Architects are probably thought of as belonging from a profession that does not involve many issues or problems. However, this is not anything close to reality. There are so many problems that arise for them on a daily basis both pertaining to their work and career. These issues are dealt with by them with expertise and knowledge.
This article is going to highlight 5 of the many challenges that come in the way of architects. Let us take a look at them:
- Finding the right material
When architects come up with a plan or idea, they also have to make sure that this idea can be implemented practically as stated above. Well, even if they do prove it and make sure of it, there is still a problem with the practicality of their idea. This is because they have a clear and vivid image of what they want and how they want it to look. This cannot be achieved just by using any material or any construction techniques.
All of this requires great thought and a perfect match between the idea and the actual physical thing. For example, if there is supposed to be a frame in the building, the material of the frame matters. Steel frame solutions are mostly the right choice but they have further categories that need to be carefully selected and chosen.
- Finding inspiration with practicality
Architects have a very creative job undoubtedly and have the liberty of thinking outside the box. In fact, they are said to be doing their job better if they are not sticking to the norms and bringing out of the ordinary ideas. This can be seen as a blessing for a lot of people as they are forced to think inside the box and follow standard procedures instead of actually thinking creatively. Well, this does not come without its downside. Fist of all, finding inspiration and bringing creative ideas is not as easy a sit seems. You get the creative block and you seem to be stuck in a dimension from which you cannot climb out.
There is a lot of pressure to bring unique ideas. Well, somehow, when you have found the inspiration, it is equally difficult to make sure it is practical enough. Here, you do not just have to give the idea but have to prove it can actually be materialized. So, this dilemma keeps the architects in a frenzy.
- The battle between design and cost
You hire architects to give you novel and unique ideas for your construction. It doesn’t matter whether you are building a house, an office or an apartment building, your client always needs something new and uncommon in the design. By putting in a lot of effort, when you finally come up with such a design, there is an impending debate waiting for you to have with your client.
This debate is about design and cost. The kind of design you come up with is innovative and creative, hence, it will take quite a portion of finance to cover the costs associated. However, the client you have will insist on cheap manufacturing and lower costs because that is what he or she can afford or are willing to pay. It is difficult to establish the fact with them that this will be a long term investment.
Of course, an expensive one but it will be worth it and will save you the cost of maintenance which will be a lot if the construction is done with cheaper material.
- Finding a balance between tech and old school
We all know how architects sketch and love to sketch. This is a slow process but a very precise and detail-oriented one. This further helps them make better designs because sketching is slow and you think of ways to execute your idea in the process itself. Now, with the advent of technology, it is getting difficult because now graphics software are easily available in the market and sketching seems time-consuming. Also, clients prefer soft copies of the designs because they are faster.
Architects like to sketch and sketching itself is a process in design making. Now, they do not have time to sketch because demand is fast. This puts them in a conundrum to choose between the two options. This may also compromise the quality or creativity or both of their work.
- Overall balance
All in all, architecture is a creative and innovative field but it does not come without its challenges and pressures. They need to have a very balanced approach in their work. They are driven both by inspiration and practicality. It can be difficult to bridge the gap between the two most of the times but their expertise and intuition help them along the way.
Conclusion
Challenges are numerous for architects across the globe but there is no dearth of perks as well. If you’re someone who is looking to build a career as an architect, the above-mentioned points will make you understand how you can face the music as an architect and make a name for yourself in this field.
