Bachelor of Architecture, also known as B.Arch, is a five-year program, comprising ten semesters which includes a mandatory practical training period that may range from 4 months to a year depending on the university.
Why did You Choose Architecture?
For students just setting foot in Architecture School, a commonly asked question from professors is “Why did you choose architecture as your field of study?” While this question may leave some freshers scratching their heads, others have their answers ready.
Students are drawn to Architecture either for their passion for art, or for their desire to solve problems through design, and a few because they were informed that the curriculum didn’t involve complex math, only to discover later that it involves challenging design problems and a lifetime of working with measurements and dimensions. There is also the clueless bunch who choose Architecture because of how Society perceives it as a glamorous profession.
To New Experiences
The first year in Architecture school is filled with new experiences, from Basic Design to Residential Architecture. It’s a year of exploration and endless hours spent drafting the perfect guidelines, writing Alphabets, and making the precise incision on your foam board. As a bonus, you also discover you are developing allergies to Thermocol dust and learn to make peace with your favorite t-shirt being spoilt with paint stains. Your stationery bills skyrocket, and you become a regular at the local stationery shop.
The Department that Never Sleeps
Architecture students are like Raccoons, known for their nocturnal working habits. The greatest of design concepts strike just when you are on the brink of sleep. The work can get so intense that distractions are reduced to nature calls.
Your room becomes a mess of sketches, models, and materials. Your hostel warden is annoyed, but you’re too busy pulling all-nighters and meeting deadlines to notice.
The Department that is Never at College
Case Studies
Case studies are an important aspect of the architectural syllabus. Students gain valuable insights into the practical application of architectural principles. Students are encouraged to explore architectural buildings and structures that can inform and inspire their design projects for the semester.
Upon returning to the university, students are tasked with documenting and presenting their insights through drawings and reports. They engage in group analyses, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the structures they’ve studied and how these findings can help with their design proposal.
The Rural Survey and Urban Design
The rural survey, an integral part of the architectural curriculum in India, involves students visiting villages to document and study rural architecture. They interact with residents to gain insights into their culture, social dynamics, and economic conditions. This exposure to rural communities fosters a sense of social responsibility and encourages sustainable design practices. Students also explore low-cost housing solutions that align with the economic capabilities of the rural populace.
In Urban design projects, students learn to tackle the challenges associated with high-density living, infrastructure planning, and sustainable urban development, equipping them for contemporary architectural practice. Students analyze factors such as vehicular traffic, pollution, and land use to propose design solutions that can transform existing cities into sustainable urban spaces for the future. In addition, they ensure their proposals adhere to current regulatory standards and suggest any additional policies that could enhance city development to the relevant authorities.
Architectural Tours
Architectural tours are an essential part of the Architectural curriculum. These tours are like open classrooms, offering students the opportunity to explore and engage with various architectural styles, structures, and landscapes.
From historical monuments to modern skyscrapers, students get to observe the intricate details, understand the design principles, and appreciate the context of these structures. These tours inspire and broaden their design perspectives and provide a practical understanding of how architectural concepts translate into real-world structures.
College Fests to Case Study submissions: Everything is a group ordeal
Architecture school teaches you valuable lessons in teamwork and cultivating positive relationships with your peers. Despite the diverse perspectives and approaches, everyone shares the common goal of completing their work. For five years, you realize that even though you may be looking at different paths, you’re all on the same journey, heading towards the same destination.
Evaluations as a Student of Architecture
The much-awaited Jury
The end of the semester brings the much-awaited jury. The first student to face the jury is bombarded with questions from their peers, eager to prepare for their evaluations.
Theory Exams
While exams typically mean sleepless nights for most students, architecture students find a sense of calm during this time. The pause in design submissions clears their schedules allowing them to catch up on much-needed sleep and complete assignments and reports. The subjects range from theory-oriented Climatology, History of Architecture, and Theory of Design to technical subjects like the Design of Structures.
The Practical Training
The Internship period is where most of the real-world learning happens. Students are asked to compile their academic works into a portfolio that could get their way into an Architecture firm for their Practical Training.
As full-time intern Architects, students may work with professional Architects and take up tasks ranging from drafting floor plans and detail drawings to working on interior design and performing site visits.
This crucial phase introduces students to the legal facets of architectural practice and helps them understand how an architecture firm functions. Interns are exposed to a diverse set of industry stakeholders such as architects, clients, structural engineers, civil engineers, building contractors, and construction workers, amongst others.
Rethinking Choosing Architecture? What Keeps it Together?
The journey of an Architecture student can be challenging, filled with moments of doubt and contemplation about choosing to pursue architecture. However, the satisfaction of designing to bring life to a space instils a sense of fulfilment. B.Arch is not limited to just practising Architecture, students can not just survive but thrive in any design field with the basics from B.Arch.
Architectural Thesis
The final year is primarily devoted to the Architectural Thesis. This is the time when the list of Architectural Thesis topics that were used throughout the years starts circulating among Student Whatsapp Groups.
The sense of achievement after completing the thesis and the entire course is immeasurable, making all the challenges worthwhile. Architecture life, though demanding, is ultimately a bittersweet journey that teaches you to work diligently and smartly.
The Transition from Students of Architecture to Practicing Architects
By the end of your Architecture school, you realize the importance of Time management. You stop pulling all-nighters and start working more efficiently and find the right balance between work and rest.
The end of the college journey marks the beginning of a professional one, as students apply for their Architectural License to officially begin their careers.
Despite the difficulties, the life of an architecture student is an incredible journey, marked by hard work, creativity, and continuous learning. With resilience and commitment, it shapes a promising future architect.
References
- Leewardists (2019). [Facebook post]. Available from: https://www.facebook.com/leewardists/posts/why-did-you-choose-architecture-comment-below-/2644963485516020/ [Accessed 4 August 2023].
- UNL News [Image]. Available from: https://news.unl.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large_aspect/public/media/130311_Architecture_564a.jpg?itok=XIRnO_HP [Accessed 4 August 2023].
- Leewardists (2023). [Facebook post]. Available from: https://www.facebook.com/leewardists/photos/a.625210530824669/1775747905770920/ [Accessed 4 August 2023].
- ArchDaily (2017). The Confidence Meter of an Architecture Student. [online]. Available at:https://www.archdaily.com/871979/the-confidence-meter-of-an-architecture-student/592c43ace58ecea69d000098-the-confidence-meter-of-an-architecture-student-image [Accessed 4 August 2023].
