife comes home and I imagine how things could be different if I worked in a “real” industry that cared about its employees over the long haul. Maybe that should be a post – do architectural firms really care about their employees? As an industry, we seem to value the experience that comes from someone who has moved around- we just don’t want to foot the bill while training someone else’s future employee.

3. The hours you work are long and under-valued

The time you spend working on a project, in many regards, is proportional to the quality of the end product. It is very difficult to separate out the desire to create something with the business of how much time you have to create it. As a result, architects tend to work late hours developing scheme after scheme to evaluating possible solutions. Most of the time, so much fee is burned up during schematic design and design development when the people with the highest billing rates contribute, that the production period of the project is compressed down into a calendar deadline, not a fee-based allotment of time. The difference is that the company doesn’t pay you more for working a 8 hour day versus a 16 hour day – but they do pay rent on the space you occupy, the computer you use, the software on that computer, etc. If there is 200 hours of time allocated to produce construction drawings (at your billing rate) and you work 8 hour days – that 25 work days of time. If you work 16 hour days, that’s slightly more than 2 weeks and all the overhead associated with a person working in your position has just essentially been cut in half. Great for them, sucks for you -it’s hazing for adults.

4. Your ideals don’t really matter

Your clients hire you to give them a product that they want, not necessarily what you want. We basically go to school to learn how to learn – architecture isn’t a trade. As a result, you should be equipped to design projects that aren’t in the style of architecture that you would like to do for yourself. Most projects are developed for profit and despite the fact that good design equals good solutions which translates into a form of measured success, everybody wants more for less. There will be times when you are told to do something that you know is terrible and the absolute wrong thing to do. Based on your need for the work, or the force of your personality, you will make concessions that will make you want to die.

5. If your ideals are important to you, you will lose work

Because architects are opinionated, they will argue for points that the client has clearly stated that they do not want. You are probably thinking that a clearly stated result, while demonstrating the error in the alternative, will win out. It doesn’t always work that way. I have been fired by a client, while trying to fire them, because I didn’t want my name associated with their project. They didn’t know that I was trying to get both the husband and wife into the office so we could give them the drawings, wish them luck, and then kick their sorry butts out the door. So while I was trying to schedule a meeting with both of them, the husband got mad that we “weren’t listening” when the wife said she could handle the meeting without her husband. We really needed them both in this particular meeting. Ironic really.

6. Not all architects have fun jobs

Maybe glamorous is a better word than fun. I am sure that 95% of the time you spent in your design studios at school was about design and not about construction detailing or project management, or communication, shop drawings, billing, etc. Very few architects 10 years down the road into their careers are “designers”, most are project architects. The role of project architect can be very rewarding but there will be aspects to that job that you never imagined could be so tedious and boring. The only analogy I can currently think of to describe it is building a car so you can drive down the street. A lot of work goes in to creating buildings and very little of that time is spent on design.

7. The house you live in will depress you

This is an easy one because what I know is far from what I can afford. I have lived in 5 houses during a 15 year stretch and have spent almost as much time fantasizing all the things I could do to make them better as I have fantasized about winning the lottery. The good news is that the light at the end of the really unimaginably long tunnel is your future ability to change that situation. It just takes patience.

8. You will live with terrible decisions

The nature of architecture includes, and sometimes require, experimentation. As a result, you will make decisions that are really bad and you will have to live with knowing that your terrible idea is ruining people’s lives all day, every day. The good news is that buildings seem to be disposable now and it will only be a matter of time before your mistake is corrected by someone else. Oh yeah – the projects you do that are good will also be disposable and shortly torn down to make way for yet another branch bank.

9. Architecture requires a lot of work and dedication

Architects go to school for a long time, take a lot of demanding tests, and have to work for years to gain the experience to call themselves an “architect”. There are a lot of other jobs that if you were to put in the same level of time and singularly minded dedication, you would be much further along in your development. Please note that I didn’t say that you would be making more money because we have already rung that bell. This is about putting your time in and paying your dues to develop the skill to practice architecture. I’d like to think that most architects are pretty bright individuals and if they wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer they could have. If you want to be a lawyer, go get a 4 year degree, then 3 years of law school, graduate and take a test. 7 years and you are in! It took me 6 years and 207 degree hours to get my Bachelors degree in Architecture and I studied abroad during that time. I worked for 6 years before taking the Architectural Registration Exam (passed them all on the first try btw) and was rewarded with a healthy raise of $0. Point is, you had better really want to be an architect – I did and I knew it when I was 5 years old. Then again, 5 year olds don’t know much yet so re-evaluate from time to time.

10. You probably won’t be a designer

In my class, everyone thought they were the next super-designer. I mean every single person. The truth is, almost none-of them are now. I get to spend a lot of my time designing (in my office of eight) but I spend a lot more time doing other things. There is one person in our office that comes closest to meeting the definition of “designer” but even she does more than that. I spent time working at RTKL in the mid-90’s and there were about 120 people in that office. Out of those 120, probably 108 were being developed as project architects and they never talked to a client. If they were lucky, maybe they talked to a contractor but it took years to get to that level. the remaining 12 were the designers. Those 12 were made up of 5 who designed things that actually got built and the other 7 designed things that sold the work that the previously mentioned 5 designed. I was one of the 12 and I thought it was a terrible job. I never did see anything get built in person. I didn’t have to worry about how it was going to be detailed – that was someone else’s job. Eventually, they started putting me in front of clients because I am pretty good at talking in front of a lot of people and can think well enough on my feet to avoid saying something that will get us in trouble. At any rate, aspiring to be a designer isn’t as great as you might think it is.

Source:  lifeofanarchitect.com

Traditional Malay Design House

Malay House

Japanese Architecture

Japan has an interesting variety of buildings that exhibit different architectural forms from humble farm houses to grand imperial palaces. Architectural styles have evolved from pre-historic to modern times. Early native designs were exposed to strong influences from the Asian mainland, imported styles were subsequently adapted to suit local tastes, and recent history saw the introduction of Western architecture into Japan. 

Buildings were traditionally built in wood - in part because of the abundance of timber and due to the material's relatively good resistance to earthquakes. Unfortunately, many buildings were lost through the years to natural disasters, the humid climate, fires and wars. Efforts have been made to preserve some monumental buildings including temples, shrines, palaces and castles, of which many are very old and require periodic renovations. Furthermore, efforts are ongoing across the country to reconstruct some lost buildings of importance. 

Many structures exhibiting past architectural styles are nowadays popular tourist sites. They are spread across the country, some surviving in entire preserved districts or towns, while others were moved to open air museums. The following is an introduction to the general architectural building types in Japan:

Early Japan

The Jomon Period lasted from around 13000 BC to 300 BC. The inhabitants of Japan at that time were mainly gatherers, fishers and hunters. Dwellings were built directly over an earth floor with a wood foundation and a thatched straw roof. Inside the house, the floor may have been hollowed in, which is why Jomon Period houses are often called "pit dwellings". The Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site in Aomori is one of the best places to see an entire village of Jomon Period houses. Some local history museums also exhibit Jomon dwellings. 

Following the Jomon Period, the Yayoi Period lasted from around 300 BC to 300 AD. The period is characterized by the start of widespread rice farming, resulting in the appearance of permanent settlements with bigger populations. Communities became organized in villages as a whole, with areas demarcated for granaries, storehouses and living quarters. Houses, especially the granaries, were built on stilts to keep away mice. Structures such as village fences and watch towers appeared. The Yoshinogari Site in Saga Prefecture is an excellent place to see a Yayoi Period settlement.

Shrines

In ancient times, Shinto ceremonies were held outdoors at temporarily demarcated sites without buildings. Later, temporary structures were used which eventually got replaced by permanent shrine buildings housing the deity. Early shrine buildings predate the introduction of Buddhism and reflect native Japanese architecture styles. 

Among the earliest shrine architecture styles are the Shinmei style as represented by the Ise Shrines whose halls resemble ancient storehouses, and the Taisha style as represented by the Izumo Shrine whose buildings resemble ancient residences. Furthermore, there is the Sumiyoshi style as represented by the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Osaka which is also considered to be close to a natively Japanese shrine architecture style. 

The arrival of Buddhism in the 6th century brought along strong architectural influences from the mainland. Kasuga Shrine and Usa Shrine are among two early shrine construction prototypes which already show more distinct foreign elements. Towards the Edo Period, shrines became increasingly ornate as exemplified by the most spectacular of them all, Nikko Toshogu Shrine, which was built in the 17th century. 

Over the centuries, many shrine buildings were lost to fire or other disasters. Thus, even though many shrines may have been founded more than a millennium ago, the oldest extant shrine buildings are about a thousand years old, while the majority of them are just a few centuries old. Furthermore, several major shrines used to follow a unique custom of periodic rebuilding for symbolic purification. Today, the Ise Shrines still follow this custom every twenty years, while some other major shrines undergo periodic renovations instead.

Temples

Temples came along with the import of Buddhism from China around the 6th century. At first, temples resembled those in China closely in features, such as having wide courtyards and symmetrical layouts. Some of the oldest surviving temple buildings exhibiting these features can be found in Nara, in particular at Horyuji (the world's oldest wooden structure), Todaiji (the world's largest wooden structure), Yakushiji and Kofukuji. Asukadera, located about 25 kilometers south of Nara City, is considered the oldest Buddhist institution in Japan. 

As time passed, temples were increasingly designed to suit local tastes. Newly introduced sects from the mainland contributed to new temple architecture styles. Temples began to exhibit less symmetrical features, and many started to incorporate gardens in their compounds. Temples were also founded in more remote places and in the mountains, which had more varied layouts owing to complex topographies. Like shrines, temples buildings were also lost over time, and the ones that exist across the country today are mostly a few centuries old.

Palaces

Imperial palaces are the seat of the Emperor. In the past, a new palace was built with the relocation of the capital every time a new emperor ascended to the throne. In 710, the first permanent capital was set up in Nara, and thus the first permanent palace, the Heijo Palace, was built. The palace's former site is open to tourists today and exhibits a few rebuilt structures. 

The imperial capital was later moved to Kyoto where it remained for over a thousand years until 1868. Along with the Kyoto Imperial Palace, several imperial villas still exist, exhibiting a grand and dignified, yet not overly-ostentatious style. The Kyoto Palace, Sento Palace, Katsura Villa and Shugakuin Villa are open to the public today. Furthermore, some temples such as Kyoto's Ninnaji and Daikakuji utilize former palace buildings. 

From the 14th to the 16th century, Japan went through a period of civil war. With the arrival of peace in the Edo Period, feudal lords started to build palaces for themselves too. These palaces were usually situated within the castles but separate from the main keep. They served as residences, offices and reception halls. Most castle palaces have been destroyed, leaving only a handful of original ones, most notably the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle and some recent reconstructions at the castles of Nagoya, Kumamoto and Hikone.

Castles

The civil war also gave the impetus for the construction of castles. Initially built for purpose of fortification, the castles became the center of government and status symbols for the provincial lords as war drew to an end and Japan was reunited in the late 1500s. Hundreds of castles used to stand across the country, but due to wars, natural disasters and past governments' policies to limit their numbers, today only twelve castle keeps survive from the feudal era, while a few dozen others have been rebuilt in the 20th century. 

The primary material for castle construction used to be wood, but most of the rebuilt castles were constructed using ferro concrete, and thus they look authentic from the outside but not from within. Two of the best original castles, i.e. castles that survived the post-feudal years, are Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle.

Samurai Residences

During the Edo Period (1603 - 1867), the samurai were required to reside in the castle towns that surrounded the castles. The grandeur of a samurai's house was determined by his rank in the hierarchy. Strict regulations had to be followed; for example, the size of the pillars and the type of gates to be used were pertained by status. While higher ranking samurai lived closest to the castle in large houses with spacious tatami rooms and gardens, lower ranking samurai had more humble residences further away from the castle. 

Naturally, only the mansions of high-ranked samurai were preserved over time, and therefore they may not portray the picture of the average samurai residence. Nonetheless, they provide interesting insights to what a samurai residence looked like. Today, former samurai residences are best seen in cities which preserve some of their samurai districts, such as Kanazawa or Hagi. A few of them date back to the Edo Period.

Townhouses

Townhouses were inhabited by craftsmen and merchants, further down the social ladder in the past. Many townhouses had relatively narrow facades but extended wide into the back because taxation was often based on road access. A typical townhouse had its store in front, the living quarters behind, and a storehouse (kura) in the back. Storehouses were fire-insulated with earthen walls to protect valuable goods from the threat of fires. 

Several merchant districts exist today with nicely preserved townhouses, such as those in Takayama and Kurashiki. Some of the merchant houses open to tourists may resemble samurai residences. This is due to the tendency to preserve only the houses of the richest merchants, who towards the end of the Edo Period had become successful enough to design their houses in a style similar to that reserved for the samurai.

Farmhouse

Farmers made up the majority of Japan's population into the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Different farmhouse construction styles developed according to widely varying weather patterns. However, architectural similarities can be seen between dwellings across the country, such as the wooden facades, thatched roofs, sunken hearths (irori), earth floors for stable and kitchen, and living spaces on elevated wooden floors that may have included some tatami rooms in case of the more well-off families. 

Farmhouses were the most numerous among the old buildings but were rarely preserved, and thus the remaining ones that we see today tend to be the more prestigious ones, such as those that belonged to village heads or those in remote locations such as Shirakawago and Miyama where entire villages have been preserved to a certain degree. Open air museums are also good places to see regional styles of farmhouses.

Meiji Period

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 saw an influx of Western concepts on almost all aspects of life, from clothes to food, entertainment to architecture. Brick buildings are legacies left behind from this era, and they can be found especially at the handful of port towns that were early opened to international trade, such as Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Moji. 

The must-see destination for those interested in Meiji Period architecture, however, is the Meiji Mura, an outstanding open air museum in Inuyama near Nagoya that displays over 60 buildings from the Meiji Period.

Modern

Japan is a hotbed for contemporary architecture with lots of eye-catching creations mainly in the leading cities, especially Tokyo. The growth of big cities has led to the appearances of skyscrapers and a variety of buildings exhibiting artistic imagination.

Many Japanese architects have made their mark on the international scene. Star architects include Ando Tadao, who has won numerous architectural prizes and has designed many buildings both in Japan and abroad. Multiple museums designed by Ando can be found on Naoshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea that has become famous as a site for contemporary art.

Source:  JapanGuide.com