Architecture is the field that focuses on designing, planning, and constructing buildings, open areas, communities, and artificial environments. Simply put, an architect’s primary goals are building structures that provide utility and aesthetics.
In this article, we will be discussing the difficulty of pursuing an architecture degree and the challenges facing architects in today’s labor market.
Is Architecture Hard?
Architecture is undeniably hard. Architecture is difficult to pursue since it has a heavy workload, is very practical and technical, and requires you to be innovative and creative all at once. Architecture is both a challenging degree and field and you must be on your toes to succeed in it.
Architecture is one of those fields where you will learn something new every single day. Employers and clients alike expect you to provide unique and well-thought-out solutions to their demands. You will need to be well-versed with the latest designs and materials.
To pursue architecture professionally, you will have to have strong networking and interpersonal skills since you will most likely have to work with other architects, engineers, and designers.
Is Architecture a Hard Career?
Architecture is a hard and demanding career. As an architect, you will have to juggle a plethora of responsibilities, follow through with your commitments, maintain a stellar reputation, and be willing to make your clients happy at all costs.
The work world is a lot more involved than the academic one in architecture. There is an interweaving of responsibilities that range from design to drawing, managing contracts of different budgets, administering contractors on-site, catering to clients, working with tight deadlines, and readjusting along the way.
Architecture has a lot more to it than intricate designs and fancy structures. You must consider the land, physical requirements, sustainability, upkeep, budget, storage, drainage, and furniture whilst designing the building. You will need to have a holistic understanding and be prepared to readjust when things do not go your way.
You will probably be spending a decade studying and honing your skills before becoming fully qualified and moderately competent in the world of architecture. Architecture envelopes law, design, construction, environmentalism, technology, economics, psychology, finance, art, and management.
Architects are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing designs, materials, and structures. However, this can be a double-edged sword. Selecting the right materials, deciding the structural system, and choosing which safety standards to apply can be a challenging and arduous task.
That’s not all. No matter how good an architect’s communication skills are and how well they understand what is going on in their client’s head; the client can always change their mind. It is up to the architect to strategically maneuver such situations.
The architect can either follow through with the alterations the client is suggesting or convince them that the changes they are pondering can be a grave mistake in the grand scheme of things. In one way or the other, you must provide top-notch customer service.
Why is Architecture a Hard Degree?
Architecture is a hard degree because it is a very involved subject, has an intense workload, requires a lot of critical thinking and problem solving, and covers many disciplines. These factors together make architecture a hard degree.
Architecture is essentially divided into two halves. Design-oriented tasks focus on using your creative and artistic skills. You will create drawings, models, and diagrams.
On the other hand, non-design work is based on the technical and theoretical side of architecture. You will be expected to do a lot more writing and research on topics such as architectural history and environmental hazards.
Another factor that makes architecture difficult is the time you need to spend in class and doing your homework. Architecture is one of the top 5 most time-consuming degrees.
Unlike a math question that has a definitive answer or an essay with a preset word limit, the amount of time you spend on an architecture projecture or assignment is completely subjective. The competitive nature of architecture school tends to make students put in a lot of effort.
A lot of students are unsure about their abilities and whether they are talented enough to pursue architecture. The most important question they should be asking themselves is whether they are willing to put in the necessary work to succeed in the subject.
Most students drop out of architecture not due to a lack of talent, but rather due to a lack of discipline and commitment. If you want to pursue architecture make sure you are passionate about the subject and love what you are doing.
Are Architects Rich?
Architects are rich. Architects make more money than most other professionals. Architects have to spend several years mastering their craft. As a result, when architects graduate and become experienced in the field they are handsomely rewarded for it.
Architects are generally considered to be rich professionals. Architecture is a demanding and challenging field. Those who manage to make a career for themselves in architecture are highly prized assets.
Employers are ready to acquire competent architects whatever the cost may be. Employers may lure architects through high salaries and benefits such as health and dental insurance, gym memberships, remote and flexible work schedules, retirement plans, and paid vacation time.
Freelancing architects, especially those with a reputation of creativity and efficiency may find the sky their limit. Such individuals are highly regarded and valued. Thus, it is no surprise that architects manage to do well for themselves.
Can I Be An Architect If I’m Bad At Math?
You can be an architect if you are currently bad at math but are willing to improve your mathematical skills in the future. You do not need to be superb at math to be an architect. However, basic math such as geometry, algebra, and trigonometry are crucial.
Architecture puts an equal emphasis on the theoretical and technical side as it does on the artistic and creative side. As an architect, you will not have to study very advanced forms of mathematics.
However, the sketches, cost analysis, budgeting, structure, and design all require foundational mathematics to some extent or the other.
You will not need to be great at math to enroll in an architecture degree. However, you will need to be disciplined and committed to working on your rudimentary math skills over the course. Basic math courses can be mastered through regular practice and consistent studying.
Do Architects Need to be Good at Drawing?
Architects do not need to be very good at drawing; however, they must have good visual and spatial skills and be able to convey their message through sketches, drawings, and models. Drawing is an important skill for architects but architecture is much more than drawing.
Architecture requires a moderate competence over a wide range of disciplines including but not limited to: design, art, writing, budgeting, basic engineering, an understanding of structures and materials, and cost-benefit analysis.
While drawing is an important medium to exchange ideas and thoughts; it is only one of the many skills required by an architect. Luckily drawing is a skill that you can easily improve through consistent practice.
Why is Architecture a Bad Career?
Architecture is considered a bad career by some people because they feel the workload is too intense, architects have to spend several years mastering their craft before being eligible for meaningful employment, overall stress, and a heightened sense of responsibility.
Architecture promises green pastures in the form of high salaries, interesting work, and amazing benefits. But people fail to factor in the stress and effort needed to pull off a career in architecture when they are starting.
As a result, people feel that architecture is a bad career choice once they realize the downsides of a high-paying career. Architects should realize that professionals from other challenging and stressful fields such as medicine, engineering, and law all feel the same way about their careers.
Is Architecture a Dying Career?
Traditional careers in architecture are slowly dying. The proliferation of technology, CAD systems, and sentient artificial intelligence are all factors that are causing greater efficiency and an overall decline in traditional jobs. However, there is an increase in non-traditional jobs in architecture.
Thanks to technology fewer architects are needed for any particular project today than ever before. CAD systems enable increased efficiency lead to a decline in traditional jobs in architecture.
In several fields, jobs are not dying but rather transitioning to serve the interests of modern society. This also holds for architecture. Nowadays, architects are needed for creating structures and designs in the virtual world.
Complex structures are being every single day. Architects are not going anywhere because they provide individualized advice and perspective that computers simply cannot. Technology should not be seen as a hindrance but rather an aid for architects to outperform themselves.
Conclusion
Architecture is certainly harder than most other fields. However, you can easily overcome the difficulty through consistent practice and hard work.
You should be prepared for a heavy workload and loads of responsibilities as an architect. Apart from that architecture is a great subject that will open up doors of opportunity for you.
