Career option - Architecture

Introduction | Job Profile | Qualities | Degree Programme | Eligibility | Openings |
Remuneration Universities & Training Institutes | Related careers

Architecture deals with the design, planning and construction of buildings and structures-, residential, commercial or industrial. It is a discipline that encompasses several diverse fields including, spatial design, aesthetics, safety management, material management etc.

With increasing demand for urban housing, planning of highways airports and other public convineces, the architects in India would surely have much to contribute.

Architects are concerned with three main dimensions in their work
- Space
- Functionality
- Appearance

The functions of architects include
- Site selection
- Planning & design of the building
- Safety management
- Quality control
- Environmental planning
- Estimating & costing
- Supervision of construction work
- Interior decoration
- Restoration/remodeling of existing buildings
- Long-term land development
- Personal attributes

To be a successful architect, one must possess the following qualities
- Excellent communication skills
- Three-dimensional space perception
- Drawing skills
- Abstract reasoning
- Visual memory
- Ability to work as a team
- Keen observation
- Sense of aesthetics
- Numerical ability
- Undergraduate courses
- Degree and diploma programmes in architecture are offered by colleges of architecture and architecture departments of engineering colleges.

The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree programme is of 5 years duration and includes a period of practical experience. The apprenticeship (usually for one semester) has to be done under a practicing architect.

B.Arch. covers the following areas of study:
- Art (Drawing and painting)
- Acoustics
- Surveying and leveling
- Estimating and costing
- Methods of construction
- Materials management
- History of architecture
- Draftsmanship
- Applied mechanics
- Structural designing
- Computer applications (Some colleges teach architecture-related software packages such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max.)

The alternative to a degree programme in architecture is a diploma. Diploma programmes are available as either full time course or part time course. However, part time diploma courses in some institutes take as long as seven years to complete.

Candidates who have completed plus two with physics, chemistry, mechanical /engineering drawing and maths and scored 60 per cent minimum aggregate marks are eligible to apply for the B.Arch. programme.

Entrance to architecture courses is through national and state level entrance examinations. The Council of Architecture conducts national level entrance examination for entry to undergraduate programmes in government and private institutes. States such as Tamil Nadu hold separate entrance exams to architecture and engineering colleges in the state. Private institutes conduct entrance exams of their own. Entrance to architecture programmes at the India Institutes of Technology is through the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) held in May each year.

In addition to the entrance exam, candidates have to appear for an aptitude test. This test assesses the candidates' ability in the following areas.
- Visual and spatial perception
- Color concepts
- Free hand drawing
- Aesthetic aptitude
- Postgraduate courses

At the postgraduate level (Master of Architecture), specialisation is available in the following areas
- Urban designing
- Town planning
- Construction management
- Traffic and transport planning
- Naval architecture
- Project management
- Landscape designing
- Industrial design
- Environmental planning
- Architectural conservation
- Building engineering

These courses are open to graduates in architecture. Environmental planning is open to postgraduates in sociology, economics and geography as well.

Doctoral programmes can be pursued after M.Arch. or with a B.Arch plus five years experience in professional practice or teaching or research. Postgraduate programmes are usually of two to three semesters duration.

Architects may be employed in the following organisations:

- Government organisations
- Central Public Works Department
- State Public Works Department
- National Building Organisation, New Delhi ( Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India)
- Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), New Delhi
- National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi
- State Housing Boards
- City Development Authorities
- Municipalities
- Private sector
- Real estate development firms
- Construction industry
- Private architecture firms
- Consultancy firms

To be a consultant or set up private practice, it is imperative to register with the Council of Architecture. This body along with the Indian Institute of Architects lays down the guidelines for working hours, work environment, fees etc.

Government organisations
In the case of government jobs, the pay scales are according to the rules set by the government. The salary amount is fixed and is not as lucrative as the private sector. However, there is job security plus the advantage of perquisites such as pension after retirement.

Private sector
The starting salary (stipend) in a private architectural firm is around Rs 3,500, which will increase to Rs 8,000 with a few years' experience. Consultants charge anywhere between 4 and 10 per cent of the total cost of construction in case of apartments and multi storied buildings. They charge 15-20 per cent of the total cost of construction in the case of independent houses and bungalows.

New Delhi
- School of Planning & Architecture, 4 Block B, I P Estate, New Delhi 110002
- TVB School of Habitat studies, Sector D Pocket 2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070
- Vastu Kala Academy, School of Architecture & Interior Designing, 9/1 Institutional Area, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067.

Maharashtra
- Sir JJ College of Architecture, 78/3 Dr.D.N Road, Fort, Bombay 400001
- College of Architecture, S. No. 341, Opp. Kherwada, Bandra (E), Mumbai 400 051
- Rizvi College of Architecture, Rizvi Educational Complex, off Carter Road, Bandra, Mumbai 400 050
- Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, 791, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (W) Mumbai 400 050
- National Institute of Construction Management and Research, Trust Office, Walchand centre, Tardeo Road, Mumbai 400 034
- Marathwada Mitra Mandal's College of Architecture, 302A Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411011

Tamil Nadu
- Anna University, School of Architecture and Planning, Sardar Patel Road, Chennai 600 025
- Government College of Architecture, University of Madras, Mamallapuram, Chennai 603 104
- MGR Engineering College, Maduravoyal, Chennai 602 102
- Hindustan College of Engineering, P.O.Box 1, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Padur, Chennai 603 103

West Bengal
- Jadavpur University, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Calcutta 700 032.

Andhra Pradesh
- School of Planning & Architecture, JNTU, Mahavir Marg, Hyderabad 500 028
- College of Engineering, Andhra University, Vizag 530003.

Bihar
- Bihar College of Engineering, Patna University, Patna 800005
- Birla Institute of Technology, P.O Mesra 835215.

Punjab
- Chandigarh College of Architecture, Sector 12 Chandigarh 160012
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005

Gujarat
- School of Architecture, Centre for Environment and Technology, Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, University Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009.
- MS University of Baroda, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Vadodara (Baroda)
390 001

Karnataka
- Bangalore Institute of Technology, KR Road, Visveswarapuram, Bangalore 560004

Kerala
- College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram 695 016

Orissa
- College of Engineering and Technology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Bhubaneshwar 751003

Uttar Pradesh
- University of Roorkee Engineering College, Roorkee 247 667
- Zakir Hussain College of Engineering and Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 001

Madhya Pradesh
- Government Engineering College, Raipur 492 010
- Madhav Institute of Science and Technology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior 474 004

Architects can diversify into the following areas of work
- Construction industry
- Interior design
- Spatial design