I have been struggling lately with a post I wrote some time ago about the top ten reasons to not be an architect and the top ten reasons to be an architect. When I wrote these, it was a response to another blog I saw where the author was really down on the profession of architecture and had prepared a list of reasons why someone should not consider architecture as a career. I thought the list was terrible and when I finished reading the list, I determined that he must not be a very good architect; if your terrible at your job, you probably don’t like it regardless of what it is. Right?
The only way I would write my own reasons for not being an architect would be after I had written one containing a list of reasons why you should be an architect – so that’s what I did. The problem since then is that these are the two most popular posts (or at least the most viewed) I have written – with the list of reasons NOT to be an architect in the lead – by a mile.
“Et tu Brute?”
Shakespeare wrote this now famous line describing the moment when Julius Caesar saw Brutus amongst the traitors who stabbed him; in my case, the role of Julius Caesar will be played by Architecture, I will be Brutus, and the first post I read that led to me writing my own list of reasons will be Cassius. If I remember my history, things did not go well for Brutus and he took his own life.
In the 23 days since I wrote the first list, it has had almost 8,000 views (that I know of). I have been contacted by several other sites asking if they could copy the list and add their own comments. A German design magazine wants to run it in their magazine. In addition, I know that it’s also been published in Italy, Portugal, and Brazil. At first I was really excited because I had just started writing my blog and these lists were generating a tremendous amount of interest in my site which lead to them being exposed to my other posts. I had no expectation that these two posts would be popular and quite honestly, I didn’t have anything clever to write about so I took the easy road and wrote these top ten lists.
Maybe the reason I feel so guilty about writing the list of reasons not to be an architect is that despite being a party to trashing the profession that I love, I am happy that people have found my blog. I told someone just a few days ago that I write my posts for other people to read and that it was important to me to get more and more people reading this blog, otherwise I should just keep a diary. I care about what I write and I want people to feel something when they read it – move them to thinking or understanding something differently. To stop writting now seems unfathomable, but maybe I am at a crossroads. Do I keep writing and try to stay relevant so people are interested and keep coming, keep writing but at my own pace and schedule (and unplug from the para-metrics that tell me if anyone is coming and what they are reading), or quit all together.
I’m not sure what I’d vote for just now, but I never thought that what people wanted from me the most was a top ten list…..I feel cheap, like veneer…
So if your reading this post, I would like for every architect (or architect in training) to list one reason in the comment section below, or email me at bob@lifeofanarchitect.com, about what you like about being in this profession. I will collect all the answers and publish them. Since I have so many readers from non-english speaking countries, I will do my best to translate your comment.
Thanks.
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I have read both lists. In both lists l have found only the reasons to be an arcitect. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Architecture makes me feel alive (even after sleepless night). IT IS a way of living, thinking, loving, watching…WORLD.
Good morning Bob,
I am an interior architect for 8 years now. And graduated in a Bachelor of Design degree. One thing that I should warn everyone looking to make this a career, is that each night be prepared to work long hours because it is seen to be passionate about the industry. Working until 10.30pm every night is surely not inspiring but this goes to say that over promises are made to highly demanding clients. I am on the edge of leaving & starting a new career. Not because I’m not passionate but after 8 years of bad pay & long hours. It’s exhausting
Of course many architects (maybe the majority of them?) hate architecture.
It all boils down to the horrific disconnect between your average architectural education on one hand, and the real world architecture, on the other hand.
How can you expect someone with an “arts” degree (your typical graduate) to perform a job suited for someone with an economics/law/business degree, namely the ideal background of your typical Project Architect, who incidentally has the skills which are actually in demand, and can actually land you a job.
This disconnect is an ongoing, structural issue 🙂 and therefore will always generate this animosity.
Architecture gives you the freedom to experiment. It’s an art form. One that gives you a broad scale of materials, and yet requires a logical understanding of the human life.
This is the type of naive rhetoric that comes from someone that probably has never set foot in a real office. Its an art form only to those that don’t have to deal with the actual realities of running a business. Get a clue.
I’m an older architect student, fairly early on in the process of earning a degree. Architecture has vacillated between an interest and a passion for decades for me. I spent several years in construction before life guided me back to school. I have several reservations about what it means to be an architect in this day and age, but I am still excited about the opportunity to learn how to problem solve, to create, to improve, and most of all leave something behind that I can feel good about and take some pride in. I’m not interested in fame or becoming rich, I just want to implement design that resonates with me morally, ethically, logically, and aesthetically. That opportunity is what excites me about architecture.
I am a female, undergraduate student at UNM and am not your average cup o’joe one would say. I am different than my class mates; I have life experience, piercings, tattoos, and well I am DIFFERENT. It seems the architecture field is not ready to TRUE artists and people who are DIFFERENT. I would like to hope this is only the case at my university but I fear that it is like this across the board. I am at the end of my 3rd year and just want to get through the last year and figure out where I belong because the architecture field is not open to DIFFERENT. It is a sad semester.
Andrea,
Don’t take this the in the overly harsh way that it will sound but architecture has nothing to do with how you are perceived – true artist or not. The fact that you think that piercings and tattoos are mainstream enough that you won’t be judged by them just shows that you haven’t been in the professional work world yet or you are turning a blind eye to the realities of professional life.
That having been said, if you have the abilities and skills to transcend the judgement you are sure to face (regardless of which professional vocation you choose … good luck with bank, real estate, engineering, lawyer, etc…) it won’t matter what you look like.
Best of luck
and what a dream that is! but it sure sounds good to me
Hi Bob.
Ran across your site from somewhere else about a week ago, and have been perusing old posts during my lunch hour. This one in particular spoke to me.
At 46 years old, i may be done with architecture. Have done the firm thing, non-profit urban renewal thing, competitions, etc.. Long story short, it’s just not fun anymore. And with this economy, prior problems that were once cracks in the profession are now showing up as fractures (especially in your city, where i’ve heard mention that 50% of Dallas architects lost their jobs). So it’s not surprising that your most popular post dealt with the negatives.
That said, i’ll toss in one thing i like/dislike about the profession. Like: the dual right side/left side brain thing, of taking a creative concept and making it real. Dislike: the (unfortunate) issue that this rarely actually happens.
So anyway, look forward to more posts. BTW, my 2 sons are also into the hex bug phenomena (na? non?) . . . i agree, they are way cool.
things are definitely tough and nobody I know would think twice about hanging it up if it’s not fun anymore. Most of the time I can write off the pay and the hours because other things make up for it – mostly I enjoy what I do and find it rewarding. You take those last two out of the mix and I would find something else to do as well.
Best of luck
I like being an architect, but I do not enjoy interacting with the older generation of female architects. Mainly the ones who have reached a position of authority. Maybe they are so aggressive, and have a by “hook or crook” attitude because they are in a male dominated profession, and have been conditioned to think this way. However that doesn’t give you the right to be unethical, manipulative, and just plain rude and unpleasant. This is why I don’t enjoy being an architect. Because as a female, with a strong personality, I seem to run into this problem at every firm. Usually every one else loves having me around, except that one women. All I want is to be able to practice architecture, get along with my co-workers, and walk by you without feeling nauseous. Architecture really is an inbred society, where architects work, befriend, and marry other architects. However, you rarely see “Ms. Ima Architect, at the happy hour. That’s because you burned your own bridge, trying to prove what a hard ass you are.
I am an undergraduate student at UNM, female and even in studio this is the case. Looks like my instincts of choosing another profession are probably true.
I am very sorry to hear that things have/ are going so poorly and thank you for sharing your experience and story. People need to hear both sides of the story and yours is certainly different from my own experience.
All the best to you, I hope you find something that makes you happy.
wow.
Know that It’s not my intention to be vulgar, and I don’t say this flippantly (to you or Publicweb) but if a wound’s festering and gangrenous, It’s time to consider amputation.
With that, the thing that I like most about the profession is the fact that it uses all of my mental and physical faculties. What’s great about this characteristic, is the fact that it isn’t dependent upon any specific outcome of any application of those faculties.
Hopefully, that makes sense.
Anyway…
Yes, well, of course, this is just the sort blinkered philistine pig ignorance I’ve come to expect from you non-creative garbage. You sit there on your loathsome, spotty behinds squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker’s cuss about the struggling artist. You excrement! You lousy hypocritical whining toadies with your lousy colour TV sets and your Tony Jacklin golf clubs and your bleeding masonic handshakes! You wouldn’t let me join, would you, you blackballing bastards. Well I wouldn’t become a freemason now if you went down on your lousy, stinking, purulent knees and begged me.
Lansing,
Ha! – at first I didn’t understand your response and I thought, has his profile been hacked? Now I realize this is a fairly accurate recreation of the ‘Architect’s Sketch’ from Monty Python when John Cleese berates his clients for not understanding or valuing the design he created for them.
Whew! Nicely done.
The one thing I enjoyed doing is getting engrossed in a design problem with a coworker who was on the same page as myself, but alas, all I do is manage pumped up egos with large wallets and little minds. I am Architecture’s victim. To wait 30 years to do what I like is lunacy. Architects shouldn’t be called on to manage projects, it strips our soul of the innocence that allow us to create beautiful, sublime spaces.
I wouldn't sweat that you contributed to the “trashing” of architecture. all the architects understand–we learned to be critical didn't we? how would we not be critical of the profession itself? i think the popularity of your top ten post is a reflection of it's inanity: it's a top ten list. it will fit in quite easily as a sidebar in a design magazine somewhere. it's been RSS-ed, but for print. it's good to be self conscious about what you write, and to your credit it is a reflection that you care.
I’m going to reply to your request by describing why I am trying to remain an employed architect even when the odds are so against most of us right now. I like people. I like the differences among us. As an architect, particularly one that has been blessed to have often been in the project initiation phase where folks are excitied about a project and dreaming and thinking big, I like to listen and gather all that energy from those individauls. Then – when I do my job well – I get the pleasure of squishing it all around and presenting it back to them as a program and conceptual idea that honors their individual needs but works for and nurtures the whole community! That’s the part that I like best; being the assimilator and consensus builder.
Nell,
What a great response, I really enjoyed reading it. I have talked about feeding off the excitement and the energy of my clients but I haven’t heard too many others mention that. Based on your list, I would gather (hope) that we would be good friends.
Changing how people experience the world is the most common reason I received thus far (that is a good one). I hope you will read some of posts here and leave additional comments.
I’m going to reply to your request by describing why I am trying to remain an employed architect even when the odds are so against most of us right now. I like people. I like the differences among us. As an architect, particularly one that has been blessed to have often been in the project initiation phase where folks are excitied about a project and dreaming and thinking big, I like to listen and gather all that energy from those individauls. Then – when I do my job well – I get the pleasure of squishing it all around and presenting it back to them as a program and conceptual idea that honors their individual needs but works for and nurtures the whole community! That’s the part that I like best; being the assimilator and consensus builder.
Nell,
What a great response, I really enjoyed reading it. I have talked about feeding off the excitement and the energy of my clients but I haven’t heard too many others mention that. Based on your list, I would gather (hope) that we would be good friends.
Changing how people experience the world is the most common reason I received thus far (that is a good one). I hope you will read some of posts here and leave additional comments.
Bob,
That is an excellent program and glad you got a chance to experience it. While in school I did not get to take part in that, but after VT while working in Hamburg around 1993 or 94, i did get to meet up with a couple of groups as they came through Berlin and Eichstadt, which was rewarding in itself. I graduated in 1991, but don’t recall a Lesley.
Speaking of small world, the reason I said I related to your Arkansas post is that I was just there in January and went to look at Marlon Blackwell’s library renovation in Gentry and also to Fayetteville to check out the Fulbright Building renovation. I enjoy his work too and looking forward to seeing more of it.
Bob,
That is an excellent program and glad you got a chance to experience it. While in school I did not get to take part in that, but after VT while working in Hamburg around 1993 or 94, i did get to meet up with a couple of groups as they came through Berlin and Eichstadt, which was rewarding in itself. I graduated in 1991, but don’t recall a Lesley.
Speaking of small world, the reason I said I related to your Arkansas post is that I was just there in January and went to look at Marlon Blackwell’s library renovation in Gentry and also to Fayetteville to check out the Fulbright Building renovation. I enjoy his work too and looking forward to seeing more of it.
Patrick,
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and went on the London/Lugano travel Scholarship with VT in 1990 (great program) did you get to do that? The only name that immediately comes to mind is Lesley Paiva (at least that’s her name now). I can go bcak and look through my “memorabilia” and see what I dig up.
Small world.
Patrick,
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and went on the London/Lugano travel Scholarship with VT in 1990 (great program) did you get to do that? The only name that immediately comes to mind is Lesley Paiva (at least that’s her name now). I can go bcak and look through my “memorabilia” and see what I dig up.
Small world.
As an Interior Design student what I think is the best thing about architecture and design is the intersection of so many ideas that occurs. From lighting, furniture, and materials to the environmental, emotional or sociological impact of design, a whole world of details is there to be considered and it can be inspiring to see how these different facets coalesce.
Plus, we get to look at all the pretty stuff out there. My family doesn’t understand why I sigh over Ann Sacks tile but my Interiors buddies do, haha!
Erica,
I like that you have referenced theemotional and sociological impact of design – these are things that you don’t necessarily think about when you are first starting out. The longer you go on working, and the more you discover your own sense and how that impacts how you work, you can’t help but become emotionaly tied to your work and that something that I didn’t put on the “to” list as compared to other professions but I should have.
Thanks for commenting, it’s good to hear from you.
As an Interior Design student what I think is the best thing about architecture and design is the intersection of so many ideas that occurs. From lighting, furniture, and materials to the environmental, emotional or sociological impact of design, a whole world of details is there to be considered and it can be inspiring to see how these different facets coalesce.
Plus, we get to look at all the pretty stuff out there. My family doesn’t understand why I sigh over Ann Sacks tile but my Interiors buddies do, haha!
Erica,
I like that you have referenced theemotional and sociological impact of design – these are things that you don’t necessarily think about when you are first starting out. The longer you go on working, and the more you discover your own sense and how that impacts how you work, you can’t help but become emotionaly tied to your work and that something that I didn’t put on the “to” list as compared to other professions but I should have.
Thanks for commenting, it’s good to hear from you.
The top reason why I am an architect is that I can’t imagine anything else would so successfully satisfy both my craving to make and my craving to organize. Sigh. I am now a consultant, so I miss the designing part desperately and have slid back into redoing my personal surroundings AGAIN to satisfy that craving.
I also read your blog because I stumbled on a recent post where you mentioned Michael Malone – coincidentally a former co-worker and longtime pal of mine. I had no idea he’d written a book until I read it on your blog. Thanks for the connection (it’s a small world, huh!)
The top reason why I am an architect is that I can’t imagine anything else would so successfully satisfy both my craving to make and my craving to organize. Sigh. I am now a consultant, so I miss the designing part desperately and have slid back into redoing my personal surroundings AGAIN to satisfy that craving.
I also read your blog because I stumbled on a recent post where you mentioned Michael Malone – coincidentally a former co-worker and longtime pal of mine. I had no idea he’d written a book until I read it on your blog. Thanks for the connection (it’s a small world, huh!)
Jennifer-
simply and beautifully stated. I can’t imagine doing anything else either. Cheers!
Jennifer-
simply and beautifully stated. I can’t imagine doing anything else either. Cheers!
Mynta,
It is amusing that so few people really understand what we do (including architects who are in or just out of school) but yet they all want to do what we do. As soon as I tell people that I am an architect, everyone (and I mean everyone) tells me that they wanted to be an architect or at least thought about being an architect. It’s nice to be a part of something larger – particularly on the soul-sucking days which for the record – everyone has those, they aren’t unique to us – so we look for the good to help define our own perception of what we do. At least I do.
Thanks for your comment, I hope to hear more from you.
Mynta,
It is amusing that so few people really understand what we do (including architects who are in or just out of school) but yet they all want to do what we do. As soon as I tell people that I am an architect, everyone (and I mean everyone) tells me that they wanted to be an architect or at least thought about being an architect. It’s nice to be a part of something larger – particularly on the soul-sucking days which for the record – everyone has those, they aren’t unique to us – so we look for the good to help define our own perception of what we do. At least I do.
Thanks for your comment, I hope to hear more from you.
The best parts about being an architect in training are the late nights, new friends (who become closer than your family), unreal projects (that jurors always remind us that we’ll miss when we start practicing in real life) and fixitive. I believe we “hate” something as much as we love it. It’s like how people say “I hope I’m not like my parents when I get older”…30 years later, you become the very thing you thought you didn’t want to be, but you love. So all the reasons NOT to be an architect could very well equate to reasons to BECOMING an architect (although I haven’t read your list yet). So far, the absolute remarkable part about training in this field is realizing how your mind changes. I go into a building and marvel at the structure, while normal people look for something to sit on. Different strokes for different folks.
Janice,
Very interesting comment that the list of reasons NOT to become an architect could change into the reasons why you WOULD. I had this very same conversation with another architect right after I originally wrote the list. The thing that I find most intriguing is that the list of reasons why not to be an architect are so generic that this could be a list for any profession. I thought that it would be fun to compare this list to what would happen if you went to a fortune teller – that they would tell you things that would resonate with everyone but you hear the message as being specific to you (your going to do some traveling in the near future…).
Maybe that’s why this list is connecting with so many people?
Thanks for your comments and for reading the blog, and feel free to post anytime – the dialog is great.
The best parts about being an architect in training are the late nights, new friends (who become closer than your family), unreal projects (that jurors always remind us that we’ll miss when we start practicing in real life) and fixitive. I believe we “hate” something as much as we love it. It’s like how people say “I hope I’m not like my parents when I get older”…30 years later, you become the very thing you thought you didn’t want to be, but you love. So all the reasons NOT to be an architect could very well equate to reasons to BECOMING an architect (although I haven’t read your list yet). So far, the absolute remarkable part about training in this field is realizing how your mind changes. I go into a building and marvel at the structure, while normal people look for something to sit on. Different strokes for different folks.
Janice,
Very interesting comment that the list of reasons NOT to become an architect could change into the reasons why you WOULD. I had this very same conversation with another architect right after I originally wrote the list. The thing that I find most intriguing is that the list of reasons why not to be an architect are so generic that this could be a list for any profession. I thought that it would be fun to compare this list to what would happen if you went to a fortune teller – that they would tell you things that would resonate with everyone but you hear the message as being specific to you (your going to do some traveling in the near future…).
Maybe that’s why this list is connecting with so many people?
Thanks for your comments and for reading the blog, and feel free to post anytime – the dialog is great.
My reply to this question is probably more reflective of the fact that I am no longer a practicing architect, as I have decided to pursue my career in the world of construction. The education of an architect is priceless, and when we think about it applies to all aspects of our lives. Even though I do not practice architecture at the moment, my life has been and will always be affected by the education/training that I received. We see the world in a different way, and it is our responsibility (or gift!) to share this vision with others. This can never be taken from us, and it will constantly be with us in our journey through life. The best part about being an architect is the way that it has changed our own lives and our ability to share this passion/vision with our family, friends, coworkers, and most importantly clients!
Tim,
Thanks for chiming in, I was wondering if I had architects that had moved on to other fields reading these posts. I think your comment is insightful but I am really interested in why you moved into construction. Did you discover that the construction industry suited your skill set better or was it driven by the market, or salary, etc. Considering so many people are interested in the reason why not to be an architect, maybe understanding why those who were architects moved into other fields would be of interest?
My reply to this question is probably more reflective of the fact that I am no longer a practicing architect, as I have decided to pursue my career in the world of construction. The education of an architect is priceless, and when we think about it applies to all aspects of our lives. Even though I do not practice architecture at the moment, my life has been and will always be affected by the education/training that I received. We see the world in a different way, and it is our responsibility (or gift!) to share this vision with others. This can never be taken from us, and it will constantly be with us in our journey through life. The best part about being an architect is the way that it has changed our own lives and our ability to share this passion/vision with our family, friends, coworkers, and most importantly clients!
Tim,
Thanks for chiming in, I was wondering if I had architects that had moved on to other fields reading these posts. I think your comment is insightful but I am really interested in why you moved into construction. Did you discover that the construction industry suited your skill set better or was it driven by the market, or salary, etc. Considering so many people are interested in the reason why not to be an architect, maybe understanding why those who were architects moved into other fields would be of interest?
I found your site a week or so ago because of your top 10 lists, but your other posts are what I stayed for, so please consider staying around. Your posts are refreshing, entertaining, and inspiring to those of us out here plugging away in the profession. Architects have the potential to profoundly affect a person’s everyday experience. It’s fun! We get to draw things, and then watch them appear, and hopefully these things improve somebody’s ability to think/sleep/work/etc. All the crap we have to wade through sometimes make us forget the fun, that’s all.
Sally,
Thanks for commenting, I am glad to hear you think the other posts are worth your time. I had no idea how much effort it would take putting this together and while it has been rewarding, it has also been exhausting. To see that the list of reasons not to be an architect is the most viewed post ever, I started thinking what’s the point.
To put it current perspective, so far today the list of reason not to be an architect has been read twice as much as any other post. Sigh…..
Your comment is very encouraging – thanks.
I found your site a week or so ago because of your top 10 lists, but your other posts are what I stayed for, so please consider staying around. Your posts are refreshing, entertaining, and inspiring to those of us out here plugging away in the profession. Architects have the potential to profoundly affect a person’s everyday experience. It’s fun! We get to draw things, and then watch them appear, and hopefully these things improve somebody’s ability to think/sleep/work/etc. All the crap we have to wade through sometimes make us forget the fun, that’s all.
Sally,
Thanks for commenting, I am glad to hear you think the other posts are worth your time. I had no idea how much effort it would take putting this together and while it has been rewarding, it has also been exhausting. To see that the list of reasons not to be an architect is the most viewed post ever, I started thinking what’s the point.
To put it current perspective, so far today the list of reason not to be an architect has been read twice as much as any other post. Sigh…..
Your comment is very encouraging – thanks.
The best part of being an architect is helping a client make their vision a reality. I currently focus on handicap accessibility and as an architect it is still very rewarding to help my clients solve issues and assist them in creating a space they are both proud of and that serves the patrons that use it! Thanks for your post….It really is a great profession!
Marcy,
Thanks for your comment. I agree about helping clients with their vision (as long as they don’t demand glass block!!)
The best part of being an architect is helping a client make their vision a reality. I currently focus on handicap accessibility and as an architect it is still very rewarding to help my clients solve issues and assist them in creating a space they are both proud of and that serves the patrons that use it! Thanks for your post….It really is a great profession!
Marcy,
Thanks for your comment. I agree about helping clients with their vision (as long as they don’t demand glass block!!)