Many centuries ago, architects were heralded as the great artists of their time. Feats of engineering and precision building was seen as a true art form, and centuries ago the meager talents of postmodernism would have been laughed out of galleries.
But the world’s changed and, for the most part, architecture is viewed as a job of function over form. New buildings fill the cityscape with such alarming regularity that it’d be difficult to undertake major projects like St Paul’s Cathedral or the Sagrada Familia on a tiny timeframe.
Maybe you could change all that. Maybe you’ve got a masterpiece of architecture in mind that’d blow the socks off the competition. Maybe, just maybe, you could be placed in the hall of fame alongside Leonardo da Vinci.
To reinstate architecture as the primary art, you’re going to have to roll up your sleeves and get qualified.
Check out this list to find out how you can do exactly that.
Run the distance
Chances are you’re trying to switch careers into architecture. It could be that you’re an arts graduate looking to expand your horizon, or maybe you’re a workaday pen pusher who dreams of having their own building standing proudly on the horizon.
Either way, leaving your current career is probably too costly – and that’s where distance learning comes in.
A huge number of bona fide distance learning providers cater to architecture students with master’s degrees in your chosen subject.
So you’ll be able to cram for modules on the go, and maybe even earn a degree on your lunchbreak.
It’s time to travel
Theory’s one thing – but one of the greatest advantages of architecture is that it’s an experiential artform.
People interact with buildings, and their experiences can be positive or negative depending on aesthetics and layout of the interior.
And much like a writer should read as much as possible, an architect should visit the greatest feats of engineering on the planet to inform them of their trade.
So book a flight to Rome and gaze at the Colosseum. Hitch a ride to New York and marvel at the Empire State Building. Make notes about your experiences and bear them in mind when crafting designs of your own.
Know the lingo
In the Woody Allen film Hannah and her Sisters, there’s a great scene in which one of the leading men takes two of the titular sisters on a tour of New York’s greatest buildings. As he discusses his passion for architecture, the language he uses is mystifyingly impenetrable but clearly filled with passion.
Unless you want to come across as a novice, it’s important to have a similar knowledge of obscure architectural phrases.
Not only will this allow you to connect with your peers, it’ll give you a solid grounding in your field.
Work, work, work
There’s a lot to be said for a solid work ethic. Without one you’ll never make it in a field as specialised as architecture.
Keep churning out designs, expanding the base of your knowledge and speaking to your peers to become the artist you want to be.
Got any tips for novice architects you’d like to share. Then let us know in the comments below!