Architect?

390 Pages·2013·19.73 MB·English

by  Roger K. Lewis [Lewis

Architect?
Architect?
A Candid Guide to the Profession Third
Edition
Roger K. Lewis
The MIT Press
Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England
© 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Originally published in
1985, 1998

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying,
recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in
writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lewis, Roger K.
Architect? : a candid guide to the profession / Roger K. Lewis. — Third
Edition.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-262-51884-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Architecture—Vocational
ISBN 978-0-262-51884-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Architecture—Vocational
guidance—United States. I. Title.
NA1995.L45 2013
720.23´73—dc23
2012046588
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For architecture students, who I hope learned from me and
from whom I unquestionably learned much, and for my
colleagues, friends, and especially my family
Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I To Be or Not to Be . . . an Architect?
1 Why Be an Architect?
Creative and Intellectual Fulfillment Contributing to Culture and
Civilization Love of Drawing—without a Computer Service to Others
Teaching
A Great Profession for Polymaths Money and Lifestyle
Social Status
Fame
Immortality
Fulfilling the Dictates of Personality Freedom to Do Your Own Thing 2
Why Not to Be an Architect
Odds of Becoming an Architect Lack of Work
Competition
Inadequate Compensation
Ego Vulnerability—Getting Lost in the Crowd The Risks of Envy
Lack of Power and Influence Anxiety, Disappointment, Depression
Personal Encumbrances
Lack of Aptitude
Lack of Passion and Dedication Legal and Financial Risks
Disillusionment
II Becoming an Architect
3 The Structure of Architectural Education
Degree Pathways
Curricular Content
Design
History
Technology—Structures, Materials and Methods of Construction,
Environmental and Energy Technologies Working Digitally
Management
Historic Preservation
Electives
Travel and Study Abroad
4 Experiencing Architecture School
The First Year and Workload Shock New Values, New Language
Competition and Grades
Pencilphobia
The Culture and Community of Architecture School Being Judged—a
Rite of Passage Other Traditions and Experiences 5 What Professors—
and Architects—Profess
The Professors—Scholars and Researchers, Designer-Practitioners,
Designer-Theoreticians, Student Advocates, Student Adversaries,
Young (or Old) Turks, Good Ol’ Boys and Girls, Logicians, Techies,
Obfuscators, Zealous Leaders, Laid-back Leaders, Separatists,
Inscrutables, Venerable Heroes Some -Isms and -Ologies—Formalism,
Functionalism, Historicism,>Technology, Deconstructivism, Symbology,
Sociology and Psychology, Methodology, Ecology, Sustainability,
Regionalism and Vernacularism, Urbanism 6 Architecture Schools:
Choosing and Being Chosen
Preparing for Architecture School Choosing Schools—Location,
Program Type, Reputation, Resources, Cost, Students, Faculty,
Program Ethos The Admission Process—The Portfolio, Interviews,
Reference Letters, Grades, Essays, Exams for Admission, Timing,
Financial Aid, Admission Odds 7 After School, What?
Internship
Becoming a Licensed Architect Continuing Education
Further Studies
Traveling
Teaching
Work in Related Fields
Abandoning Architecture
III Being an Architect
8 The Building Process and the Architect’s Role
How Projects Get Built—Need, Site, Development Costs and
Financing,Design and Design Approvals, Engineers and Other Design
Consultants, Brokers, Attorneys, Construction Contractors and
Managers Role-Playing
Users and the Community
9 How Architects Work