Importance of Architectural Skills in Building Construction

Either humans evolved from apes or were created by a supreme being (God). One thing is for sure, we have come a long way from taking shelters under mountains to building settlements on Mars. The study of architectural language is the mapping of human conscience (what are our needs, what is the greater purpose of life to be served upon, and what mission do we need to accomplish as a society? Since the very beginning of human civilization, humans started building structures to take shelter in them. It was just the basic need of humankind to protect themselves against weather, unwanted threats, and foreign communities. However, as the human population grew, humankind developed a greater sense of conscience which ultimately led to the creation of greater purposes in life. These purposes shaped the built environment around us -  
It was the pursuit of a supreme being that lead to the creation of worshipping places.  
It was the growing needs of the population that made us develop structures whose primary function was not just to dwell in the population. The purpose of those structures, now buildings was to systemize the governance of the population and the coordinated effort practiced by the population under this system i.e., institutions, courts, offices, warehouses, etc.  
With the explosion of the human population and mass migration, the concept of countries came to light. Now every individual is a professional living in their country. One of these professions is architecture. The art, science, and technology of designing buildings.  
Buildings are now habitats to a larger population, artistic and cultural expression in the urban landscape, financial investments by individuals, organizations, and countries, and technology products solving greater complex problems.  
A building should just not be a combination of brick and mortar.  
As per the Pritzker prize, an architectural work should have firmness, value, and delight. Therefore, an architect not only designs buildings but also derives a reasonable tangible outcome that is apt to client needs, business markets, human habitability, and cultural standpoint plus looking out for the whole development process. This brings us to a point detailing how architectural skills are important to building construction -

1. Architecture Skills Take Care of the Aesthetics of Buildings

Land is a limited resource. This makes an architectural piece even more important considering the scarcity. That is why treating a building with proper aestheticism not only justifies your services to the client but also creates this building an important valuable commodity for people viewing it, visiting it, and dwelling in it. With growing show business in the world, everyone wants everything to look as perfect as one can make so architecture gives a pleasing appearance to the building. Architects are masters in creating that attracts. They use ideas that are pleasing to the eyes and more aesthetic for the client as art with an artistic look. This helps in uplifting the value of the building constructed.

Architects derive aestheticism by playing with forms. Forms do play an important role in architecture. Read Importance Of Form In Architecture

and 10 Clever Tips to Design a Sustainable and Affordable Home

2. Architecture Skills are Responsible for Making a Building Functional

Architecture not only takes care of aesthetics. It also looks for the physiological and psychological attributes associated with buildings that make them habitable. So, architecture skills do spend a major portion of designing the buildings in such a way that it is compatible with users from the inside and climate from the outside both of which can be commonly called the functionality of the building. It is not the structure of the building that makes it functional. It is the physiological and psychological attributes that are taken care of while designing and constructing the building by the architect.  
The following points are considered for pre-designing the construction plans –  
• Ventilation – Relative humidity, adaptable temperature, air movement, and pressure.  
• Sunlight  
• Ergonomics  
and the other factors having profound effects on inhabitants and activities in association with the buildings. There is a saying we shape our environment and in return, they shape our future. Although not noticeable by all, regulated use of the above-mentioned factors does have significant results on users’ productivity and physical and mental well-being.

3. Architecture Skills Put Creative and Solutional Efforts into Building Constructions

Architects love to create. They know how to make creative and optimum use of spaces in the best possible way. Architecture skills also teach architects to create a unique offering prospect as individuals. It helps professional differentiation among industry peers and professionals and thus, opening economic opportunities for almost every construction project. Every project has its own unique set of challenges and every architect has his/her own set of solutions to those. Nobody wants a tedious and repetitive skyline like North Korea and the early Soviet period. Differentiability is what brings in the maximum creative and economic output in every building project.  
• If some clients want to have an experimental form of residence, an architect can try out the curvilinear and deconstructivist approach. This will propagate a new kind of style approach that is not so evident in the residential market.  
• If a client’s plot of land is surrounded by three sides, then an architect must think out of the box to optimize the building’s adaptability and livability. The creation of products and solutions for this specific problem can create a whole new catalog of architecture offerings clients can consider.  
• If clients are short on savings, opting for open floor plans will save interior costs. Through this approach middle and lower-income families can rely more on architectural designers rather than furnishing vendors and contractors.

In order to be an architect, you must possess certain skills. These include creativity, problem solving, communication, and more. Find out what they are here and read Top 10 Skill Set Every Architect Must have

4. Architecture Skills Must Look Out for Eco-Development Also

The functioning of every building leaves a long-term impact on the ecosystem. The building and interior industry is responsible for 40% of total carbon emissions around the world. With the increase in the construction of houses, industrial buildings, and many more, it lies in hands of architecture professionals, how not to leave an impact on the environment and what kind of practices should be avoided. Nowadays architects are compelling themselves for -  
• More vernacular architecture approaches i.e., accessible materials and local construction practices generate fewer carbon emissions in the whole construction supply chain.  
• Monitoring the energy output vs input ratio for the building is making architects propose the use of passive cooling and lighting techniques plus the generation of power on-site by renewable resources on hand.  
• Even simple efficient space planning can reduce energy bills and put a less climatic burden on the urban scale.

If you are an architect or an interior designer and want to incorporate green elements in your design project. This is a brilliant read for you - 9 Pro Tips to Build a Green and Healthy Home

5. Architecture Skills are Storytelling to Every Building Project

Architecture forms links between the past, the present, and the future. Architecture can be a portal of time for the users experiencing it. So, designing good architecture tells the story behind every design that adds a narrative element to the work. Architects create an impact on viewers that a particular building is more than just a building making it stand out and more focused and designed to think about. A story can be about anything –  
• Client’s identity. 
• Architect’s design approach. 
• Building regional identity. 
• Region’s historical account. 
Or something additional the architect or the client both want to convey from their building piece.

6. Architecture Skills Incorporate the Client’s Wishes Very Well

Architecture at the very first involves counseling the client. The first stage of any building project requirement requires consultancy. Cliché like every B2C business, architecture put the tastes, likes, and dislikes of clients at the core of their work in the best possible way making design acceptable to clients. Incorporating the client’s perspective can provide a personal touch to any building project. This will create a sense of belonging to the user and an emotional customer connection to the architect and the architectural services sold. This is one of the subconscious ways to retain past clients for future project possibilities if arise.

Understanding your client's needs is the basis of the architecture profession. But before that, you should know about Architecture Portfolio Tips to Win More Clients for Your Business. For this, you need a professional architecture portfolio. Read some Brilliant Tips to make a Professional Architecture Portfolio 

7. Architecture Skills are at the Forefront of the Cultural Renaissance

Culture and design are completely inseparable from ancient to modern times. They not only create the physical environment where people live but architects are an important part of the culture, they represent how we see ourselves as well as how we see the world. Their design reflects a culture that influences people and represents people. The growing culture of tall glass skyscrapers is making our cities lose their cultural value and sense of belongingness among the citizens. It is the cultural representation through which people can associate themselves with a building.  
• A place of worship has sentiments attached to the masses.  
• An architectural approach to preserving local ecology will bring in a better synergy among the users.

8. In Recent Times, Architects are Experimenting With Architectural Skills

Technology is already helping architects turn the building industry more broad-based and integrated with other industries. It has already opened a plethora of opportunities and approaches to the industry. With technology, architects are adding more economic value by  
• Creating virtual architecture works that are being sold even before existing in the real world.  
• Using the BIM and blockchain approach for more streamlined construction monitoring.  
• Adding more climate consciousness in architectural design through smart IoT devices and real-time simulation software.  
• Making building carbon neutral or even positive as claimed with the use of renewable and passive energy technologies.  
• Providing architectural solutions to new kinds of businesses developing in this start-up age. E.g., designing inventory in dark stores and warehouses to support the quick commerce industry, examining the effect of spaces on students’ learning abilities, reinventing the co-working spaces, and designing data centers; a modern tech kind of building typology prevalent in today’s data-driven economy.

Technology is here to stay. To be relevant in the profession, architects need to level up their game in technology. Get some quick technology insights by Brand New Building Technologies That Are Here To Stay

9. Architects are Managers of the Whole Construction Supply Chain

An architect is the manager of the whole supply chain. He is the scriptwriter of how the whole development process should be followed to execute a building project. While conceiving the design of a building, an architect pre-determines all the processes that have to be considered for the execution of the building project. The best permutation and combination are what the architect decides upon and documents this finally in the execution drawings. For a better return on investment, every point of the development supply chain should go parallel to each other, this is what architecture skills are all about.  
• MRP of a material is not the only factor that must come into consideration. It is the cost of transportation of the material, durability, and recyclability value which means the whole life cycle of the material is an important aspect of the financial decision-making model.  
• Even for climate monitoring, embodied energy is the best measure to determine the effect of the usage of a particular material on the environment.  
• Laurie Baker’s method of developing a whole vernacular and climate-responsive supply chain is the ideal case for architectural practices. Vocalizing for local practices, and learning development practices between designers and workers combined with a culturally relevant design language is a prime example of how architectural skills can give better results in construction projects.

10. Architectural Thought Process Reflects the Policy and Future Vision for a City

Policy making is the first step to architectural development. Decision-making on what infrastructure is required for the financial growth of the country and to sustain that growth is the basis of every architectural skill getting applied on the urban level. Construction without vision is no development, this is what architects and architecture bodies strive for.

“Architecture skills” is the thread linking every stakeholder involved in building construction. An architect designs a building, interchanges the feasibility discussion with the structural engineer, monitors the project just like a contractor, oversees vendors for every requirement of the project, and even after completion of the project it is the architect examining the valuation, building's carbon footprint, and financial assistance to the inhabitants also. The above article discussed how architecture skills are crucial for providing the most optimized building value to land properties. Through our blogs in Planndesign, we regularly educate the importance of architect and architecture skills in building construction.

Lastly, take a read to the 12 Modern Building Materials Every Architect Must Know

and How to Find the Right Architect for Your Home