With London’s skyline increasingly dominated by extraordinary structures like the Shard, and TV shows like Grand Designs igniting a passion to design and build, architecture is more high-profile than ever before. There are also more and more people looking to build their own dream homes with the support of relevant professionals in the building and design sectors. But what does it take to become an architect? Here are five signs that this could be the right career for you.
You Can Use Your Brainpower
An architect needs a variety of skills and interests, and they need to excel at disciplines like structural, electrical and mechanical engineering. What’s more, an architect must balance a variety of calculations to take safe and sound structures from the drawing board to the real world. That takes brainpower.
It goes without saying that you’ll also need a range of qualifications, and you can find out more at the Royal Institute of British Architects’ website. Architects are lifelong learners, staying abreast of new skills, developments and of course building regulations. If that appeals, this is the career for you.
You Have Vision
Architecture is one profession where you can dream big – there’s nothing you can’t build, and no material you can’t work with. Think of the structures at the 2012 London Olympics, including the iconic stadium itself and its tensile fabric structure. If you’re excited about working with glass or stone, this is the profession for you. You can design everything from one off bespoke pieces to regular designs for a Conservatories Evesham company or other building firms.
You’re a Hard Worker
Being an architect involves long hours, not only at your desk but also on-site. Perfection doesn’t come without effort, and architecture isn’t a career you can always leave at work. Expect it to bleed into your home life, too, as you ensure those dream buildings can become real.
You’re a Problem Solver
You’ll be working with clients who ask for the impossible and engineers who say you can only do it their way. Taking a building from blueprint to bricks and mortar never runs smoothly – be prepared for problems and know how to deal with them. It’s one of the most useful skills an architect can have.
You Can Communicate
You’ll be dealing with clients, engineers, builders and designers, all with their own ideas of what a completed design should look like. Bringing a project to completion involves diplomacy, tact, negotiation and the communication skills to effectively bring everyone on board with the vision for the completed project.
