Going into Architecture

[Aaron2004]

Hey all,

 

I graduated from college with an Archi Viz-type degree a few years ago. My first job and started getting into residential design, and by the time I got my 2nd job, I let go of arch viz (except for hobby-type work), and focused only on residentila design...which I feel like I'm fairly gifted in, but I also feel like I'm capable of more as well.

 

My wife has a job oppotunity in a college town which offers a Masters in Architecture. With my previous degree as a foundation, I can get the masters in 3 years (plus summers) of hard-core studying and internships. By then, my wife's job will be over and we can move away. The timing is perfect.

 

When I finish, I'll be 30 and feel like I'll be set to go with whatever I want to in the industry. However (and my feelings may change as I take more classes), right now I really want to focus mainly on residential architecture...which you don't technically need a degree for.

 

Has anybody else gone through a similar situation and ended up extremely pleased or unhappy with it? I'm not doing this for money...I know that budding architects don't get paid a lot. It's just that my job is 75% cad monkey and I feel like I'm capable of so much more.

 

Thanks for any advice,

 

Aaron

[Devin Johnston]

It doesn't sound like your doing much Arch Viz work right now which is probably the reason for you dissatisfaction with you career. To be honest if you are designing houses and are happy with it and can get work doing it I don't see where an architectural degree would necessarily help you. While you would get some exposure to residential design in school you will spend most of your time designing commercial projects which will give you an overall better understanding of design but won't really help you that much on the residential side. You'd be better off spending those 3 years working for someone who is really good at residential design and is willing to mentor you. You'll learn more in 3 years with someone like that than you ever would at a University and there really is no substitute for experience.

[Jimy]

Myself and just about all the crew at work are trained as Architects at Squint (the full 5 years), but all now work in visualization. Many of us have partners still working in Architecture and see the (mostly) pain!

 

Personally I think it's a fantastic degree and enormously versatile. It's not just about designing buildings but the process of design, learning to develop an idea and how to critique yourself and others. It's also a bloody hard degree with enormous amounts of stress and long hours; hence why most Architects are fairly relaxed peeps. Make sure you enrol in a course that focuses on design process and philosophy as all the practical stuff is better learnt in industry really.

 

As for actually working in the field of Architecture, it's tough at the moment as costs are too low for a lot of housing and the practice is plagued it seems with bad management. I hear all about it from my wife (registered Architect)! Anyway don't get me started!

 

Good luck with whatever you do; in the end if it's what you have a passion for you'll be successful in it.