Architect

Knowledge and skills

It can be said that an architect has the technical knowledge, skills and permits necessary to design and develop a construction. In this way you can lead a project to erect a work from scratch or to carry out a restoration or remodeling task.

Different skills and talents are combined in the work of the architect. On the one hand, you must know how construction materials behave and respond in different contexts. On the other hand, you have to apply aesthetic notions, have artistic sensitivity and know about the social uses of spaces.

It is important to keep in mind that the architect does not only design and project buildings that become homes . It also plans industrial and commercial constructions and even structures that are part of urban landscaping .

The architect is the one in charge of devising a vision of the construction to be developed. As for the construction process itself, in addition to the architect as a guide, an engineer can intervene to find solutions to structural and other problems.

Work areas

Architects have several job options in various fields. The choice will depend on each person's individual interests, abilities, and goals. Let's look at the most common ones below:

architecture studio : Many architects establish their own studios or join others that already exist. There, they can work on a wide range of projects, including residential and commercial designs, as well as renovation and restoration;
Own firm with partners : Some choose to partner with other professionals to form an architecture firm . This allows them to tackle larger and more complex projects, as well as combine their skills and knowledge in specialized areas;
Government : Architects may work for government agencies at the local, state, or federal level. In this area, they can participate in urban planning, design and supervision of public projects, such as government buildings, parks, infrastructure and community development projects;
architecture and construction companies – Many of them hire architects to work on their internal teams. These companies are dedicated to the construction of residential, commercial and industrial projects, and architects can participate in the design, coordination with contractors and supervision;
consulting : some decide to work as consultants, providing expert advice in specialized areas, such as sustainability, accessibility, interior design, urban planning and other aspects related to architecture;
Teaching and research : They can also engage in teaching in educational institutions, imparting theoretical and practical knowledge to architecture students. Additionally, some engage in academic research, contributing to the advancement of the discipline and exploring new ideas and approaches.

Academic training

Becoming an architect generally requires completing a series of stages of academic training, including undergraduate degrees and, in some cases, graduate degrees .

Basic training to become an architect begins with obtaining a university degree in Architecture . The length of the degree varies by country, but generally takes between 4 and 5 years of full-time study. During this period, students acquire theoretical and practical knowledge on architectural design, architectural history, construction, technology, mathematics, structures and other related disciplines.

After completing their university degree , it is common for graduates to undertake a period of professional internships (also called supervised internships ). During this time, they work under the mentorship of experienced architects to gain practical skills in the field.

In addition to the university degree, some architects choose to continue their academic training by obtaining postgraduate degrees , such as master's degrees and doctorates, programs whose maximum duration is usually 2 and 5 years, respectively.