"Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves". ~ Julia Morgan
At the core of it all, an architect is a communicator. You my friend, are a creator of meaning.
Spaces are not merely enclosures with no face and no expression. They are a canvas for which the artist (which is you) distills a multitude of contexts and considerations – to provide response that can say a resounding something. Continue reading ARCHI NOTE #1: You are a COMMUNICATOR.
Got an email last night from Erika, a young, driven former schoolmate who had to put her architecture dreams on hold due to migration to a different country. Now she has a number of questions that I’d gladly shed some light on. Let’s check out what she had to say.
Hey Aldo! :) I came across your website just recently. It's really refreshing to know that a Filipino site like this exists! As a fresh graduate and someone already exposed to the working environment in the corporate world of Architecture, I thought you might be able to give me a lot of perspective on things. If you have the time to go through this, it would help me significantly! I'm sorry this popped in so randomly. Any kind of insight would be great. This might be long and a little confusing; I apologize in advance, huhu.
Hey there Erika! 🙂 So nice to know that you appreciate the site. It’s really been my goal to put some Philippine context in the myriad of architectural learning sites for students. I’d be glad to help; go on and tell me your story. Continue reading “Is It Too Late to Start Pursuing Architecture Again?” (Q&A #7)
Contrary to popular belief, rendering like a true artist is a non-essential part of being an architect.
Sure, it’s an impressive skill to have, but for the most part, being able to draw clearly is of higher worth. Sketching is very important for the thought and communication processes of architectural work – but the clarity of your drawings holds more weight than their flashiness.
Related Post: Why Is It Important For Architects to Sketch?
Sketching is great for fleshing out broad ideas and moves. But during the tail-ends of each design project, it’s more time-efficient to refine your work and do the final drawings with computer software. And so you might be dipping your toes into a myriad of programs that your local scene gravitate towards.
The best bang for your buck would be to learn a 2D Drafting Software (like AutoCAD), a 3D modelling software (like Sketchup and 3Ds Max), and a BIM Software (like ArchiCAD or Revit).
You might also like: The BIG 4: Aspects of Architectural Education You Just HAVE to Focus On. Continue reading 6 Simple Truths Incoming Architecture Freshmen Can Expect.
The holidays are just around the corner, and many of us are giddy at the chance to finally unwind, relax, and let go of the stresses of the previous year.
I say, why not learn an easy but life-changing productivity hack these next lazy days?
With all the free time and lack of responsibility, it’s also the best time to rethink the loose baggage of your daily routine – in order to discover enlightening ways on how to perform exponentially better this 2015. Chances are, simple things you take for granted are holding you back bigtime.
Enter my BREAKFAST EXPERIMENT: an open challenge that I promise will be an excellent learning experience.
What’s in it for you?
A chance to know your body better, discover a life hack that is in-grained in our physiology, never be distracted by ravenous hunger and energy crashes in the late morning, and live everyday with a sense of well-being and stable emotions.
So what do you have to do?
This little challenge of mine involves you doing two easy, eye-opening steps. Continue reading The Breakfast Experiment: DOUBLE Your Morning Energy in 2 Easy Steps.
In the previous post entitled On Smaller Firms: Low Pay, But High Value? (Q&A#5), I first mentioned the issue of money in the architectural profession. In line with this, today, I thought I’d do a short, principle-based post on my position on wealth and getting rich.
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Growing up, I developed into a bit of a societal-conscious little kid. I gravitated towards the spectrum of geek-dom; I’d watch news whilst my peers watched Gossip Girl; i’d read about human trafficking and geopolitics while my best friends read about cars and airsoft guns. Due to these habits, I ended up having a large soft spot for the less-fortunate and voiceless.
On the other end, I was enrolled in a top private school in the country’s capital. I was also personally exposed to the highly exuberant lifestyles of some of the Filipino Super-Elite. While I had many rich acquaintances who lived with societal consciousness, there were a number who really just lived large, spoiled, and insensitive to the plight of the poor.
Witnessing personally this enormous dichotomy, for a large part of my life, I was repulsed by the thought of being very wealthy. Continue reading Why Wealth Is Not Evil, And Why You Should Get Rich.
"Victory is the child of preparation and determination". ~ Sean Hampton
Today, I thought I’d give a bit of a token piece for the new readers, for them to get an easy overview of all the topics Archi Student Help has covered in its first 50 pages or so.
From me to you, here’s a 22 point summary of the blog’s take-home points for young designers thus far, geared at helping you become your best self yet. If you find them helpful, please – feel free to share them with your friends.
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1. Discover early on what it really means to design. And in-grain it into your thinking.
2. Understand that the best take-home from every project isn’t a pretty rendering, but a more-informed design process.
3. Prioritize your health. Consider that life is a marathon and not a sprint.
4. Invest in your brain power. Integrate life-hacks into a comprehensive program to keep you revved like a well-tuned car.
5. Become process-oriented. It will make you happier, more consistent, and will give you solid self-worth. Continue reading 22 Simple Guidelines for the Successful Architecture Student
"Our thinking is a pious reception". ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today we’re going to open up your brain and look inside for a bit – in order to realize some very important stuff.
Don’t fret, and don’t run away. This is an exercise in meta-thinking. And as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, meta-thinking is a great tool for gaining meaningful insight about your own design process.
After all, once you understand how your thinking process ticks, you’ll be able to determine your cogs in the system, weed them out, and become a better designer in the process.
This post covers something extremely critical: your motivations.
When you handle your studio projects, who are you really designing for?
In going about your design process, whose face are you picturing with each line? Who is the end goal that your architecture must satisfy? With each little move, each element, each nuance, whose nod of approval are you primarily valuing?
You’ll be surprised at the many possible answers, their implications, and what they say about your own aspirations.
So then – as you look purposely at your finished architectural program, sketch on a napkin, get your hands goey with your sketch model, or manipulate shells and fabrics on Sketchup or Rhino, who is primarily on your mind?
Continue reading The 5 People You Meet in Every Project: Who Are You REALLY Designing For?
ARCHI STUDENT HELP 