The many facets of an architect’s job

What I do from day to day

First things first. Initial meetings and conversations with clients help us both decide if I’m the right architect for their project. Once we’ve agreed that, I might spend the day measuring an existing building so I have accurate dimensions to work from. That’s quite an important part of the process, not just to get the lengths and widths but because I get a really close understanding of the space, which sparks off ideas and thoughts about the design.

Other days I might be working with my client to get a deep understanding of how they live and want to live. And there’s a lot to talk about. I ask about what they like about their current home, the sort of furniture they have and want to accommodate in a new space, their preferred style. I find out what a typical day in the building consists of –do they work in the home, do they have children to think about or elderly parents who visit often or are moving in?

The next day, I might not talk to anyone, but spend the day drawing on my computer or sketch pad, or writing a statement for a planning submission. I might be researching new materials, or building components that I can specify, or the ergonomics of internal fittings.

Other days, I could be up to my ankles in mud looking at foundations going in, up the scaffolding checking old roofing for repair or replacement or liaising with an electrician on lighting layouts. I might be speaking to a planning committee, checking the costs for a project, drawing up legal contract documents between client and builder or discussing the technical issues of sewer alterations with an engineer from the water company.

The skill I use the most

I believe that a successful, architect doesn’t just draw pictures. What I most need to be is an expert in communication and interpretation. That’s because designs and buildings really work only if the architect has effectively managed and organised a whole set of different priorities, external factors, people and services and got them all working together. We’re team players, leaders and listeners who work with both technical rigour and creativity in a three-dimensional world.

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