Building a career in Architecture

Garima Upadhyay Rawat

There is so much beyond books that architects read through. From structures and angles to arches and aesthetics, architects observe the structures of the society. From building residential complexes to constructing awe-inspiring commercial hubs, architects give face to a concrete idea.

From ideating and mapping to overseeing construction, architects are involved at every stage of any construction project. Architects are the creators of iconic structures all over the world. If you have an eye for detail and can optimize space interestingly keeping aesthetic sense intact, nothing can stop you from making it big in the industry. An alumnus of School of Planning and Architecture, Shashank Sharma, shares some industry insights…

What is life as an architect all about?

Life for all professionals is busy, architects are no different. But it is always an adventure to conceive an idea and see it develop into reality. It is a beautiful amalgamation of art and science. Architecture stays for more than our lifetimes, it symbolises the city, its character. So it is a great deal of responsibility on the architect to try responsive work. 

How did the industry fare in the past year?

Last few quarters have been little volatile but if we see the growth in the last 10 years, then, the industry has grown manyfolds.

What is your daily schedule like? Can you paint a picture of an average day of an architect’s life?

Life for an architect in India is very different from their counterparts practicing in the west or other parts of the world.

6am: The day begins with routine things

8.30am: Reach office. Start the day by checking mails and planning the day ahead. Sometimes, I visit the site in the morning directly

10am onwards: Lots of meetings with clients, consultants, vendors and team makes for the whole day. Two hours after the office are spent with the design team for design reviews and planning the next day’s schedules. The day generally ends at 9:15pm

Pay scale…

Many architects work as consultants or on a regular monthly pay. Those starting out can expect anything between Rs 2 lakh per annum and Rs 4 lakh per annum. Depending on your capabilities, sky is the limit as far as earning potential is concerned.

Specific skills required for the job?

One needs to have rational and artistic bent of mind along with problem resolving credentials.

Explaining the work and concept is an integral part of an architect’s grooming. We as architects can visualise the spaces and building volumes better than our clients, so design concepts need to be explained to all in a more colloquial way.

How can one become an architect?

After Class 12, one needs to take the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) which is a must to be eligible to opt for an undergraduate programme in Architecture. Drawing, observation and aesthetic sensitivity are some of the skills that are tested in the test. After qualifying the test, you should select the right architecture colleges and apply for them through common entrance test either individually or through respective technical universities.

What are the pros and cons of the job?

• Long working hours
• Lot of pressure for deliverables  
• Constant upgradation depending on the design factors because architects need to be always aware of the latest

Pros and cons cannot be quantified but this profession surely leaves you more intelligent and gives you another plane and dimension to visualise what others cannot.

Other interesting reads

- Institutes offering architecture courses

- Top 10 MBA Specializations in 2012