Skills you need to know as a wanna-be architecture student

So in my previous post 10 things I learnt from 1st year in Architecture School I suggested that if you wanted to practise something before going to uni it should be using a scale ruler.

Well, this post is full of a few more things you could do.

All of which you can put on your personal statement or will help you at university...


1. Travel

Berlin baby

Go visit buildings - one of the things all architects love to do.
Get travelling around your city, to another city or another country and record it all. By record I mean photograph and sketch buildings you like. Make a scrapbook or photo album. This is the easiest thing and anyone can do it.


2. Draw

I love A5 sized sketch books because they can fit in my bag and travel with me without being a burden

Get the ink flowing and get drawing. Most of you will be good at drawing already - and if you're not, get practising. Drawing isn't classed as essential for architecture, but I think that it definitely is.

Draw your house to begin with... a view from your garden?

Then try out plans and elevations.

Draw out the plan of your ground floor.

Perspectives (views which look 3D) don't have to be in scale but if you can, try to draw your plans in scale - measure your rooms with a tape measure and use your scale ruler to draw on paper.

 (keep reading, because I have linked two videos below which will help you draw in scale)


3. Read

Put down "The Hunger Games" or "The Fault in Our Stars" and pick up architecture books. The range is huge, from books about architectural history to books written by architects showing their perspective on the world.

In year 12, I read Peter Zumthor's "Thinking Architecture", which is a great read and portrays Zumthor's conceptual and analytical response to building.

The book I have shown above is great too, for first years it will teach you some of the basics within design. Flick through the pages to read all about hierarchy and analytical responses to a building's concept. Go buy it here.

If writing is not attractive enough for your artistic perspective on life, maybe try "Building Construction Illustrated" (here) or "Architectural Inventions" (and here) for beautifully drawn images.

Websites and blog are great too, but books look better on your personal statement. My favourites include Dezeen, Archdaily and Archidose. Not forgetting of course Tips for Architecture School (who recently shared my blog- big thanks to them!).


4.Making models

1:50 model of my Bat Art Gallery using foamboard

This is a skill which will come into use A LOT at university. Using card and UHU glue, design your own buildings to scale (using that scale ruler) or better still make models of existing buildings. Try your own house or a simple famous building like the Eiffel Tower. You can normally find plans/elevations/sections online - just print them off and get cutting.

A few REALLY useful videos I came across are ...
 Part 2. Architectural Model Making: Scaling & Cutting by Chicago Arch Today they show you guys in international waters (who use inches) how to use a scale ruler for modelling
and
Metric Scale Rule, which shows you how to use a scale ruler in metric dimensions (cm and mm) for those of you in the UK.


And finally,
5. Play on the computer

Yep that's right, I said "play". What I mean is play on computer programmes like Google Sketchup or Photoshop not World of Warcraft or Rift.

Get the 30 day trials and just mess around on there -  learn the different tools and watch tutorials on youtube. This will definitely come handy at university and on your work experience.

So you want work experience?

As a year 10 or an A level student, I'm sure you will want work experience.

And if you don't WANT it, trust me - you need it. 

You need it to see what will happen to you after you finish your fun, creative degree in Architecture... and what the real world of work in Architecture is all about.

So many people love the degree and hate working - you just need to see if this is really for you.

And that is mostly because the wacky, crazy designs you create in your degree just aren't really what most of your clients look for. I say "most" because there will be a few clients who let you do these amazing, crazy designs... but those people are scarce in the working world. Plus, your type of clients will depend on the type of practice, of course.

So that leads me to my first piece of advice...

1. Browse around

Check the work of lots of different practices before you chose which ones to ask for work experience. 

Doing this will give you an idea of what sorts of projects they do; compare designs, scale, clients, response to site, etc.

2. Apply to more than one place

A few years ago, during the recession I tried to find year 10 work experience and I got turned down by so many practices who just weren't getting many projects. After a while, I got lucky and finally got 2 weeks at a really nice practice. Now the economy is starting to pick up again in the UK and many will probably let more work experience students in - but just apply to lots of places to be on the safe side. 

3. Don't email

Many other people will disagree with me - but in my experience you won't get work experience by sending an email. If you do send it, you've most likely to not hear anything back or receive a generic no. This is because architects have the tendency to not even bother reading your email when they have more important emails to read from clients, contractors, engineers, etc.

Send letters or ring up and sell yourself- but be professional, of course. Aim for "The Apprentice" not "The Office".

4. Show them your work

If you have done some extra work outside of school that shows your interest in Architecture: show them!

You need to show that you are intrigued by what the practice does and to show them your eagerness to learn about Architecture.

5. It might be hard

Be optimistic and don't feel too disheartened if you receive a no. Remember that for the practice, letting in work experience students is a hassle for them - because they know they will have to spend time with you rather than working on their projects.

So that leads me to my final piece of advice.

If you're lucky enough to get some work experience - use it wisely. The practice has " let you in", which means you have a private viewing into what happens behind their closed doors; so you need to ask lots of questions and get a good look at their work. 

Make their most of your time there.

Society and our streets

After receiving a brief to write about "My Street", I chose to consider the connection between society, architecture and the pavement.

I wanted to show how the building's windows, bricks and walls reflect how we live : both inside our homes and on the street.

Where does the threshold between the sanctuary of our homes stop?

The interior of our homes are private, yet the second you step out onto the street you join the public realm. 

Here: "micro" is shown through the walls that surround you and the memories you make in your home, "meso" is presented in the community and collection of people on your street,

and finally "macro" is reflected in the many networks of streets which join together the society and civilisation.

My written response is shown below:

Quick watercolour of the window from the outside,
 reflecting the houses opposite but still showing the lace curtain for privacy to the home.

The route to my peregrination,

agleam amidst the winter sun.

Diaphanous and bright it's replica echoes across the panes.

The gentle reverberations of a harmonious suburb,

where the discrete lace cloaks the internal and an azure stretched out above plays the tune of elation.

Structures personified stand in front of the mirrors,

portraying the curve in the street,

and the quiet Sunday morning slumber of it's inhabitants:

A congregation of the introverts,

animal lovers,

decorators,

families,

newly-weds,

the retired

and the ghost-like people who you know exist but never catch a glimpse of...

where they all correspond to depict a fragment of our diverse society,

a customary piece of our everyday lives,

which sings it's song silently.

The segments of our domestic dwellings present to us their strength and safety,

as they create a sense of stability within the shelter of those tenacious bricks and mortar.

Coherent and sturdy,

holding itself up as well as cradling our memories;

collecting frozen frames of time within the expanse of the well-worn walls.

Our streets are as alive as we are.

Their design imitates the blueprint of the anatomy:

our streets acting as arteries within a vast network;

providing a passage to a connected system embraced by a monumental amount of branches to explore.

Figure ground images to show the connection from buildings, roads and the spaces in-between.

London's arteries, connecting people and society.

If you are interested in mapping artistically you will really enjoy 

Works by Stephen Walter and Sohei Nishino,

Sue Beyer's Artwork,

Works by Stephanie Costello

where you can find some amazing drawings! 

10 things I learnt from 1st year in Architecture School

First year at Architecture School. The year where you get thrown in the deep end of the architecture world, where you have never even felt the water before.

Before you go diving in (hopefully some time in September) here are a few pointers I have learnt over the year and want you guys to hear.

Caution: these are the sort of things they don't tell you on the Open Days, so that you don't change your mind and study Art or Engineering.

1. Be prepared to buy materials

Boy, are you gonna have foam board piled up in your room for weeks, along with stashes of mount board. And don't make me start on the amount of tubes of UHU glue you will go through. I mean, it's not life threatening, just be prepared for it. 

If your uni gives you money for materials, don't go spending it on food. I promise you, it will be hard to reserve that "free money" for bits of card and glue, instead of spending it all on coffee to keep you awake for studio on Monday morning- but you must.

2. The printing

If you thought buying materials is bad you haven't felt nothing until you have to spend money on printing out portfolio sheets. I mean, printing is an actual nightmare; especially if you leave it to the last minute when everyone if panicking and it has over 200 jobs to release.

Do it in advance. It will mean doing the work a little earlier but trust me on this one.

3. Your tutors mark your work

Yep. I'm pretty much stating an obvious one here, but many students forget that your tutor marks your work. So, if they ask you to change something and your counter argument fails, you better change it. I mean, sometimes your tutors are wrong and you win your argument to keep that staircase in it's position. 

However, on most occasions they are telling you something important and you ignoring their advice could mean the difference between grades (because they think you haven't learnt anything).

4. You are going to make mistakes

You will. Definitely. There is literally no question about it. Just accept it and move forward.

Make them early. Learn from them quickly.

5. Try not to blag presentations

It will happen: one day you will wing a presentation and win over your tutor. 

But that should only happen on RARE occasions. For crits, studio, presentations, reviews (whatever you guys call them) do your research! Otherwise, one day you will get caught out with silence entering the studio room as you try to answer a question you have no idea about. (cue the disappointed look from your tutor).

 6. Learn from each other

Like the leeks from "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" you guys are in the same boat. Simple fundamental things like CAD commands or Photoshop skills come from other students, not always your tutor.

7.  Practising scale

If you want to practise something to prepare for September I would say go buy a scale ruler and try to get your head around it. 

It seems like a pretty easy thing (and many of you will find it pips), but it took me a while to understand how to use it.

8. Ignore the fact that people are better than you

Don't let it upset you. There will be so many people with an amazing set of skills, who have done architecture courses already or just have that special flair. 

Acknowledge their skills, but just know that you will get to that stage too, some day, after a bit of hard work. For me, out of all my years though school and college, this year I went through the most biggest learning curve. 

It's like what Kim Collins said "Strive for continuous improvement, instead of perfection".

9. Prepare for complete annihilation

    (action movie style)

You will work hard on a design project (and therefore think it's breathtaking, awe-inspiring, etc). However, when you go into studio it might just get annihilated by your tutor.

It's okay. Don't worry, it's not just you- it happens to everyone, in every school of architecture. 

When it does happen, just know that as architecture students, we feel your pain. 

10. Rewards

It's not all horrid and scary. Despite the fact that I didn't want to sound like an Open Day student, I'm just going to lift your spirits a bit:

Studio can be a really fun, creative and inspiring place to be. It is a perfect environment for a 1st year, from the people around you to the amazing ideas that get thrown around the room.

The course is great wherever you go and study! If you enjoy designing and creating, you will enjoy architecture.

And finally at the end of the year, you can look back and be proud of all the drawings, plans, concepts and buildings you have created throughout the year (as well as partying it up, while your hall friends have exams to do!)




Also check out Poison Concrete. It's a brand new website, featuring everything current in architecture, interiors and culture. Check it out here now!
It's current story on interiors features the architecture students from Manchester School of Architecture. Look at their work for inspiration and an insight into the creativity that occurs at university here.