TV and movies always depict architects as marvellous creatures, capable of creating spectacular designs and magnificent buildings. They depict the glitzy glamorous side of the world of architecture...The life that is only lived by the great grand masters of architecture. Though, to be honest...I wouldn't really know. I am not yet a "starchitect". (yet...the possibility is always there. heh heh)
Even so, the life I live now as an architecture student/intern...is definitely not what was depicted like in the anime, Honey and Clover. And I figured, since its the beginning of a new semester, I wanna share what its like to be an architecture student so that those who are stepping into this amazing world will know a bit about whats it like to study architecture. And hopefully I wouldn't discourage you would be architects...hahaha!
1) Architecture..is sort of like in the movies? [movie exp : 500 days of summer, The lake house, The Architect (korean film), anime : Honey & Clover]. Of course, the movies don't really show how exactly does an architect/architecture student work. Those movies I listed out are pretty much love stories and the story definitely revolves around that genre. HOWEVER, the image of a hot, mysterious, smartly dressed architect/architecture student isn't necessarily true. Sure the working architects are definitely dressed smart enough. In order to impress their clients and appear professional, they must...I cant say the same thing for architecture students...hahaha, there's no harm in dressing up smartly and neatly for class. In fact, our lecturers prefer that. But over time...you'll soon realise how tedious it is to allocate time to dress up when that precious time could be used for designing! (don't be ashamed of presenting in class after just waking up/ pulling an all-nighter/forgetting to shower in the morning...its normal enough) <==see...so not glamourous
2) You'll always be in studio. Almost. but pretty much all the time. Studio is a place where we work. Work long hours and work hard to get the creative juices flowing out of our brains and onto paper. But don't fret! you'll be surrounded by all your other stinky studio mates that it feels like one big slumber party. The studio becomes your 2nd home. Its the place where you eat, sleep, work, play and so on. We even shower there...
3) You'll hardly use A4 papers. In fact...I think the only time we actually use A4 papers is when we need to type out a report or our assignment. and forget about ball point pens and mechanical pencils. You'll be hearing a lot of 0.2,0.4,0.6 pens and various 4H,2H,H,HB,B,2B,6B,8B pencils.
4) save your money as much as you can. because the artsy fartsy stuff are always expensive. a single piece of balsa wood (depending on thickness) can have a range of RM11-RM20. FOR ONE PIECE. so...do the math, and save up as much as you can. don't overspend! cause you're gonna need your money for other things : printing, papers of various sizes and textures, pens, paints, pastels, pencils, markers etc.
5) There's no such thing as sleep . well you can sleep. and you should. but you'll hardly get enough sleep. unless you're some genius that can design and get everything right the first time. lucky you.
6) STUDIO TRIPS! aaaah my favourite part of it all. the studio trips! you get to go to places you wouldn't think of going and experience things you never thought you would. and by learning architecture...I personally feel that I am more appreciative of the culture of the area & its people. Architecture opens your eyes to things you never thought existed.
7) You'll always have to redo your design. and you know what? even in practice they have to do tons of amendments to their designs and its part of the learning process. It is difficult at first. Especially when you're not so talented in drawing like me and you need to understand what it is your lecturer/client wants. Don't get discourage when you are asked to redo your designs and change ALL OF YOUR BLOODY DRAWINGS. But instead, take it as a learning process and take in the criticism with an open heart and open mind.
8) other subjects are a bore. but they are good for you and you need to take them. Because not everyone's forte is design. And for the development of a person's mind, I believe that you should stop grumbling and just take the bloody subjects even though you feel like dying every time you have to go to class. because eventually it will be good for you. and it helps you get out of the studio and meet other people.
9) Your studio is your family. Especially if you're in a studio like mine where 90% are female. It becomes like a slumber party every time people stay overnight. hahaha even if your studio is not 90% female or male. You'll be spending the next 3 years (in Malaysia for part 1 degree is 3 years) with these people. You'll be sleeping, eating, playing, working with these people and the bond you create is strong enough to make you feel like you're part of a big family. Mi Familia, Archidod. ;D and your family always has your back, no matter what. :)
10) You'll feel very stressed out to the point of quitting. but before you give up, think of how YOU, out of all the people who also sat through the interview, YOU got into architecture school. And you have the strength in you to be able to get through it. I say this because its true. You'll feel like giving up. You'll feel like this isn't the life you want. And maybe it isn't. But you made it this far, so lets see how far you can go! Even the best of people doubt themselves at times but that makes them humble. They push through and they achieve something great. Its ok to feel shitty and sucky. but its not ok to quit and its not ok to forever feel sorry for yourself. Always be open to constructive criticism and be fair to yourself as well.
IF I could sum up what architecture is... I would say
Architecture is about solving problems in the most creative way.
and to those of you who are taking architecture or planning to go into architecture, I wish you the best of luck and enjoy those years cause its the most awesome time of your life! :D
Xx,
Feeling more inspirational than ever tonight...
Oh! and I forgot to tell you, tomorrow is my last day interning at Anuar Aziz Architects. And I'm pretty sad that it has come to an end. I learnt a lot there about life of an architect on a daily basis and well... I'll leave that for tomorrow's entry post!
hehehe ;P
Xx for real now,
Sarah. The Soon To Be Architect. Inshallah.
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