There are some fields in the world which students are hesitant to study. Architecture is one of them. People basically do not understand this field properly, hence they assume wrong. Just like any other field, if you have strong desire in you to become an architect only then should you opt for it. This field is so much time consuming that you would have to give up all of your social life. If you are interested in this field then such a compromise would start to eat you up and you would not be able to concentrate on work. People who love the study of architecture take it to be an art and devote their time to it. Some people just think that there isn’t enough scope for such a profession. Well such thoughts are laughable since people are not going to quit making homes and building or renovating them.

All in all architecture is a very important field and needs to be studied by determined and interested students. You can also say that this field is the oldest among all that you might know. Design of any structure, which has a purpose, comes under this field. It might seem easy but giving every aspect of a structure, a purpose, is not an easy thing. Not even a creative mind can do it. For this reason people are getting education in this field, which allows them to harness a great level of skills regarding architecture. People who are familiar with this field take it to be an implemented art. Art is basically anything which you draw over a paper. Implementing that art would mean to recreate the drawing. This is not as easy as it might sound. Implementation of a good piece of art would make you feel proud. However, there is so much room for error that every now and then an architect leaves a dent in the art. Basically the key role of an architect is to make something look beautiful and ensure that the design has purpose and meaning to it as well.

When you look at the tallest building in the world, Burj Dubai, you find its design quite attractive. However, you would not know the reason for its design to be like that. As the building is tall, it has to face quite some high winds in the upper altitude. If the design would not have been such then the building would have rocked from here to there and eventually the structure would have broken. Taipai in Taiwan is also a tall building which faces extremely high winds. Same goes for the shanghai world finance center. These building are the greatest examples of seeing a design support a vital function and the true art of an architect.

Apart from the design, an architect must also involve themselves with the construction material. People usually think that a civil engineer looks over such things. However, the conclusion is reached with the help of an architect. In simpler terms, an architect knows the design; he or she knows which material would best uphold the purpose and glory of the building and give it strength alongside as well. Using masonry to build tall buildings might seem to be a good idea since they end up producing the strongest of structures. If you consider the weight of the building and the flexibility required in a building, you would come to know that the strongest material is not always the best solution.

Architecture is a field worthy of admiration rather than hesitation. The study of this field allows a structure to fulfill its purpose throughout its life.

If you think that you can start designing projects without education, then you are wrong. There are certain steps to avoid the bachelors though. First of all you need to check with the accreditation body of your respective state. Keep in mind that rules and regulations usually vary between the states. The alternative of not doing bachelors would require you to have quite some years of experience. Not to mention you would have to undergo a bothersome number of diplomas. In short there is no way that you can skip education in the process of becoming an architect. After that you would need to apply as an architect to your state.

This all is bothersome work. Take the simple road and you would end up with quality of knowledge and a decent experience as well. The only drawback of doing bachelors and masters is that you would have to cut up with your social life. Usually universities offer 5 years of bachelors and 2 or 3 years of masters programs. There are certain things which you need to know about architecture. It is true that it requires creativity and determination to make a design. However, it involves usage and manipulation of numbers as well. So if you are weak or hate mathematics then choose another line of work. Apart from that there is nothing else that you should be worried about. Pass your senior high school with a B grade as the average and apply to a collage well before your senior high is over. Do not forget to check the accreditation of the collage you are applying to. You can do bachelors in architecture or you could do bachelors in related or not related field and then do masters in architecture.

Do not just apply to one institution. Send your admission to as many accredited institutions as possible. CAD and other new technology to aid and guide you professionally would be taught in the semesters. Do not waste your summers by doing nothing. Apply for internships or a part time job so that you might have experience before you get the degrees. Keep in mind that you need to apply everywhere well within the due date. Also ensure that all your paper work is properly compiled and completed while you are sending it. Any missing document might delay the procedure and you might miss the deadline. Check in with the accredited body of your state for the requirements of becoming a licensed architect for further information.

The culture and religion of a place have a major role in the type of architectural structures present there. The geography of a place also plays an important role in the types of buildings present in a location. Architecture is no less than science these days. These days all a person has to do is think up of a design. The rest of the work is done by the architects, to make it all possible. The development of skills of an architect can easily be seen due to the structures present today. Huge bridges, tall buildings, strong buildings etc. all of these are present thanks to the creativity of architects.

This field is not just restricted to structures. In every field, in every product which you see today, architects have played a role in it. It all depends on which type of education you have gained. For instance a person, who can design the body of a car, cannot design the structure of a sky scraper. The engineers are taught to construct their work under given limitations of design. Reason for this is that, no product can be constructed, unless or until there is a proper design for it. As far as cars are concerned, well you might not know but the engine is not the only thing which makes a car go fast. If that would be the case then a truck would surely be faster than a car. The aerodynamics of a body and the weight of the body are all the works of a certain architect.

Whenever a person thinks about architecture, they relate its origin to be from Greeks. This would not be an entirely wrong assumption. Greeks were a far more advanced race in the older times. They used to see architecture as an art and constructed beautiful buildings with symmetry and white marble. Some people think that the Romans were the pioneers; however, you can see that much of the roman architecture is influenced by that of the Greeks. Just take a look at the arches. The curves and arches have been enhanced, but the origin of the inspiration still remains to be the Greeks.

Taking a look at the wonders of the world would explain the influence of cultures on the architecture of structures. It might surprise you to know that the Americans have not been this much advanced in the field of architecture. This has been mainly because they are much more business minded. If you look at their history you would find that they have been an industrial state. Hence, it is again proved that the structures are affected by the cultures of a place.

In short, the development in architecture has been, and is, going on. However, the types of developments have been different due the certain factors, which are mentioned above.

The architecture framework gets a data model, system diagram, use case and network diagram. The enterprise architecture case is documented on the strategy of the project, networks, security system and business. Foundational concepts build up on the bases of methodology and optimizing infrastructure. Architecture is also used in information technology, naval architecture and in landscape architecture. Information technology blends in and helps by using software, to design building maps, interior and shows up the 3 dimensional views with proper measurements. Architects also take the numerical and texture advantages. Public spaces are design based on the landscape. It is necessary for the ordered system to investigate the ecological, social and geological aspects and processes in the landscape. Naval architecture deals with the maintenance of construction and motifs of marine structures.

The architects have an ability to design and fulfill all the requirements of the building, according their clients demand. The architect cooperates with other specialists of various fields, in the construction of a building. The designing concepts are drawn up according to the client’s requirement and it carries out all its needs. Architects deal with government laws, which indentify the construction rules and boundaries in the structural designing plan; such as parking requirements, height limitations of the building, require to set back space, windows requirements and their positions and also the using land. Normally architects take projects to tender. All over the world, architects also work as a government employee by taking the proper education and a decent experience. Architectural drawings are more technical and understandable from one architect’s designer to the other. These are the sources of communication to share ideas and architectural concepts.

Architectural designs contain measurements, and cross references of the pointing slots. Architects use standard views, as floor plan and site plan. The floor plan shows the floor view of the map, the structures placed horizontally technically, and it shows the gaps between the walls. Site plan shows the whole structure of the building. Site plans are used to present a building proposal. 3 dimensional modeling on software are also used for that purpose. The elevation view can be taken from one side of any building. It is helpful to describe the appearance of the building from external side. Architects design the interior map and structure of the building. They also arrange suitable plans for the interior designing of the building. Surveys of different historical building, acknowledge that architectural designs of the earlier architects were the finest pieces of work. New architects can get motivation from structures of the old. The leadership quality and best decision making makes the work of an architect more qualitative. These are the successful factors for any architectural project.

Akbar contributed a lot to the architecture of India. He single handedly added cities; most prominently Fatehpur Sikry, near Agra.  The tomb of Humanyoun, in Delhi was another masterpiece delivered during the tenure of Akbar.  The Lahore Fort was also started during the tenure of Akbar although it had a great contribution from his son Jehangir. Jehangir is also buried along with his wife in Lahore. The city of Sheikhupura is founded after the pet name of Mughal emperor Jehangir who was fondly referred by his father, Akbar as ‘Sheikhu’.  The Hirn Minar (Tower of the Deer) in also situated near Sheikhupura built in the memory of a pet Deer of Jehangir in 1606.  Jehnagir added yet another architectural masterpiece in Lahore by constructing the Shalimar Gardens. Legend has it that it carried underground escape tunnels which were connected to Lodhi Gardens in Delhi.

The peak of Mughal architecture was achieved under the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan who is renowned for building the eternal symbol of love, Taj Mahal in Agra; reffered to as ‘teardrop on the cheek of eternity’ by Rabidranath Tagore. Taj Mahal was constructed in the memory of his beloved Queen Mumtaz. Taj Mahal is one of the most visited tourist sites and has been listed as a wonder of the world. Shah Jehan also made a number of other important contributions in the form of Moti Masjid(Pearl Mosque in Agra Fort), Jamia Masjid in Delhi, and also added the elegant Sheesh Mahal to the Lahore Fort. The Wazir Khan Mosque was also constructed during Shah Jehans golden era in Lahore.

Although the pace slowed down and the flavor was toned down, yet architecture continued to flourish under the conservative emperor Aurangzeb. But he too was responsible for some notable additions such as the beautiful red stoned Badshahi Masjid (emperor’s Mosque) in Lahore. He also added one of the 13 gates of the Lahore fort.  The Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka was also built during the reign of Aurangzeb.

After Aurangzeb, things went downhill for the Mughals Dynasty. Losing the Battle of Plassey in 1757 was instrumental in hurting their cause as the British East India Company gained foothold in India and finally in 1857 after the war of independence the Mughal dynasty was totally abolished. Though this was the end of the road for Mughals but their architecture lived on. Notable buildings continued to be modeled on the basis of Mughal architecture even after the partition of subcontinent. The Prime Minister Secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan has been designed as per the Mughal Style of architecture and is a sight to watch at night. Its signs are even found on smaller structures such as the Saggian Bridge on River Ravi and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

The Mughals clearly failed in developing any sort of civil infrastructure in the subcontinent during their 3 century tenure but they shall always be remembered for their contribution to the architecture of subcontinent. Their innovations helped to introduce high roofs to combat the blistering summers of the subcontinent keeping the rooms cool and the addition of minarets to public buildings helped introduce an oriental yet Islamic touch in a hindu dominated society. Even if all of their contributions are forgotten, the world will never forget Shah Jehan and the Mughals for building the Taj Mahal.

As far construction of commercial buildings is concerned, the goal of every one is to have the tallest one built. This might not seem to be that much of a challenge but there are many things which an architect needs to look after. For example, the wind factor, strength of the materials used in construction and etc. apart from those, technical errors arise as the construction proceeds. The wind factor is quite dangerous. If the designs are not made properly then the wind would simply blow away the top of the building. You might not know this but winds in high altitudes are blowing at quite some miles per hour. The design of the building should be such that it cuts the air, no matter from which portion does it blow. The materials used in construction, is another problem to be solved by the architects. Using the stronger and long lasting material is not always the best option during construction. For instance, the masonry used for building old buildings would not be suitable. Reason behind this is simple; the weight of the walls would become too great if the building was too high. These are just few of the problems which architects overcome while constructing a building.

Constructing a structure like a bridge is even more complicated. One of the most ingenious designs was to use huge cables to support the weight of the bridge by poles. At first this idea looked as full proof, even the strongest of thunderstorms did not move such a bridge. However, light pouring of rain caused the bridges to become unstable. It was the architects who were called in to inspect the situation. The architects explained that water drops from light pouring do not flow away. They stay on these cables hence unbalancing the deck of the bridge. The answer to this problem was also presented by architects. Spiral linings were added on the cables which caused the water drops to flow down, hence maintaining the balance of the bridge. There are many examples of the simply remarkable contributions of architects to the development of the world.

Architecture is a field which knows no bounds. The market for the requirement of architects would always remain lucrative. Reason behind this is simple; man tends to utilize every single inch of land present. When the area gets congested, then the existing buildings are rebuilt. To have a good looking building, one needs to hire an architect. Thanks to CAD and other programs, architects are also aided, hence making their work easier and much more creative. There are many courses related to CAD, all of them cover a specific portion. Basically CAD is known to produce 3 dimensional images on a 2 dimensional screen. It is not like the movies, but you get to view all the three dimensions, length, width and height of the structure in a screen. This allows easier modification for the architects as well.

Just take a look at the Burj Dubai, Taipei, Freedom Tower, Shanghai world finance center and other buildings. You would get the idea that how sky high has the field of architecture reached.

With the Great Pyramids as the highlight of the show to offer, Egypt has boasted immensely rich architecture since the time of immemorial. Amongst the oldest civilizations of the world along with the Mayan and Indus valley civilizations, the most recognizable sight of Egypt has been its architecture, namely its Pyramids and the Sphinx.  Such is the respect for the ancient Egyptian architecture that it has found place in the Seven Wonders of the World. Even greater fact of its love in the hearts of people is that it features in the seven wonders of the ancient world as well as the current Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Pyramids are the only surviving wonder from the ancient wonders.

The basic element of Egyptian architecture has always been sun baked mud bricks and blocks, with a compression machine used to compress and squeeze out air as well as moisture, then leaving the blocks to be baked by solar heat. This was not only a very cost effective technique but also a highly durable one, as the pyramids bear witness; standing tall even after thousands of years as the burial places of the pharaohs. The third most important aspect of this type of architecture is the eco-friendliness that not only encouraged construction and urbanization but did not adversely affect the bio diversity of the environment.

The Pyramids of Egypt are situated in the Giza plateau, the reason why they are also referred to as the Pyramids of Giza; located on the outskirts of Cairo.  They are dated back to around 2500 BC with the oldest and tallest Pyramid known as the Pyramid of Khufu.

Amongst other architectural marvels of Egypt are the Karnak and the Luxor temples. Karnak is situated on the banks of river Nile, 1.5 miles north of Luxor. It has a unique history as it was constructed over the tenure of 30 different pharaohs while the construction kicked off in 16^th century BC. Karnak is renowned for its huge walls and gigantic pillars, a marvelous achievement even considering the time taken to build it with respect to the era of development. The Karnak has multiple small Sphinx and Dog head shaped statues in the complex as a sign of respect to the ancient Egyptian god Horus.

The Luxor temple is a monumental ancient Egyptian structure located near the east bank of river Nile by the city of Luxor (formerly known as Thebes).  The construction of this Egyptian marvel began in 14 BC and carried on for well over hundred years with major contributions from Ramasses II. This was the sight where the Obelisk (a tall tower with triangular pointed head at top) made its appearance for the fist time. Obelisks are popular till this date and can be found near Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The Luxor temple had twin obelisks but one of them was moved to Paris in 1835 and can be found in Place de la Concorde.

A common misconception amongst most people is that the Egyptian architecture stayed uniform throughout the history, but this is not true. It can significantly be divided into two eras, the first of the old kingdom and the second of the new kingdom. During the architectural era of the old kingdom, the tombs and mausoleums used to be constructed with flat ceilings but in the new kingdom era, the architectural shift was significant. Instead of flat and simple mud baked buildings the use of stone was increased and different geometrical designs were implemented which helped shape the face of the ancient Egypt as a cultural heritage for all architects.

Historical background

Geographical signs indicate that architecture originated in Nile valley for the first time, whereas second centre of architecture were observed in valley of Tigris and Euphrates. Art of Tigris and Euphrates blended in art of Greek, although Greek architecture has a strong origin itself. After those Romans developed a base for both construction and decoration and from them it spread to the civilized world. After many historical developments in fifteenth century in Italy, marvelous series of wonderful architectural presentations in the form of churches, palaces and monuments took its origin borrowed from Roman art. The influence of this architecture spread in Europe in sixteenth century but it lost its taste in the next two centuries. In nineteenth century, due to development of resources, architecture flourished greatly.

In Eastern land, architecture of India, China and Japan was most popular. Out of these, first one emphasized more on decorative side as compared to constructive side. It introduced a new art of palaces and mosques of Turkey, Spain, Persia and India to the world.

The fundamental structural principles are basically three on which all architecture is based. These are lintel, vault or arch and truss. Lintel depicts resistance to strains. Truss is the framework of a building composed of material which can resist to strain. Adoption of these principles actually affects the styles and decoration of the buildings.

Architectural style

Architectural style of a historical building is the expression of solemnity and majesty of a nation. It doesn’t take its place due to accidents but due to social, religious, moral and different conditions it spreads. Each style is actually based upon some principles. It could be affected by its surrounding civilizations. In history each style of architecture undergoes successive development using all the possibilities to achieve perfection.  There is also a period of decline in many architectural styles. It can be due to extinction of a civilization or due to evolution of new styles. History of architecture is like a chain in which each style is connected to previous one.

Architectural styles actually work on how they cover the enclosed spaces like arches, moldings, piers, traceries, and piers and how the decoration of these enhance the beauty of the building.

Combination of ancient one and modern architecture took place with the passage of time.  Through inheritance people adopted existing cultures. Same is the case with building but they incorporated them with previous cultures to create fashionable buildings. Due to this, architecture becomes a blend of past and present. From ecological view, combination of ancient and modern architecture is very important due to preservation of past resources and also generation of existing buildings. In various high profile buildings ancient and modern architecture are blended e.g. in Pierre de Meuron, Tate Modern and Jacques Herzog. In Paris the pyramid in the centre of Louvre show a reflection of 13^th century palace. Architecture based on combination of ancient and modern ones give attraction to buildings and houses and also preserves past architectural styles.

Owing to the fact that people are getting richer due to more income now-a-days, various urban products are booming up in the market. In homes kitchen and bathroom architecture created revolution in the market. Healthy designs provide the occupants with more daylight, making the environment healthier and more comfortable. New architectural trends are focusing on the enhancement of air ventilation. New trends now also focus on the minimum habitat disruption, more efficient use of energy and land, take advantage of native landscaping to ensure a look style, usage of building material which has less impact on environment. Depending upon the demands, indoor pools, fitness areas, garages all are provided in new architectural styles.

Along with buildings and houses, new trends in school architecture have become popular now-a-days. Along with classrooms architects place, other places such as gym, central courtyards, art departments, parking facility below the courtyard creates an open feelings. Use of natural light in effective way is also a good trend in architecture. In new architectural styles, use of glass with appropriate glazes in buildings is also increasing in order to use energy more efficiently. Use of solar energy in buildings will reduce load on other energy sources.

Computer aided designs drafts in the form of CAD or CADD are used now a days. This new technology is very helpful to create three dimensional designs.  With the new softwares the world of architecture has completely changed compared to the past. HSB turning Torso, Weismen Art Museum, Shanghai world financial centre, Transamerica Pyramid, Valencia opera house, Torre Marenostrum and many more are examples of modern architecture

Now a day, many clients and builders are focusing on the maximum utilization of natural resources due to increase in energy costs. The main objectives of new trends are how to effectively use solar energy in modern houses and buildings and the aesthetic beauty. Real essence of architecture is not only designing a building but it should include its surrounding environment. Architecture has a power to change the lifestyle of people. Huge massive structures with aesthetic sense have impacts on individual’s life.

Today green living and green for future generations are popular terms. Green designs started from 1920s by an architect named Rudolf Schindler. Regional climate and environmental sensitivity are the key objectives of this new trend. Schindler’s designs were based on elements like concrete and wood. Fluidity of outer environment in to interior of building was the main target of this trend. Many modern architects are using this trend. Currently green architecture is a new revolution which is focusing on utilization of space, site, and energy more efficiently. Reduction of wastes and protection of environment are new visions. Protection of occupants’ health is the main focus of new designs. Due to the trend of green architecture, there is now reduced use of chemicals which have adverse effects on human health, minimizing environmental hazards. Also waste materials are less toxic to the environment. Architecture is such type of art that is changing with the passage of time.

While such structures are just for mere survival, there are some which are made out of competition or luxury. One of the most famous competitions among buildings is not about their beauty but their height. The reason behind it can be the fact that beauty cannot be calibrated and height can be. Man continues to show the marvels of architecture and builds sky scrapers taller and taller. There was once a time when Empire States building used to be a definition of sky scrapers. However, these days, its height (1,250 ft), is not that much of a competition when you compare it with other tall buildings. With a height of over 2,000 ft, Burj Dubai, also known as Burj Khalifa, is the tallest building standing today.

Thanks to the design and creativity of architects, building such tall structures became possible. It seems that the creative mind of an architect can manipulate a building according to the dreams of a person. However, just like everything else in this world, the art of architecture is not always perfect. To construct such tall buildings their lifespan had to suffer. This is exactly what is happening to structures these days. In older times, the structures used to be made out of masonry. To reach the skies, architects had to let go of the stone and find a lighter alternative. This does not mean that these tall buildings are not safe. These building would just not be able to share the glorious and long life of old structures like The Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, Pyramids of Egypt, Coliseum (also known as colosseum) and etc. The secret of such extra ordinary lifespan of these amazing structures lie in their architectural design.

It is up to an architect to design a suitable structure and select the best possible material to build that structure. This also includes the method of preparation of the structure as well. Masonry is the art which gives these old buildings such extra ordinary life. It is the oldest method of making any structure, even an igloo is made by using this method. Masonry involves usage of large blocks made of brick or concrete as the building blocks of a structure. In case of an igloo the same principles are applied but the blocks are made of ice. The skill of masonry is quite expensive these days because of its scarcity. The skill is also rare as there is much less demand for it. People prefer taller buildings to the stronger ones these days. However, in places where earthquakes are frequent, masonry is much needed.

If you think that masonry does not go under the heading of architecture then you are wrong. People usually think that such a building would not be beautiful hence it would not require any aid from the architect. Taj Mahal is the most beautiful example of masonry, so think before labeling masonry as non-architectural.