By: Anamika Nandan
Architecture is an ever-evolving and ever-changing profession. It is not just a career but a way of life, how we perceive things, how we inculcate those things in our lives, how it changes our lifestyle, and so much more. It is both the process and product of planning, designing, and constructing. These days architecture is seen as one of the leading career options by the youth of India for the following reasons:
Upcoming boost in infrastructure
Since India is a developing country and has to serve a massive population, infrastructure is one field that cannot be ignored. Higher the rate of increase in population, the higher the requirement in terms of infrastructure, and higher the opportunities in this field. The rapid growth of urbanization has led to higher opportunities for the young architects, which includes government-funded projects like SMART cities, urban renewals, Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridors, etc. as well.
Creative freedom
Architecture is an amalgamation of art and engineering. It requires one to focus on the functionality, the construction details, processes, the aesthetics and the design etc. In other words, it can be said that this profession gives one the best of both worlds. Being able to see one's creativity come to life on the site gives you a satisfaction that is unparalleled.
Career longevity
Unlike other professions, architects do not have a fixed retirement age. It takes time to establish a practice in this field but once settled, professional practice can be carried out for as long as the architect wishes to.
Non-static
Architecture is not monotonous. Construction technologies are changing day by day with the introduction of new material, new design solutions, new products, etc. Every project itself brings a new learning process starting from square one. Each project is different from the previous one, so as a student and even as a practitioner, the journey of learning, creating, and exploring does not end.
Influences lifestyle
It's a career that influences our entire lifestyle. It's a profession that, apart from being practical, logical, functional, and technical, is luxurious, glamorous, and trendy. It inculcates a sense of aesthetics in an architect which is eventually seen not only in his/her designs but in how they carry themselves, how they maintain their surroundings, and eventually, their way of living.
Course Curriculum
It is a five-year degree course being regulated by Council of Architecture, New Delhi. Council of Architecture is constituted by Government of India under the Architect's Act 1972. COA takes care of the registration of architects, standards of education, recognized qualifications and standards of practice to be complied with by the practising architects.
It conducts NATA (National Aptitude Test for Architecture) test twice or thrice in a year. This is a qualifying examination for getting admission into architecture courses.
(The writer is head of the Department of Architecture at Birla Institute of Technology, Patna)
