Study Architecture or not?? #Confused#

[michaelgichure]

Hi, my name is Michael from Kenya! Now Kenya is a very rich country especially in the Real estate sector, though Architectural rendering as a career is not that big here, and having my 3D Max skills, i want to take advantage of this opportunity coz then if i put some effort in this, i'll have the leading Render Firm in the country!!

But should i really study a course in architecture so that i can have an added advantage of having both Architectural skills and 3D?

or should i just concentrate in the Render biz?

[John Dollus]

rendering services have been largely commoditized. I'd suggest you back it up with an IT/Computer Science degree if you are looking for a long term career path. Then, you can run the leading data center in the country that sells it's services to all of those leading render firms.

[Devin Johnston]

If you're going to only work on architectural projects then you need to have a knowledge of that subject. Architects are a funny bunch, they are much more likely to use you if you speak the same language they do. If your portfolio shows that you understand buildings and materials then that will go a long way in convincing them to trust you with their work.

[M V]

What's it going to cost? Dropping 150k on an arch degree to make an illustrators salary could be questioned. If you can go to school for free, go for it. It's a lot of fun to study Architecture.

[Devin Johnston]

That's crazy!! My degree was nowhere near that expensive and let me just say if anyone is paying that for an architecture degree you've made some seriously bad decisions in life.

[Scott Schroeder]

To be fair, what I paid for my degree back in 2003 and just 10 years later the cost for the same degree at the same college has gone up almost 200%, though it was no where near 150k. However 150k for a masters in Architecture from some place, say UC Berkley or UCLA, isn't all too unreasonable to think of and even more so if you are paying out of state rates. Is it astronomically high? Of course but college rates all over are going through the roof due to most states really cutting back funding.

 

Back to the main topic. It really depends on what architecture is like in your country. In the US it is heavily regulated and takes you another 5-7 years after your degree to get licensed, if you want to actually have a license to call yourself an architect and get that fancy AIA title. Do you want to design buildings or render existing plans? If you want to really just render, then having a more solid knowledge of rendering, color theory, IT and network rendering is more desirable than architecture.

[Bruce Hart]

We have some graduate Architects in our office that have recently finished their studies. One of them told me of a female lecturer that told the class that she would not encourage her own children to study architecture. There is a good chance you will come out broken and sleep deprived. As mentioned above, there are plenty of other things you can study that will be of more practical value: Photography, some kind of Art course etc.

 

[Dimitris Tolios]

Actually numerous AIA titles are "bought" with your subscription fee. Having an license number is much more respected than pushing "AIA" next to your name, much like LEED AP etc usually means NOTHING about your knowledge on applied sustainability - at least for the Architects / Engineers who got the title 10 or so years ago on the basis of USGBC PR.

 

Anyways, it is true, to get a M.Arch through a fancy US Universities outside state system/with out of state tuition fees - at least in CA - you need $150K, or more (including living expenses etc). Through the CSU system, with out of state tuition fees it is less than half, still a lot of money (again, including housing and living expenses, getting a cheap car to move around etc). That's personal experience.

 

I doubt the OP would come to the US just to take his degree and go back tho...the way I read it he is interested in staying in his country.

I don't know how long Arch Viz will bloom for you. Most likely as a starting architect you won't be making a lot of money. In the US/California and Greece at least where I have personal experience from, architects are easily the least paid professionals in the AEC industry.

 

At least as employees.

Having a decent network and being self-employed making custom houses or w/e blooms in your area is of-course a different story.

 

If you are happy creating pretty images for others, you don't need an architecture degree. That's more if you want to venture yourself into actual design. Technically you don't need a degree to design either, what is needed is someone with a licence to "push" your design through to the building department.

 

So, to get a better basic understanding of the design process, there are quite a few resources you can go after. Mainly books and magazines.

I would also focus on books focusing in construction details and methods, to get a rough idea of who things come together in real life, something many architecture schools seriously lack teaching their students, and is profoundly obvious in our 3D model heavy world, where things define gravity and materials take any shape you can think of without the need for panelisation or fasteners or transition joints etc.

 

After getting a general idea, Popular "design consumption" magazines like Dwell, Wallpaper and w/e might be popular between your client architects and the actual client can give you styling ideas and general trends for you to inform your scenes with.

[harryhirsch]

"'But should i really study a course in architecture so that i can have an added advantage of having both Architectural skills and 3D? ""

Education is not a bad thing, unless you want to be an architect i would say a 2 years associate degree is more then enough. Plenty of colleges offer 2 years Interior Design degrees.

$150K for an Arch degree, no way! And definitly not if you just want to render. Invest that money in your computers, softare or 3D schools.

""In the US/California and Greece at least where I have personal experience from, architects are easily the least paid professionals in the AEC industry.""

...same in China and Germany...Europe...there are just too much architects ...everywhere

[michaelgichure]

Thanks guys....i appreciate each and everyone's reply on this......but its like this, I don't want to do a degree, certainly not! just want the understanding and at least there are Colleges that train you on CAD software's, some a Certificate course in Architecture which goes for i think 6 months.......Reason why am asking about studying Architecture is coz on another thread Ivan Weiss advised that:-

'Personally, I think the ultimate skillet for a visualization artist is (not necessarily in this order):

 

1. Drafting capabilities

2. Architectural understanding

3. Visualization Drafting/Drawing/Modeling/Texturing Skills

4. Graphical editing skills (photoshop, etc.)

5. Interior design skills'

 

So no.1 and 2 leads me to do a Cert in Architecture right? or what do you guys think?

[John Dollus]

I disagree with the priorities listed. It may have been the case 10 years ago but not today.

[CJI]

... Ivan Weiss advised that:-

'Personally, I think the ultimate skillet for a visualization artist is (not necessarily in this order):

 

1. Drafting capabilities

2. Architectural understanding

3. Visualization Drafting/Drawing/Modeling/Texturing Skills

4. Graphical editing skills (photoshop, etc.)

5. Interior design skills'

 

So no.1 and 2 leads me to do a Cert in Architecture right? or what do you guys think?

 

I agree with all the skills he has put down but i think the order will always change depending on the work of the visualiser involved (if its is an order of importance that is). Core drafting skills are certainly a part of my day to day job but only when it comes to cleaning plans and getting them to my modeler of choice, so if you don't require to draw your own plans, elevations and sections i doubt you need anything more than a basic understanding.

 

In my honest opinion you don't require an architects degree, although i do have one, to be a visualiser but an architectural understanding is crucial as well as a good eye for detail and composition. You could easily get by without the understanding but you would be limited to literally copying what you have been given by your client. Which isn't always that much. Plus you lose adaptability. I suppose all this is highly dependent on what kind of clients you have and visualisation you will be doing.

 

Just my personal opinion though.

[Jonathan]

Perhaps an architecture degree is not the right way forward if you intend to go the archviz route? You'll be slaving over so much crap you wont need to know about! I teach on a Spatial Design degree programme which encompasses architecture, interior design, exhibition, digital, photography etc etc. I would have thought you would get a more rounded and relevant experience from something like this? You can apply your own 'direction' to study.

[bindunarayan]

Architecture is a great subject which has all the desirable qualities to be considered as a main profession. If you are still confused to study architecture and take it as your profession, you can read through this article - http://www.coordinates.in/blog/reasons-to-take-architecture-design-as-a-profession.php

[Nic H]

^ that is a terrible link....

 

i think the fact you are even posting on here to me says that you shouldn't be doing an architecture degree?

 

this is a forum for people who do architectural 3D and it just happens that many of us have a background in architecture - but i doubt many of us started out even wanting or knowing about architectural 3D.

 

sound like you are more interested in 3D / architectural 3D rather than learning design theory etc and the 5 years spent learning that would be better applied to technical skills and some basic design / building knowledge.

[John Dollus]

art history and photography will serve you better than learning about elevator shafts and toilet details

[Dimitris Tolios]

art history and photography will serve you better than learning about elevator shafts and toilet details

 

And which Architecture school teaches you that ????

[Justin Hunt]

practically every architectural graduate spends the first two years doing toilet layouts

[Fooch]

practically every architectural graduate spends the first two years doing toilet layouts

 

Not if you are good in 3D. No, that gives you the gift of being in the competition team working hard hard 100 hour weeks ........ ah the privilege

[Dimitris Tolios]

practically every architectural graduate spends the first two years doing toilet layouts

 

Well...the OP mentioned school of architecture, not becoming a design intern or entry level drafter/ designer with an architecture degree.

 

Architecture schools don't teach you how to make toilet layouts - a bit plus and a big minus in the same time.

 

Oh, and I did not draw toilets for more than the bare minimum it takes to actually draw them...You do what it needs to be done.

 

But show your employer that you can work fast and efficiently producing 3D work in Revit or even Sketchup and you won't be doing toilets.

Need for 3DS comes up and you are up to the task? You won't be doing toilets - or you will, in 3D

 

Plus don't talk down on toilets. It is not like most architecture firms out there require you to do visualizations for their high-end design work. Most of the stuff is relatively to very mundane. It is not fancy lofts and multi-million $ homes what prevails, and expensive doesn't even mean well designed or tasteful. I would take a nicely detailed bathroom over some of those anyday!

[John Dollus]

And which Architecture school teaches you that ????

 

A good one.

[michaelgichure]

@nicnic I do agree with you...my interest lies in 3D! What Uni would you recommend me to go perfect my 3D skills? Coz again i need the papers to get most big contracts!

Edited July 3, 2013 by michaelgichure

[michaelgichure]

thank you for the comments, I've decided to stay off the 'architecture degree' road.........So to be a fine Cg Artist, what Uni would you guys recommend and what courses exactly? Coz either way i need the papers....

[Dimitris Tolios]

Well...if it is not a 3D animation or relative degree, I would say the most "marketable" degree is architecture...

The most marketable "proof" of your abilities is by far a good portfolio, and some willing connections.

 

Sorry if I missed it with the "US degrees" sidestepping, but where do you plan studying?

[M V]

Tuition totals of over $100k is not uncommon, especially for an accredited degree. Arch School Tuition stats

 

Let's just say $10K per semester x 10 semesters plus housing. Even with some scholarships it's still like $100-30K. Grad school would have been another $50k.

 

Are there cheaper schools? Yep. Are there more expensive schools? Yep. The point is that I would know what your options will cost you in both financial and career value. If you go into an arch firm as 'just another 3D guy' without an architecture degree, they might not even consider hiring you or may look down on you as "just another 3D guy". Letters after your name mean a lot in architecture. Is there a higher level of respect that goes along with having AIA after your name, bet your butt it does.

 

Taking some drafting and CAD classes is a really good idea at a minimum. Also, understanding architectural drawings is a must. You should be able to take a set of construction documents and fully understand what you are looking at. Now, if you want to be more than "just another 3d guy" proving that you know a thing or two about design and how a building is put together will make you a more valuable person to have around. Also, when the economy is weak and there is little 3D work, you may still be employed because 'just another 3D guy' is the first one to get handed a pink slip.