10 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Architecture: Insights from an Experienced Architect and Interior Designer

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10 reasons to become an architect

Welcome to the world of architecture—a profession that combines artistry, technical expertise, and a passion for shaping the built environment. Whether you’re already drawn to the idea of becoming an architect or you are curious about what this field has to offer, join me as I share 10 reasons why pursuing a career in architecture could be your ultimate calling.

10 Reasons To Become An Architect

As an architect (and interior designer) with 15+ years of experience, I’ve found immense fulfilment in this creative and dynamic field. Here’s why you too might find yourself captivated by the world of architecture:

10/ Ten: a great skillset

7 years of training gives you a load of different skills. Plus you get to immerse yourself in an intellectually stimulating environment and bond with your studio group.

9/ Nine: the Education

You train not only within Architecture but also in interiors, urban planning, art history, construction, psychology, storytelling, illustration, sculpture, presenting, and debater - you become a thinker, creator, and excuse maker.

8/ Eight: career options

These skills will prepare you for your career - whatever direction you take. You are not tied to Architecture.

7/ Seven: designing and creating

You get to draw out solutions and build models which are developed into real-scale things.

6/ Six: life long learning

You never stop learning and gaining skills. Architects learn something new every day. You will continue to learn way after university, i.e. you will understand and appreciate how things go together, come apart, function, etc.

 

5/ Five: making a difference

Architecture affects people’s lives, whether they realize it or not. Your work can, and should, improve their environment and make it safer. 

4/ Four: you designed that building

Passing a building and knowing that you are part of the reason it’s there or at least the reason it looks like that.

3/ Three: stay up to date

Architecture is evolving and you have to evolve with it. Technology changes, new materials are created, your ideas develop, new arguments are presented, perspectives change…and you are part of this evolution.

2/ Two: working with others & communication

You become a people person. You will work on your own but also in a team, collaboration is a big part of it. You become part of the ‘Design Team’. You need to be able to communicate through spoken presentations as well as your drawings and models. You need to stay motivated and motivate others.

You have the power to inspire.

1/ One:

Buildings stand the test of time, and so they will hopefully be here for longer than you are. How cool is that? - To think something up, draw it out, manage its build, and then walk through its front door.

It’s flipping cool.

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do you want to study architecture?

Architecture 'Additional Reading' List

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Architecture 'Additional Reading' List

Seen as you have all these spare half days, empty slots in your timetable, and possibly even a reading week, as if, I've taken the time to list out some of the books I think you will find interesting - let's be honest...even if it's just to look at the pictures.

So, as for a more general and inspirational collection, there is a huge selection to choose from regarding Design and Architecture, Furniture, and Product. It is a great idea to have a copy of the main books as recommended by your course however often there is not a huge selection to choose from when it comes to the Interior, here is a selection of additional book, perhaps for the Christmas and birthday lists:

  1. Brooker, G & Stone S. (2008) Context & Environment (Basics Interior Architecture Series 02), Lausanne: AVA Academia

  2. Ching, F D K, & Binggeli C. (2012) Interior Design Illustrated, Van Nostrand & Reinhold

  3. Frampton K, Modern Architecture, A Critical History, London: Thames & Hudson

  4. Gagg, R. (2011) Texture & Materials (Basics Interior Architecture Series 05), Lausanne: AVA Academia

  5. Massey, A. (2008) Interior Design Since 1900, London: Thames & Hudson

  6. Rasmussen, S. E. (1962) Experiencing Architecture, Boston: MIT Press

  7. Farrelly, L. (2014) Representational Techniques, (Basic Architecture Series 01), Lausanne: AVA Academia

  8. Aquilino, M J. (2011) Beyond Shelter: Architecture For Crisis, Thames & Hudson

Architecture Student's Booklist

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Architecture Student's Booklist

Whether you're heading to an Open Day, had your interview, got your place, or already started on a course, you will need to start thinking about the dreaded book list, and if you will actually spend any of your hard-earned cash purchasing any of them. My advice is if you have some pennies to spare, take advantage of this time and money to invest in the basic book list. I suggest the following books mainly for Interior Design/Architecture courses but you can adapt if you're studying another art and design course.

Library

Universities and Colleges have fantastic Libraries, with Librarians who are not only friendly but can and will, assist you in finding out what it is you are after. There are loads of books, e-books, magazines and journals, online links, and tutorials, plus they often have a large selection of DVDs and videos from educational documentaries to inspirational movies. And, do not forget your local library too, they are perfect for local historical information, maps, old photos, etc. 

Books

If you are planning to study the interior, be it Interior Design or Interior Architecture and Design, I have listed some great books to help get you started and feed into your studies. The start of term is when students tend to have a little bit of money and therefore there is far more chance they will spend it on course supplies than any other student spending. With this in mind, I recommended the following four books:

  1. Ching, F D K. Architectural Graphics, Van Nostrand & Reinhold

  2. Littlefield, D. (2012) Metric Handbook: Planning & Design Data, London: Routledge

  3. Ross, A., Hatreed, J. & Baden-Powell, C. (2011) Architects Pocket Book, London: Architectural Press

  4. Architecture For Humanity. (2006) Design Like You Give A Damn, Thames & Hudson

  5. Pile, J. (2013) A History of Interior Design, London: Laurence King

  6. Plunkett, D. (2010) Construction and Detailing for Interior Design, Laurence King

  7. Brown, R. (2012) Materials and Interior Design, Laurence King

  8. McLeod V. (2012)Detail in Contemporary Residential Architecture, Laurence King [with CD of drawings] full series also available

PDF downloads:

Metric Handbook | Architect's Pocket Book 

Most of the books listed above will be used by both Interior Design and Architecture students alike, and are often a good investment as they will stay with you from student life to the working world. 

The General Design & Inspiration Booklist

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The General Design + Inspiration Booklist

This is my 'coffee table' selection of books that I love to sit down and have a flick through with a hot cup of coffee under a cozy blanket on the sofa. When I have a new project or are looking for inspiration, I love to sit and flick through books, get ideas and it always helps me feel re-motivated. Some of the lists below are books from my university days and others more recent, some you might have read or heard of, and others are well worth looking up.

  1. Kate Spade. (2013) Things We Love: Twenty Years of Inspiration, Intriguing Bits and Other Curiosities, Kate Spade New York

  2. Amoruso, S. (2014) #GIRLBOSS, Portfolio Penguin

  3. Becker, H. (2011) Decorate: 1000 professional design ideas for every room in the house, Jacqui Small LLP

  4. Bowkett, S. (2013) Archi-Doodle: An Architects Activity Book, Laurence King

  5. Frederick, M. (2007) 101 Things I Learnt in Architecture School, MIT Press

  6. Schumacher E F. (1988) Small Is Beautiful, Abacus

  7. Banham, O. (1980) Theory And Design In The First Machine Age, MIT Press

  8. Wilson, R. (2010) Soulpancakes: Chew on Life's Big Questions, Hyperion Books

What are some books you’d recommend?

How I Survived the Credit Crunch of 2008

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How I Survived the Credit Crunch of 2008

“It happens to the best of us”

...positive thinking a year on from becoming a victim of the dreaded Credit Crunch. I was made redundant on the final day of my Professional Exams. Luckily I still passed and am now a Chartered Architect. A Chartered Architect working as a Design Lecturer in India, ironic isn’t it. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my job but after working so hard for almost ten years, coming so close, bitterness is one of many emotions I have felt in the past year.

Panic is another

In a world where it felt like everyone around me was losing their job, I was panicking with them. I was slowly going insane Signing On, some days I didn’t want to go outside in case it cost me money. Many of my colleagues were beating off the competition for minimum wage jobs. Some had started their own business and had some projects but were struggling. Others decided to re-train but I had only just achieved my main career goal and wanted to find a way of using it. I was getting down and had to figure out a survival plan.

Temporary Employment & the job hunt

I managed to get a temporary contract at an Architect Practise and loved being back in the design world. It was inspiring and picked me up instantly. I started painting and drawing and in a couple of weeks, I had quite a collection of work. I knew being an Artist would never make me much money but it was worth a try and so LAYOUTLINES was started. I decided to have a small exhibition of work and to my surprise, I sold almost all of the work! This was a huge confidence boost but simply wouldn’t work long term. The job hunt was back on...

The next chapter

I would never have guessed it but my survival came in the form of India...noisy, smelly, dusty, cow-ridden, colourful, spicy, so many things but it gave me hope. A whirlwind few weeks saw me being offered a job, getting a visa, renting my flat out, and jetting off. I had a new job, a new career direction, and a new challenge. I was to help set up a new campus for an International University where I would establish and head up the Interior Architecture Faculty.

Getting used to my new life

I came here almost eight months ago and love it, most of the time! Accepting this survival has been trying but I have thrown myself into my new life; setting up the campus, working with the local and international staff, sourcing, outsourcing, and passing on my knowledge to eager Indian Designers of the future.

Staying grounded & surviving

The Credit Crunch will end at some point but for now, I am making the most of a bad situation. I now live in India where I pass Slums in my Auto Rickshaw on the way into town and meet beggars at every junction living alongside pigs and cows. They don’t have much but they are content. There is always someone who is worse off, wherever you are in the world but you have to find the positive in it.

Have you experienced anything like this?

I’d love to hear your story