Architecture is a field with no boundary, designs varies from one point to another, even every person’s perception towards a design is different. This is what makes architecture, being favourited, as well as being hated. For instance, some people might love Taipei 101, but some dislike the design of the tower. You like it or not? Why? Or do you recognize this building?
Architecture makes people proud. It is a symbol of strength, an icon of a site, or even can be a landmark of a country. Architects will be recognized in completion of a structure designed by him or her. Everyone envy architects. However, do you know that behind all these, architects suffer a lot.
From the process of designing, sketches come first, based on initial ideas and appropriate concepts. Architecture has no boundary but it is limited by technology, engineering, budget, site, and climate resistance. The technology available might not be able to build such amazing structure, the engineering skill might be not enough to build such creative structure, financial problem prevents architect from designing further, site prevents architect to build beyond boundary, and climate sometimes give challenges to architects.
Finish designing, it’s time for possibility in construction. Is the structure designed so beautifully on papers, or even on computer, be possible to be built, to be turn into real? Time to consult engineers, construction workers, developers, and even the government to approve the design project.
Even when you finished compiled your designs into proper working drawings, there is a risk of not being successful to be built. There are now design competitions that will only select best design to be built. Many architects, representing their firm will submit their brilliant designs too with their own concepts too. It is intense, who wins, only will be decided by those who do not know much on architecture (the developers).
Architects usually have their hair fully white or even empty head with no hair, even at young age. They think a lot (on design, construction, etc), they worry a lot (on safety, stability, possibility, etc), eventhough they earn a lot. However, only famous architects earn a lot. Many unknown architects around the world are still struggling to find a project to do. Architects die early? I’m not sure. Maybe architecture will train architects’ brains to be more active (or maybe more tiring)
Recently, I have discovered a survey that shows architecture is the sexiest profession. At 1st I wondering why they will said architecture is the sexiest profession. Guess what? They said other people will see architects, as very cool, like bringing large roll of papers, or even a huge T-square, or even long piece of presentation board, and beautiful model but then do you know architects or even architecture students are like exhausted ghosts when they are doing all these works? It will frighten you, especially when you approach them by midnight, because they won’t sleep due to submission and deadlines.
The most grateful moment for an architect is not when he get paid for his design and works, is not when he has completed and submitted his or her works, the most grateful moment is when an architect is able to see his or her design being turn into real structure, being able to be entered into, being able to be explored, being able to be touched, being able to be feel for, not only by himself or herself, but as well as by all people.
Architecture is not only ‘architorture’, but also ‘archithriller’, something that delights not only architects, but all.
#2 Halfway driving, our 1Malaysia F1 car suddenly drives to the nearest petrol station.
