Architectural Design

Cameron Orf

English III Honors Pd. 2

Mr. Piatak

February 23, 2017

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The art of designing a building or structure for construction in real life proves an utterly

amazing process. Not everyday can a person say he or she has designed a skyscraper, NASA

launch pad, or a large commemorative statue. Besides all the impressive feats that one man can

accomplish, architecture has consistently led to technological advances in civilization since its

inception at the Egyptian pyramids. Architectural design, with its heavy influences from other

diverse fields such as the arts, math, and even psychology, continues to fascinate as a field due to

the rich history behind it, the extensive required schooling, and the process of creating an

architectural design.

Architecture first really came about when the ancient Egyptians came up with their

intuitive design for the pyramids. This marked one of the first places where many of the core

methods of architecture originated; one of the most prominent of those, the use of clay in

structures. This marked the first time people ever thought to compress clay and other sediments

into bricks to use in construction. The Egyptians first used clay because trees, typically used for

construction and not prominent in the Egyptian desert, became too scarce to build with. The clay,

both sun-dried and kiln-dried, turned into sturdy and strong bricks. Sandstone, granite, and

limestone became typical materials for building things like pillars and decorative sculptures. The

walls of buildings made from clay, granite, and other sediments typically constructed in a sloped

fashion, made a greatly stable structure. Along with this slope method, the Egyptians came up

with the post-and-lintel method of construction, one of the largest and most revolutionary

influences on basic architecture, until the invention of the arch, which would come later during

the dynasty of Snefru. The walls of their buildings, usually extremely thick, consisted of little

timber and mostly bricks. The rooves typically built flat, due to the scarcity of rain in their
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biome, consisted of a composition of extremely large and heavy stone blocks supported by

frequent columns and the thick external walls. Nearly every standard building has since

vanished, leaving only the tombs, temples, and other mainly religious structures. This

disappearance attributed to the Egyptians building them with more sustainable and durable

materials and designing them with the same intention, to enforce their beliefs about existence

beyond death. Egyptian architecture almost never adopted elements from foreign civilizations

and cultures, sticking to its native ways even while under foreign rule (Egyptian Architecture).

Persia also had a pretty significant influence of the field, specifically regarding

symbolism in architecture. One of the most popular aesthetic pieces of architecture in Persia,

gardens, had a huge impact itself. The first garden built in Persia in about 600 B.C. became

known as Pasargadae. Pasargadae, built by Achaemenid emperor Cyrus, took large inspiration

from the Zoroastrian division of the universe in four parts. The Zoroastrian division of the

universe consisted of four parts representing seasons, elements, and other things that collectively

made up the entire universe. These four parts consisted of: fire, wind, earth, and water. Persian

gardens, made to represent symbols of freshness and delicacy, or paradise, contrasted to the dry

and warm climate there. Due to these gardens, water became recognized as a worldwide symbol

for cleanliness, brightness, and neatness. Along with the aesthetic purposes of water in the

gardens, it also provided irrigation and had other environmental advantages. This represents a

great application of combining aesthetic pleasure and functionality in architecture. Beyond the

symbolism of only water, the Persian gardens geniusly combined geometry and flora, using

quadripartite designs to convey all four elements of the universe (Moghaddasi and Zamanifard

63, 70).
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Along with the Egyptians and the Persians, the development of Greek culture became

highly based on architecture and its influences. Ancient Greek architecture splits into three

different periods: the Archaic Period, the Classical Period, and the Hellenistic Period. In the

beginning of the Archaic Period, which lasted from about 600 to 500 BCE, the Greeks began to

enact a process called petrification. The Greek petrification process entailed replacing their

wooden building structures with different types of stone. The wooden columns and walls

replaced with marble and limestone, wooden ornaments and roof tiles replaced with terracotta,

and wooden decorations replaced with metals, mostly bronze. The most common buildings that

underwent petrification included theatres, sports stadiums, temples, and other various municipal

structures. The Greeks likely had the idea of petrification after the influence from the

aforementioned ancient Egyptian architects and stonemasons. The Greeks used the

post-and-lintel techniques of building invented by the Egyptians many years prior. Due to the

lack of support technologies like archways, the Greeks had to use excessive columns to achieve

adequate support for their ceiling beams. Means of adequate support, or the lack thereof, became

a huge issue for the Greek architects at this point in time. This support dilemma prevented them

from creating large, open interior rooms. The rooms filled up with loads of internal support

columns to provide adequate support for the larger structures. Just as the Egyptians chose clay

brick to build with, the Greeks chose stone to build, primarily limestone and tuff. Marble,

although used in some of the more important/more grand buildings, mostly got reserved for

sculptures and other decorations due to its rarity making it a highly valuable material. The typical

Greek building design consisted of a rectangular floor and roof, supported with columns

surrounding the edges of the rectangle. The rooves consisted of horizontal beams covered with
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tiles. Strategically placed decorations (sculptures and ornaments) and intricate designs covered

the structures. Midway through the Classical Period, Greek architecture began to stray away

from their previous rectangle scheme and began utilizing different building shapes, like circles,

and different materials, like black marble. The overall theory of Greek architecture revolved

around the Classical Orders. These Classical Orders focused on proportions between all the

individual aspects of a structure to make a beautiful harmony of parts that look amazing when

combined despite the size of the structure or material used. Early Greek architecture can separate

into three parts. The first order of Greek architecture, the Doric style focused on formality and

strict ascetic. The Ionic style focused on extensive decoration without much regard to sternness.

The Corinthian style built on the Ionic style and focused on more intricate or complex decorative

designs (History of Architecture). Many of the most famous architectural feats in history came

of the Greeks and their legacy left on the field remains arguably the biggest of any other

civilization that has contributed to the art.

Contrary to the Greek architecture, Roman architecture focused more on practicality,

better engineering, advanced construction, and military ordeals. Roman architecture developed

with heavy influences from the Greek and Etruscan architecture styles. The Romans took the

Greek ideas and evolved them into something new, giving them more longevity and acclaim than

they previously held. During the development of Roman architecture, some pretty significant

advances made that aided the evolution of the field. Around this time, the idea of arches came

about. The theory of the arch remains one of, if not, the most impactful breakthrough in

architecture ever made, because the principle of it lead to the invention of similar designs

(mostly support related) like domes and other roof types. Arches opened loads of windows for
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designs by making an insanely strong support whilst remaining more efficient with materials and

space. For example, domed rooves allowed for large, open interiors without having to fill them

up with support pillars, while remaining a visual spectacle and all the time an impressive feat.

Along with one of the greatest design breakthroughs in architecture, one of the greatest material

breakthroughs came about when a Roman architect invented concrete. To make concrete,

combine water with sand, lime mortar, and stone. Concrete made such a big impact because it

made construction tremendously more convenient rather than working with stone, without

drawbacks in the strength of the material. Concrete soon replaced marble as the primary material

used in the typical structures. In the wake of Roman architecture, buildings now designed more

abstract and not confined to straightforward geometry, like previously in the time of Greek

architecture. (History of Architecture).

Gothic architecture utilizes unique aspects that include: ribbed vaults, flying buttresses,

elaborate tracery, large stained glass windows, pointed arches, and thin walls. The most

prominent aspect of Gothic architecture, the pointed arch, remains as one of the most easily

recognizable aspects of any architecture style ever, contributing to the styles uniqueness,

interestingness, and popularity (History of Architecture). Gothic architecture, although not too

influential on the overall field, remains a personal favorite style for a large group of people.

During the 19th century, not many significant new advances occured in architecture,

although many important revivals occurred. Some of the most important revivals consisted of:

Greek, Gothic, Neo-Romanesque, and Beaux-Arts architecture.

In the 20th century, architecture can divide into many different sub-categories including:

architectural designers, visualization specialists, interior architects, landscape architects, and

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architecture theorists. Similar jobs that tie into the same field that architects may have to

collaborate with or consult include: electrical engineers, structural engineers, contractors, and

lighting designers. (Lee). Many new means of collaborating with these people continue to

develop, to make it an easier and faster process.

Over the past few decades, architects have adopted different methods of working, most

prominently, using computer programs and software to make design drawings and models much

more efficiently. (Lee). Machines like the CADD and the BIM have allowed architects to do

more work more quickly as well as making it easier to collaborate with engineers and

contractors, and converse with the clients. CAAD (Computer-aided Architectural Design) has

existed since about the 1960s and provided a way for architects to make their designs on a

computer instead of taking the time to draw them out. Since the inception of CAAD, it has

evolved into complex software that allows architects to make 3D designs, superior to the now

outdated 2D designs. Architects frequently use BIM (Building Information Modeling) to keep

track of all progress made on a project before, during, and after the original design and actual

construction. (What Is BIM?) Due to these advances in technologies used in design, old

methods such as hand-drafting have continued decreasing more and more over the past years.

In the future, experts project the architecture field to get even more technologically advanced and

keep evolving the programs and software used, ultimately making the process from design to

construction even more efficient. (Lee). There remains almost unlimited potential for

advancement in efficiency in architecture.

Requirements can vary depending on the employment firm, but to work in the field at all,

one must have an architect license. An architect license gives someone the ability to legally
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stamp/greenlight designs for construction. The requirements for an architect license include

about five to seven years of specific education in university as well as about three to five years

working as an intern following graduation with an architecture degree. (Lee). Most universities

offer some sort of architecture program, but some certain schools have superior aspects to offer,

as well as critical acclaim that looks appealing to firms when deciding who to hire. The top 5

undergraduate programs in the nation consist of: Cornell University, California Polytechnic State

University, San Luis Obispo, Syracuse University, Rice University, Virginia Polytechnic

Institute and State University. The top 5 graduate programs consist of: Harvard University,

Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and Yale

University. Cornell Universitys criteria for admission includes all school department credits,

SAT or ACT tests, a portfolio and an interview. Cornells total university enrollment in fall 2015

included over 22,000 students. Cornell has fairly good job placement and widely known prestige

and extensive accolades. Famous alumni of Cornell University includes world famous scientist

and TV personality Bill Nye the science guy. Top three regional undergraduate programs consist

of: Rice, Virginia Tech, and UT Austin. Top three regional graduate programs consist of: Rice,

UT Austin, and University of Virginia (Fixsen). Rice University criteria for admission consists

of SAT and ACT scores. Rice University's acceptance rate for 2014 ended up at about 14% and

had a total enrollment of 6,719 in 2015 (Admission Statistics). Famous alumni of Rice

University include Lance Berkman, John Kline, and Peggy Whitson, which maybe not familiar

names but large influences in their fields. In the close vicinity of Huntersville, North Carolina,

NC State University has the best architecture program. Due to the growing projections of job

competition, most people highly suggest post grad training. Post grad training for an architect
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includes further college studies, internship, and lessons/classes outside of college. Some

architecture firms fund continuing postgraduate education for their employees. When asked

about preparation for architecture outside of schooling, Eric Lee, a successful architect in New

York for many years, said: I believe the best ways to prepare for this career would be constantly

being interested in architecture around you and observe as much as you can and also sketch the

buildings. Lee's biggest advice points to aspiring architects include thinking analytically about

everything and taking advantage of as many internship opportunities as possible. One of the best

and most popular ways to practice and gain experience with architecture outside of school,

photographing and sketching buildings, can prove most helpful with someone's ability to draw

buildings, one of the biggest parts of the architectural design process. Within school, prior to

college, some of the most suggested beneficial courses to help prepare for architecture include

art and design, physics, english, and mathematics, as all of these courses make up large aspects

of architecture. (Lee). Schools might also offer extracurricular groups or programs to help get

even more practice in these areas.

A rise in competition levels for job spots and internship continues and likely will in the

future, due to the exponentially growing amount of students graduating with architecture

degrees. The most prestigious architecture firms provide the most competition. Individuals with

the most extensive skills, abilities, experience, and knowledge about the latest technology and

practices naturally will have the best chances over their competition. In order to succeed in the

field of architecture, you have to be a hard-working person, be able to work well with others, and

you need to have a good eye for details and designs. It requires a lot of specific knowledge and

experience to grow/advance in this field. (Eric Lee). Another quality that employers look for
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lately, known as green design or sustainable design basically utilizes resources in the most

efficient way to reduce environmental footprint and resource consumption. Sustainable design

helps the company save money, as well as staying environmentally conscious. Overall, for the

next eight years, the projection of the demand for architects to grow follows close to the average

for all job field growth, about seven percent. Employment rates for architects highly depend on

the construction industry, so may vary a large amount if the construction industry's current state,

whether moving slowly or quickly. In the future, experts predict an increased demand for designs

for university facilities, healthcare facilities, and new retail establishments to name a few,

attributed mostly to human population growth.

In architecture, salary ranges typically start at the $50,000s for intern positions, and

anywhere from the $200,000s to $300,000s for architects with more experience who have

worked in the profession for an extended period of time, typically for multiple decades (Lee).

The average annual wage for architects in 2015 ended up at about $76,100. In 2015, the

architects earning in the lowest ten percent, earned less than about $46,000, and those in the

highest ten percent made over about $125,000. The average salary for an architect in Charlotte,

NC remains about $67,400 for. The average salary for an architect in Boston, MA remains at

about $54,200 (Salary: Architect). The wage for architects varies widely because some

architects get paid for each individual design, while some get a steady paycheck from their firm.

Almost all architects work full time and typically work extra hours. Frequent overtime

hours usually result from the deadlines that architects have to meet for individual projects.

Although self-employed, architects can have much more flexible hours and deadlines. About one

in five architects in 2014 employed themselves. Normally, for most people and firms, the busiest
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time of the year comes around the first quarter, due to more demand for designs coming in. The

typical architecture firm grants about 2 weeks of vacation time per year. Larger offices and firms

usually have more leniency with vacation schedules, although they also tend to have more strict

dress code requirements. Of course, a free-lance architect, or one who works from home, would

have the most lenient of dress code requirements. (Lee). With some exceptions, architects get

held to formal dress code requirements.

Architects spend most of their work time in formal offices (or in some cases from home

offices), meeting with clients/potential clients, writing reports, illustrating designs, and

consulting with other architects and different types of engineers. Architects frequently visit the

construction sites of their designs to oversee construction progress and ensure the fulfillment of

the clients requests. Eric Lee said this about the day-to-day like at work as an architect: My day

to day work life consists of 8 hours of work from 9am to 6pm in the office, although sometimes,

I will work more than 8 hours and work on the weekend if there is a deadline. Typical

responsibilities as an architect include drawing plans, sections, elevations and details for

structures, creating models, coordinating with consultants like engineers and contractors,

meeting with clients and visiting the sites to observe construction and ensuring the correct

construction of designs (Lee). These responsibilities deviate between different firms or maybe

different subcategories of architects, but for the most part speak for the general field.

In conclusion, architecture continues to lead to technological advances in civilization

since its inception at the egyptian pyramids. Architectural design, with its heavy influences from

other diverse fields such as the arts, math, and even psychology, continues to fascinate as a field
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due to the rich history behind it, the extensive required schooling, and the process of creating an

architectural design.
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