Do you admire buildings and dream of becoming an architect on the lines of Le Corbusier or Laurie Baker someday? Don't just build castles in the air, get all the concrete information on what it takes to become an architect.

Architecture is a profession that combines creativity with solid engineering skills. It deals with the organisation of space and conception, design and planning of buildings for a variety of needs. Designing a building involves far more than its appearance. Buildings also have to be functional, safe, and economical, and must suit the needs of the people who use them. Architects need to keep all these factors in mind while designing buildings and other structures.

After years of experience in the field, an architect can give a unique identity to his building through his/her characteristic style.

Work

An Architect discusses plans with clients and tries to create a design that satisfies both the client and himself/herself in terms of budget and the client's requirement. He/she makes plans including drawings of the building's structure including air-conditioning, electrical systems, heating and plumbing. The architect also recommends building materials. In addition the architect also assume legal responsibility for their buildings, which means he/she must be well versed with building laws, fire regulations, and other ordinances.

When the final construction plan is okayed, work on the project is started. The architect co-ordinates the construction of the building and has a team of contractors, supervisors, engineers, assistants and other building workers.

There are various specialisations that one could take up:

Landscape Architecture: This includes understanding landscapes, perception, description and explanation of landscapes as environmental sets and cultural values. Other subjects like fundamentals of environmental awareness, site planning and principles of ecology, abstract design and elementary graphic techniques are also taught.

Structural Architecture: It involves the development of local infrastructure, residential and commercial sites, utility designs, transportation engineering, Geographic Information System (GIS) and mapping. Students develop their analytic and critical skills through mathematical and visual investigation of structures.

Money

A new entrant can make between Rs.15,000 and 20,000 a month. An established architect can make crores on every project that s/he gets.

Attributes

Dedication, focus, love for your job, good communication skills, hardworking nature, plenty of ideas, a good sense of visualisation and wonderful public relation skills are the must-have's for this high-paying profession.

Eligibility

You could do a professional degree in Architecture (BArch). To be eligible for this four-year course you need to have completed your Plus Two pre-university exam with a good score in the State level entrance exam for Engineering. Several diploma courses are available which admit students with a background in Arts as well.

JJ School of Arts, Delhi School of Architecture and Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad are the best institutes for architecture in India. Most architecture colleges conduct an aptitude test that includes geometry, spatial ability, simple plans and elevations, visual logic, lettering, space relation, composition, aesthetic appreciation, colour and design concepts, proportion and scale and a basic know how of important buildings, building elements and materials.

Opportunities

Architecture firms, construction companies and government departments recruit architects on a regular basis. An architecture graduate just out of college usually gets employed as an apprentice with an architectural firm for a few years. Junior architects work as consulting managers, directing, inspecting and dealing with major technical issues.

Educational Institutions

BArch.

College of Engineering,
Waltair,
Vishakapatnam 530003

Bihar College of Engineering,
Patna

Birla Institute of Technology,
Mesra,
Ranchi 835215

TVB School of Habitat Studies,
Vasant Kunj,
New Delhi

College of Engineering,
Farmagudi, Goa 403405

Goa College of Architecture,
Miramar, Panaji 403001, Goa

D.C. Patel School of Architecture,
Institute of Environmental Design, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388120

Sarvajanik College of Engineering, MTB College Campus,
Attwa Lines,
Surat 395001

Faculty of Technology & Engineering, Kalabhawan,
Vadodara 390001

Chhotu Ram State College of Engineering,
Murthal 131039, Distt. Sonepat

BMS College of Engineering, Post Bag No. 1908,
Bangalore 560001

Visvesvarya College of Engineering,
Bangalore 560001

Siddhaganga Institute of Technology,
Tumkur 572103

Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College,
Bidar 585403

PDA College of Engineering,
Gulbarga 585102

Manipal Institute of Technology,
Manipal 576119

Malnad College of Engineering, Post Box No. 2,
Hassan 573201

BLDE College of Engineering & Technology,
Bijapur 586103

BV Bhoomraddi College of Engineering and Technology,
Hubli 580031

Jagadguru Malikarjuna Murugharajendra Institute of Technology,
Chitradurga 577502

Regional Engineering College,
Calicut 673601

College of Engineering,
Thiruvanathapuram 695016

TKM College of Engineering,
Quilon 601005

Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, Bandra (W),
Mumbai 400050

KRV Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies,
Juhu Scheme, Mumbai 400049

College of Architecture, Opp. Kherwada, PS Bandra (E),
Mumbai 400051

Pillais' College of Architecture, New Panvel (W),
Mumbai - Pune Road, Navi Mumbai 410206

Rizvi College of Architecture, Rizvi Educational Complex,
Off Carter Road,
Bandra, Mumbai 400050

Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Architecture,
Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune - 411004

BKP Sabha's College of Architecture,
Pune 411004

Dr. B. Nanavati College of Architecture,
Karve Nagar, Pune

Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Architecture, Katraj,
Dhankawadi, Pune 400043

Priyadarshini College of Engineering & Architecture,
Nagpur 440019

Kavikulguru Institute of Technology and Science,
Ramtek, Nagpur 441106

Manohar Bhai Patel Institute of Engineering Technology,
Gondia 441614

College of Architecture,
Kolhapur 416012

D.Y. Patil College of Engineering & Technology,
Kasba Bhavada, Kolhapur 416006

Appasahab College of Architecture,
Sangli 415414

College of Engineering & Technology, Shivaji Park,
Akola 444001

Marathwada Institute of Technology,
P.B. No. 327,
Aurangabad 431005

Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College,
N-6 CIDCO, Aurangabad 431003

Department of Architecture,
Amritsar 143005

Maulana Azad College of Technology,
REC, Bhopal 462007

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Institute of Environmental Planning & Technology, Indore 452001
Govt. Engineering College,
Raipur 492002

Madhav Institute of Technology and Science,
Gwalior 474005

Malviya Regional Engineering College,
Jaipur 302017

Regional Engineering College,
Tiruchirapalli 620015

Tamil Nadu College of Engineering,
Karumathampathy,
Coimbatore 638659

Thaiagaraja College of Engineering,
Madurai 625015

Mohamed Sathak Engineering College,
Kilakarai 623806

Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women,
Periyar Nagar, Vallam,
Tanjavur 613403

Dr. MGR Engineering College,
Maduravoyal,
Chennai 602102

AMA College of Engineering,
Vadamayandal, Namandi (PO) 604410

SRM Engineering College,
Kattankulathur 603203,
Anna Distt

Satyabhama Engineering College,
Jeppiaar Nagar,
Chennai 600096

Hindustan College of Engineering,
Padur,
Chingleput 603103

Government College of Architecture,
Lucknow 226002

Bengal Engineering College,
PO Botanic Garden,
Howrah 711103

B.Sc. Temple Architecture,
B.Sc. Sculpture
Government College of Architecture,
Mammallapuram 603104

Diploma in Architecture & Building Construction, M.Arch
School of Architecture,
CEPT,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380009

B.Arch, M.Arch. - Urban & Rural Planning
School of Planning & Architecture, Hyderabad 500028

B.Arch; M.Arch. with specialisation in Architectural Conservation, Urban Design, Building Management, Landscape Architecture and Masters in Planning with specialisation in Regional Planning, Housing, Urban & Transport Planning:

School of Planning & Architecture,
Indraprastha Estate,
New Delhi

B.Arch and M.Tech

Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering,
Nagpur 440011

NDMVP Samaj's College of Architecture,
Shivajinagar, Nasik 422002

College of Architecture,
Nandurbar,
Distt. Dhule 425412

M.Arch

Sir J J College of Architecture,
Mumbai 400001

M.Arch

Chandigarh College of Architecture,
Chandigarh 160012

B.Arch and M.Arch

Madras School of Architecture & Planning,
Chennai 600025

B.Arch; M.Arch. / B.Arch. Urban and Regional Planning

Architecture College, Roorkee 247662

B.Arch. Planning / Architecture

Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur

B.Arch and M.Arch

Faculty of Engineering & Technology,
Kolkata 700032