What does an Architect do?

Architecture is a good career for anyone interested in creating real structures out of their creative mind and enjoys solving problems. You must be a proven innovative thinker with excellent problem-solving skills to be a good architect.

Generally, architects are a well educated, fun, and creative group of people. It requires years of study and hard work to become an architect, but it's worth the effort since there are many lucrative job opportunities for an architect.

The short answer is not a lot. Although it relies upon how you look at it. For some architects, architecture is a lifestyle rather than a job. This implies that when architects are not working, they are still visiting buildings, photographing buildings, discussing structures and reading about other architects doing likewise.

It depends on an individual's choice and various factors such as:

• Salary
• The standard of living
• Job opportunities (depends on the economic trend which also varies time to time)
• Avenues to further your studies (New York has the most architectural colleges)

Architects work closely with clients to make sure they get what they need. They visit the construction sites and prepare scale drawings or architectural designs using computer-aided design or other tools.

Architects work in the construction business designing new buildings and the spaces around them. They also help restore and conserve old buildings and repurposing old buildings. They're responsible for developing architecture in line with the client's needs, building usage, safety, and environmental impact.

Yes, architects do wear hard hats when they are on a construction site. As construction often involves the use of heavy equipment, it is good to follow safety measures.

An architect's outfit should be conservative, for example, many architects prefer to wear black. Some essentials of appropriate dress include the need for clothing to be neat, clean and expensive but it may vary between companies. Large firms can be more open to casual outfits like jeans and a t-shirt.

Some of the disadvantages to being an architect are:

• Entry-level salary of an architect is comparatively lower than the average salary
• Architects often work long hours
• Demanding clients and contractors can be challenging to work with
• The architectural field changes with economic growth of their area

Some architects suggest that black is associated with the introverted status of architects, giving an impression of silent self-assurance and mystery which helps to convey the creative power of architects. Some say black is a presentable, neat and clean clothing option considering that an architect's job requires you to visit a construction site too.

Covid-19 has prompted many companies to adopt remote working practices. Working from home is technically possible for architects at this time, depending on their current work assignments and company policy. Following the pandemic, companies may opt to retain their work from home policies to provide flexibility for their workforce.