latest technology, awareness that a building has to be environmentally friendly and the fact that a building has to last forever has opened new doors in the design element in architecture. Hence, it is time to create your own world,says Natasha Chopra
The traditional focus of architecture was that buildings must be functional, safe, and economical and suit the specific needs of the people who would use them. With new technologies and awareness that buildings also need to take into account our resources has altered the nature of architectural design and its functioning with highly innovative and energy efficient designs.
The fact that buildings are made with a view to long life, they need to be planned and designed for future use. The environmental factors of our finite resources of water, energy, construction materials and the most efficient use of space are pivotal for architects. The environmental issues have raised consciousness that buildings also need to be green and hence must be designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment.
Thus renewable energy and recycled water are important features of sustainable building design and construction. At the same time, new energy uses, renewable energy technologies, novel materials and their influence on buildings and their occupants as well as the changing environmental factors of global warming are all significant and conscious features in the practical application for architects.
Programmes taught at universities seek to address these key issues as well as encourage students to find creative solutions to the challenging task of designing new age buildings and cities that are sustainable, energy efficient and environmentally responsible. The challenges of the profession require students to display a thorough understanding of both design and technology.
Architecture is the perhaps the only profession which encompasses and draws upon its practitioners to be skilled and apt in all the four major disciplines of science, art, technology and humanities. Thus architects require originality, creativity, conceptualisation, perception, aesthetic values, and a holistic judgment of people, and places.
Architecture is studied at university level and most institutions look for students with both science and strong mathematics. Students are required to submit a portfolio of design or graphic work with their applications. The portfolio must contain at least eight to 12 pieces of work displaying their design and analytical skills.
Students generally need to have completed the required work experience before they can apply for membership of the required architectural body. Postgraduate programmes are generally MSc unless the student is qualified with membership of the recognised body, in which case they are awarded MArch. It is important to verify the details of the qualification and the membership as these vary from country to country and at times between universities.
Specialisation
The MSc open doors to a wider range of students from different disciplines and are broader in nature. Students can study different programmes depending on their interest including:
Structural design, urban design, city planning, landscape architecture and interior architecture
Energy and environmental performance modeling, environmental design, sustainable building conservation Retrofitting of buildings, architectural conservation and construction management have also emerged.
Prospects
Given the anticipated growth in the building industry, and the size of companies involved in real estate projects both in India and across the globe, the demand for architectural services will remain strong. Hence the opportunities for employment or for setting up your own company have unlimited potential for those who are tuned to the demands of their profession.
Membership and recognition from the respective bodies is a must for a practicing architect. It’s time to create the world — your way.
(The writer is MD, The Chopras)