Sharpening your architecture skills is a long-term process that requires many sleepless nights dotted with anxiety and Eureka moments. Beginnings are particularly challenging when you lack that spark of inspiration for the concept of your dreams.
Luckily, architecture design isn’t only about those flashing ideas that make your sketch stand out from the crowd. Above all, an excellent architect must persevere, work well under pressure, and have a solid educational background.
What you’re doing takes advanced knowledge and responsibility, so quick solutions never work. You must sketch, grow, and adjust all your projects through deep site analysis, research, collaboration, and experimentation.
So, how do you balance functionality and creativity without breaking the bank?
Here are 10 hacks on how to polish your architecture skills.
Head to Architecture Exhibitions
As straightforward as this tip might sound, students often underestimate the power of public shows that display unusual architectural solutions. Whether you’re a novice to the field or a seasoned architect, exhibitions present an abundance of projects that give insight into spectacular techniques. But everyone knows that it is difficult for a student to find free time for anything. If you are looking for a place to “write my essay online“, there are many professionals who will help you free up time to visit an exhibition or even relax.
Attend Various Lectures
There’s no fast way to grasp the principles of architectural design. However, there is a shortcut to making yourself more efficient by learning the essential concepts first-hand. To do so, get guidance and mentorship from architects responsible for an iconic project. Attend their lectures and hear them talk about their challenges and winning concepts.
“Taking classes isn’t only about impressions, though. You will have to engage in written and design work, too. When strapped for time, you can always write an essay with PapersOwl, and focus on the practical aspect of your assignments,” suggests Felicity Davis, writer at the platform.
Analyze Your Site
The place where you’re designing the building will impact the outcome significantly. According to experts, you can’t create anything in isolation without considering the site-specific features. Therefore, analyze the construction site from all aspects and see how it can provide meaning to your design.
Once you elaborate on the overall context to the tiniest detail, build your framework and start tackling the most pressing issues first. Also, ensure you use and adapt the lessons learned from your previous undertakings.
Be Active on Pinterest
Though it might seem irrelevant, your online presence is critical for promotion. And when speaking of virtual image stores, Pinterest takes the lead. Therefore, it’s worth investing your time into building an influential account with a solid follower base.
Besides promoting your achievements, Pinterest is the perfect place to get inspired by a lot of experts in the field. Moreover, you can use the search engine for instances of specific building types, interiors, or materials. Organizing your findings into categories is also possible. For example, you might label your boards as houses, schools, lighting, staircases, and fireplaces.
Be Creative When Borrowing
Considering the number of styles over the last century, you will understand that original works are rare. Architects constantly borrow ideas and develop them to suit particular requirements and constraints.
Hence, a skillful designer must learn how to steal and not copy. Creative jobs are demanding, so you must embrace influence and redefine what already exists. And with so much content available, it would be unreasonable to ignore ground-breaking concepts.
Literature Is Your Best Friend
While the virtual realm enables us to find information within seconds, the quickest solutions rarely work. Architecture is a complex subject, taking years of studying, skill honing, and experience to create meaningful and functional buildings.
If you were lucky enough to study at top universities for architecture, you know that quality education is decisive for your career. Hence, never stop exploring the world of design from hardcopy architecture books. Pictures can say thousands of words, but books help you ponder the profession.
Be Inquisitive
The key to becoming better is to ask questions even if everything seems crystal clear. Qualified designers understand the power of curiosity and that it’s the only way to perfection.
This advice is helpful to interns who must engage with their tutors and professors. Also, soak up as much knowledge as you can from senior members of companies that hire you. Get eager about different designs and what led to the final solutions.
Look at the Broader Picture
Your design and the surrounding landscape must be in perfect harmony. In addition, these two should complement each other to achieve the ultimate effect.
Therefore, you shouldn’t neglect this segment of your work but consider it from the onset. Leaving the landscape for the final design stages is a wrong approach to longstanding concepts. You don’t want your portfolio to get negative remarks from academia.
Find Your Style
Locking your aims on a favorite building and architect is critical. But before anything, decide why you like this style and how it can appeal to the broader masses. Research the approach you want to take and read loads of articles and reviews about the targeted professional.
Take Criticism with Due Respect
Architecture is subjective, and there is no discussion about different tastes. Hence, prepare to get both positive and negative comments. It’s impossible to get everyone to like your work, but favorable remarks should prevail.
To this end, ensure you ask your colleagues and friends to review your work and offer suggestions for improvement. And remember, never take criticism with disdain, but focus on whether the reasoning is logical.
Final Thoughts
Every experienced architecture creator fears the blank piece of paper that awaits an ideal design. Following the steps outlined above will help you turn that empty space on your hands into a viable solution worth much praise. Finally, resist that initial pressure of finding a unique concept and let your creative juices flow.
