Monday, June 10, 2002		Article

Mice get into architect's kit
Sumesh Raizada

The architecture of any place, city or country is major reflection of its culture and society. History or civilization of nations can be studied to a great extent through its structures like temples, forts or monuments. The Great Pyramids, Tower of Pisa or Taj Mahal are among the marvelous pieces of architecture that are indicative of social, economic and cultural conditions prevailing in the respective periods.

Architecture is a science that deals with the planning and designing of buildings and other such structures. Architects, thus, are professionals who design buildings, monuments, parks, houses, hospitals, schools, shopping complexes, etc. They provide professional services to individuals and organisations not only for new constructions but also alterations and renovations. They ensure that the structure designed or constructed is safe, functional, economical and meets the requirement of its occupants or builders.

An architect discusses the requirement, objective and budget of his client and then prepares a construction plan, which includes drawings of the electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilating systems, and at times interior furnishing as well as exteriors also. While designing a structure an architects keep in mind building codes, various bylaws, fire regulations, parking spaces, etc.

The functions of an architect mainly include; selection of site, planning and design of the building, safety management, quality control, environmental planning, estimating and costing, supervision of construction work, interior decoration, renovation of existing buildings, land development, etc. To be a successful architect, one must possess excellent communication skills, drawing skills, visual memory, ability to work in a team and keen observation.

Architects are often required to make changes or amend the initial drawings and construction plans during the progress of a project. The profession has now developed remarkably through extensive use of information technology. Computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) technology has not only made the task of designing and subsequent correction less cumbersome but also much faster, thereby saving considerable efforts and time. Thus, architects with added proficiency in computer software or IT professionals with experience in designing and developing specialised programs or hardware for construction projects have a wide scope in this extremely challenging and innovative field of architecture.

Architects assists builders in obtaining contracts, selecting a contractor and negotiating the construction contract. They also make site visits to review and ensure the progress of work as per the design or time schedule and material specifications. Besides possessing a professional degree, an architect must be good at visually communicating their ideas or those of clients. They should be able to conceptualise and understand the client's needs and be able to communicate well with colleagues, construction contractors and other professionals like electricians, plumber, etc. They must be able to handle well government regulatory bodies and should be conversant with various laws and regulations. Besides, they need to have sufficient exposure to computer programs and applications. They should not only be able to design or operate specialised software but also be able to handle hardware like plotters or printers, etc.

Architects mostly work in government construction departments, architectural and landscape consulting firms, private organisations, surveying firms and with builders. They may also work independently as consultants. Landscape architects are those who develop landscape designs for commercial projects, offices, sport complexes, parks, etc. Urban and land-use planners are professionals who prepare and recommend land development plans for urban, rural, industrial and remote areas; while land surveyors conduct legal surveys to establish property boundaries, and prepare and maintain associated documents.

Another area of specialisation in architecture is that of naval architecture. Besides designing war ships, passenger ships, submarines, and other such vessels, naval architects also plan, design and supervise construction of structures like oilrigs and loading mechanisms on ports. The qualification required for such positions is B. Tech, naval architecture / naval engineering. Graduate engineers in mechanical, civil, metallurgical engineering, etc., are also recruited into the navy through direct entry for this branch. Naval architects have lucrative job openings with ship builders, shipping firms, fishery and oceanography development organisations.

Architects make extensive use of computerised design and engineering systems and are required to develop sufficient skills in these areas. Urban planners and surveyors work with computerised mapping systems or with global positioning systems (GPS) for conducting surveys. IT professionals work with software or architecture consulting firms for developing and maintaining specialised software for specific or general construction projects. Prospective architects who are adept in CADD technology have a definite advantage in progressing in this career.

Persons planning a career in architecture should possess strong analytical skills, creative vision and artistic talent. Good oral communication skills are essential and they must be able to convey their ideas to other professionals and clients and to make presentations before large groups. Strong writing skills also are valuable and knowledge of computer tools to develop presentations, proposals, reports, and land studies.

The educational qualification required is B.Arch. or M. Arch. A qualified architect is required to register with the Council of Architects and can then practise his profession in a government or public organisation like the Public Works Department, National Building Organisation, Town and Country Planning Organisation, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, private construction firms, or even work independently. They can also join the teaching profession or can join firms dealing in interior, product or furniture design.

The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree programme is of five years and includes a period of practical experience. It covers the areas such as art (drawing and painting), acoustics, surveying and levelling, estimating and costing, methods of construction, materials management, draftsmanship, applied mechanics, structural designing and computer applications. They must be skilled and trained in architecture-related software packages such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max. Diploma programmes in architecture are also available as either full-time or part-time courses.

Entrance to architecture courses is through national and state-level entrance examinations. The Council of Architecture conducts a national-level entrance examination for entry to undergraduate programmes in government and private institutes, while entrance to architecture programmes at the India Institutes of Technology is through a separate Joint Entrance Examination.

At the postgraduate level (Master of Architecture), specialisation is available in areas such as urban designing, town planning, construction management, traffic and transport planning, naval architecture, project management, landscape designing, industrial design, environmental planning, architectural conservation and building engineering.

Among the various universities and training institutes in our country for preparing architects are the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, TVB School of Habitat Studies, New Delhi, Vastu Kala Academy, School of Architecture & Interior Designing, New Delhi, Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai, College of Architecture, Mumbai, National Institute of Construction Management and Research, Mumbai, Anna University, School of Architecture and Planning, Chennai, Jadavpur University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Calcutta, School of Planning & Architecture, Hyderabad, College of Architecture, Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, University of Roorkee Engineering College, Roorkee, Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh, Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology, Ahemedabad, and the National Institute of Construction Management and Research at Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

Architects may also go abroad for specialisation in urban designing, building engineering and management, architectural conservation, industrial design, landscape architecture, transport planning, etc. However, to practise as an architect abroad, say in the USA, an individual must possess a valid licence. You have to clear the Architect Registration Examination after a professional degree in architecture for obtaining this licence.

As the economy progresses, especially in developed and developing countries, the demand for architecture professionals is bound to grow. It is among those few careers that are unlikely to face recession in coming times.