If you are currently a student of architecture, then this one’s for you. Almost two years of college and the course has already instilled lessons that will stay forever. All of us thought architecture college meant opportunities of traveling, sketching, a few models, internship and done. Boy, were we wrong; it’s all about drafting, classes, submissions, models, sheets, redoes, and more drafting.
The first semester was the easiest semester by far but at the time felt the hardest. Being students fresh off of school and sticking to a routine of studying and exams, the first term of architecture college was purely hands-on and required immediate progress.
Over time, these are few lessons that would stay forever.
Procrastinate if you dare: Everyone tends to procrastinate at some point. In school, studying the night before the exam still got some of us full scores; can’t say the same for architecture college. Time must be spent wisely on any project for each of its stages.
Research work, Concept development, the composition of sheets, quality of the submission, and all of this must be done by the deadline. Most of the readers will know that a submission could be two days from the announcement of a project.
Be resourceful: Monthly allowance must be spent wisely. Keeping accounts is a good way to avoid running out on cash. In college, we need money for days the hostel menu could make you hurl or to store snacks to keep you up all night.
A surplus must be saved for stationery. A surprise submission might require restocking forex sheets and gateways or trying out laminates; all of these will squeeze your purse.
Punctuality: Movies made college seem so easy and carefree. Students could sleep in class, not attend class, and show up for the exams. The day of attending college revealed that a
minimum of 80% attendance is required to pass each semester and even if the professor decides to arrive late, all students must be in class on time. Meeting deadlines promptly is crucial, even better if you’re early, else you will be formatting in front of your jurors.
Sleep when you can: Eight hours of sleep is for the faint-hearted. After seven hours of class, making an impacting assignment requires a lot of thought and time. Sometimes, an idea strikes at 1 a.m. that leaves 8 hours to materialize it. Sleep is important, but getting a fixed routine is near impossible. Hence, when you can, sleep; prioritize your self-care when you know it’s been a while or you won’t have time for it in the near future.
Draft anywhere: The Covid pandemic has tested our skills for the better. College facilities are a luxury, something we belittled while we had them. The smooth drafting tables with a straight edge, stationery stores within a kilometer, and privacy.
Initially, during the lockdown, anyone could draft with anything. Students left the campus for a two- week break that prolonged for a year. Many had no access to stationery stores so, four A4 sheets and a 15cm scale were enough to submit Building Construction sheets. Ensure that the photo quality is good!
Everything and Anything is a concept: Design class introduced the idea of the concept. The first semester was all about biomimicry and geometric shapes. A few concepts were jackfruits, feathers, and whatnot. What was hilarious was that the form created was the concept itself, imagine seeing a huge orange slice of a structure.
Personally, a well-detailed concept is much more interesting. Making different stages and breaking them down while having innovative takes and perspectives on different elements impacts anyone.
Appearance matters: Showing up with a breath-taking model and eye-catching sheets don’t assure good grades. As a future architect, communicating your design is important. College teaches us this from the beginning.
Communication isn’t just an engaging explanation, but as an audience or the jurors look at you, they should feel like paying attention, this means dressing smart. It shows that you want to make an impression on them and you are confident with your presentation.
Doing architecture develops skills that must be sown to make an architect that will benefit the earth. Not only building structures and designing spaces but being a unique person amongst your social circle. In college, we learn to take on any challenge. Doing projects that drained us and facing viva voices that hung us dry, we can take on more.
Shaping your personality and knowing what you want brings out your style. Designs you make will speak for themselves because the designer has their own identity. Truly, architecture is a way of life that we start learning to live from college. These are just a few lessons; the next two years will be filled with more to treasure and soon lend to more aspiring architects.