With the variety of architectural jobs available, it is not surprising that many individuals and companies are wondering what does an architect do. To provide an answer to this question, we need to define an architect.
The professional title architect can be somewhat misleading, since it implies that the person’s career is a lengthy one, one that leads to long-term success. Yet, an architect’s work involves a continuous search for the best ways to achieve a desired outcome. In fact, a typical job of an architect may include decisions about planning a new building, designing a new home, analyzing traffic patterns, or studying how to best use land to maximise its value. It is the ongoing analysis of environmental factors such as weather, climate, elevation, soil, and soil type that form the basis of many of the decisions that an architect makes on a daily basis.
If an architect were to ask how he can best serve his clients, he would likely tell them that his answers would be based on his assessment of the situation and any available solutions that were in an efficient way, cost-effective, and with the least possible impact. This would be followed by his recommendation for a best practice approach to the particular project at hand. Whether the best solution involves changing the way an office building looks, or streamlining a traffic system, an architect can then follow the development of new technology and build upon the best practices that can be applied to the situation.
What is Architecture?
An architect may be asked how he can make the perfect design with respect to how a particular piece of architecture, or facility will fit into an area, and create a sense of function, beauty, or efficiency. He may make structural or material choices to create the most efficient flow or ensure that the area is visually appealing.
Another question that architects are often asked is how he defines architecture. He may describe his work as using design as an element in planning and evaluation, creating visual presentationof buildings, and working with design, science, and art to produce buildings and their surroundings.
An architect might also be asked how he can contribute to the improvement of existing buildings and design new buildings, taking into account the current needs and desires of the citizens of the city or country where the architect works. This can involve innovation and research, for example by researching existing building structures, comparing how they work, and then developing new designs and concepts. All of this is necessary, because the type of architect that an organization hires is ultimately in the best position to identify what would improve the city or country as a whole.
Many employers also ask architects how they can plan for the future, both economically and aesthetically. Their answer is that they can explore and develop a realistic, practical planning strategy that includes sustainable solutions, and also the ability to examine the societal trends and economic outlook, and the possibility of incorporating changes in the design of certain parts of the environment.
When these questions are asked of architects, it may sound like they are all a bit repetitive, and there is not much that they can do to answer them. Yet, the more an architect understands about the process, and what he does best, the more likely he will be to provide solutions that meet the needs of those who employ him, rather than making generalized recommendations.