What is an Architect?

Nov 19th – Architecture


This may seem like a really simple question with a simple answer, but after reading and getting involved with a conversation over on @architectmark‘s blog at www.markstephensarchitects.com, I discovered that whilst architects have a very clear understanding as to what our job is there seems to be others, particularly other professions within the construction industry who do not.

To understand what it is an architect does, the logical point to begin would be with a definition (and for parity, I have provided a few from various sources):

RAIC – The most basic definition of an architect is a professional who is qualified to design and provide advice – both aesthetic and technical – on built objects in our public and private landscapes.

Wikipedia – An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings, and is licensed to practice architecture.

Arch Careers – An architect serves in a leadership role to bring together the design and budgetary requirements set by the client, restraints of a site (where the building will be constructed), needs of the building’s users, and the limitations of materials into a unique and balanced design solution.

BLS – Architects design houses and buildings. (Even the most basic of definitions is worth reading).

These definitions provide a basic outline of the role, but the task and duties of an architect are far more in depth than these would suggest. Being an architect is to be familiar with the built environment, to understand both simple and complex urban spatial relationships, to have an ability to appreciate how aesthetics, structural make up, public safety, and legal considerations interact on site and during building use, to develop a building that is successful.

An architects primary concern is human interaction and occupancy within buildings and the areas around them

The job of an architect involves providing services that may include pre-design consultation, creation of a design and building program, measured surveying, drawing and design, contact with councils and authorities, successfully guiding a job through planning, detailing of designs, specifications and technical considerations, contractual right up and production, provision of on-site workers along with producing construction contracts as well as liaising and managing other relevant parties such as structural engineers.

To want to be an architect, the most important thing is to have a love for buildings, the second most important thing is to have good drawing and or design skills. The rest of what makes up an architects job can be taught, and will be. But without the drive and desire and natural ability, all the building regs knowledge in the world wont make you an architect, (but that would get you a good planning office job most probably).

Posted by at Nov 19th 2010

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  • http://thearchitectschronicle.wordpress.com La Femme Architecte

    A thoughtful and thorough explanation of “What is an Architect”.

  • http://www.justprofessionals.net Su Butcher

    Nick, an interesting post. However I don’t agree with you in your final delineation of what you qualities you have to possess to be an architect, and what can be learned/taught.

    A love of buildings can be taught. If it could not and was not taught in architecture school there would be no point in employing passionate architects to teach students.

    Good design skills can be taught. If they can’t then why do architects spend five years in university doing design projects?

    Drawing skills can be taught. Very few people possess innate drawings skills, and architectural drawings come in a variety of styles which can be learned.

    There are some qualities that are missed out, and I guess you’d expect me to say that the most important one is financial acumen. I’m not talking about ‘caring about making money’ but ‘caring about the effect of money on architecture’ and learning how to manage this effect. Architects who don’t have to know about how to make the numbers stack up are few and far between – usually those of entirely independent means.

    I wonder if it is true that with the right teaching and the right opportunity, any intelligent, motivated person could become an architect? And if it isn’t true, why not?

    • http://habitables.co.uk habitables

      Many thanks Su.

      I agree with you to a certain extent that it is possible to teach someone the ability to draw or design in a certain style, but I do think that there has to be present a certain level of creative ability to begin with, *good* design skills can be taught, but without some innate ability to transfer your design ideas on to paper or screen, architecture is not a good career option.

      And I did miss out a very valid point that you make so well, largely due to my lack of financial control over what I do at this point in my career. Raising such a point is best left to people such as yourself!