ARCHITECTURE comprises all design activities from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

Architectural works are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art.

Historically civilisations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

Famous architectural works include:

• The Pyramids at Giza (the only surviving ancient wonder of the world)
• Colosseum, Rome
• Great Wall of China
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Chichen Itza, Mexico
• Taj Mahal, India
• Recent marvels such as Channel Tunnel, Strait of Dover between France and the UK; Petronas Tower, Kuala Lumpur and Burj Khalifa, Dubai (the world’s tallest building).

Skill sets
As an architect, it will be your responsibility to utilise your specialised skills to design buildings and cityscapes, and to bring the unique vision of your clients to reality. 

The role of an architect is not just to design buildings but through the design, you must also protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public and the users of the buildings.

Decision-making, team leadership and creativity should be your forte.

You will need to give a unique and balanced design solution while keeping in mind budgetary constraints, restraints of a site, needs of the building’s users, and limitations of materials.

If you possess excellent drawing abilities, clarity of thought, creativity, strong aesthetic sense and social awareness, you can aspire to become an architect.

Core subject & higher education
The duration of the undergraduate architecture course, BArch is 5 years.

Major subjects of study include: Architectural Design, Building Materials & Construction, Structures, History of Architecture, Town Planning, Interior Design and Urban Design.

After completing your Bachelor’s you can acquire higher degrees like MArch and PhD thereafter.

Job profiles
Job opportunities after graduation include working on town planning, urban & regional planning, construction management, landscape designing, naval architecture and interior designing. You can also open your own firm after getting a license from the Council of Architecture (COA) which recognises 135 institutions across India.

Some contemporary architects and their famous creations in India:
Charles Correa - LIC and British Council buildings (New Delhi)
Hafeez Contractor - Le Meridien
Joseph Allen Stein - IHC
Stephane Paumier-Alliance Française
B.V. Doshi-IIM Bangalore.

Top recruiters
DLF
Omaxe
Parsavnath Developers
Unitech
Morphogenesis
Hafeez Contractor
Jaypee
Supertech


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