An architect is a professional who is in charge of designing construction projects from initial concept to completion. His duties include designing, estimating costs and preparing budgets and leading teams for the construction of buildings and other architectural works.
Architecture could be described as the art and science of creating infrastructures with qualities of beauty, geometry, emotional power, intellectual content, solid construction and convenient planning, taking into consideration different elements such as: durable materials, pleasant decorations, good proportions, serenity and dynamism.
The architect defines himself as a skilled master in the art of construction, who designs and frames any complex structure and is able to guarantee that the infrastructure has a sophisticated aesthetic content, supervising that the construction of the work is carried out in accordance with high standards. design standards.
Soane described the profession of the architect as one who makes designs and estimates, directs constructions and values the execution of its parts.
It is an intermediary agent between the employer whose interests must be protected and the workforce, whose rights must be defended, ensuring optimal compliance with the design parameters during the materialization of the projects.
The functions of an architect are very broad and include, but are not limited to, strategic planning and land distribution, urban design, preparation of preliminary studies, concept creation, design, models, drawings, specifications and technical documentation, contract administration, construction supervision and project management.
Some of the main activities carried out by architects are briefly described below.
Activities that architects do
one.
One of the main tasks of an architect is to work with stakeholders to identify project requirements.
Despite not being responsible for coordinating and documenting all requirements, you must be involved in requirements engineering activities.
Your technical vision plays a crucial role in setting realistic and well-articulated expectations early in the new development life cycle.
This activity guarantees the full identification of the functional characteristics and quality attributes expected by the client.
two.
Once the project is planned, the architect must find the inspiration that allows him to conceive highly detailed plans, with style and that are adapted to the needs of the project, respecting the client's requirements and the building codes.
Devising design is a creative stage that merits an understanding of the basic principles on which architecture is based: beauty, firmness, and convenience.
3.
Due to the complexity of today's environment, the wide variety of materials available, the use of various construction techniques, and price volatility, estimating total project costs is often a complex process.
The economic evaluation allows the architect to be better prepared to understand the relationships between the design options he poses, their benefits and relative costs.
Considering this information, the architect selects the optimal design alternative that best suits the client's economic expectations.
Four.
After the preparation of the sketches and plans, and the determination of the costs, the project must be presented to clients in informal meetings or in elaborate formal presentations that are usually attended by multidisciplinary teams.
In this sense, the architect must be able to make a good presentation and know how to explain his vision to executives.
At these meetings, the architect may be asked to make modifications and adjustments to the ideas raised until the client is completely satisfied with the design.
It is essential that the architect have an objective vision when his design is being evaluated. You should save your ego and use the evaluations as an opportunity to learn how to improve the design and ensure it is fit for purpose.
5.
Ensuring project completion conforms to design is a practical process that is led by the architect.
This activity begins with documented architectural renderings that clearly describe the design in such a way that site managers know what to build.
The detailed design of each element is compared with the execution, to ensure that it complies with what was raised in the project presentation stage. Compliance compliance is achieved through a rigorous inspection process.
6.
During the construction stages of the project, it is usual for the parties involved to want to change the original design, to increase its functionality, reduce execution times, reduce the costs of the structure, among other reasons.
There are also unforeseen circumstances that can lead to change orders, such as weather conditions, modifications to city building codes, or even design errors and omissions.
In this sense, the architect can help organizations to predict the cost and impact of systemic changes and manage their execution if necessary.
Changes that include a single item are called local changes and are usually less expensive in terms of time and money.
Changes that occur outside of a single element are called nonlinear changes and could affect many elements.
Structural changes generally demand that the system architecture be redesigned, being the most expensive that can be done.
7.
In conjunction with communication skills, the architect often plays an implicit role as a manager. An architectural project involves the skillful management of people, time and resources.
Architects often must interact with clients, suppliers, contractors, government agencies and specialists, such as engineers, to design and develop all the buildings in our environment, from highly detailed fragments to large-scale urban complexes.
A good architect has a global perspective of systematic design and engineering economics, which allows him to act as a mediator in the resolution of conflicts that often arise between the parties involved.
Architects must develop the ability to listen actively and make the decisions that are most convenient for the success of the project.
Architects play an important leadership role in examining the global landscape and looking for opportunities to adopt new and emerging technologies. To do this effectively, they must understand the financial implications of employing new technology.
On occasions, the architect must negotiate with the contractor the extension of the work schedule in order to faithfully comply with the delivery periods that have been foreseen, without such agreements generating demands for the payment of additional services.
References
- Curl, J., and Wilson, S. (2015). The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
- Lattanze, A. (2009). Architecting Software Intensive Systems: A Practitioners Guide. Boca Raton, CRC Press.
- Littlefield, D. (2005). The Architect's Guide to Running a Practice. Oxford, Elsevier.
- Nicholson, M. (2003). Architects' Guide to Fee Bidding. London, Spon Press.
- Quatman, W., and Dhar, R. (2003). The Architect's Guide to Design-Build Services. Hoboken, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.