Architecture Tools
If you aspire to succeed as an architect, familiarising yourself with useful tools for architecture design may increase your chances in this field. You may use various traditional and digital tools to enhance your projects, including physical objects and software applications. Reviewing these tools and learning to use them allows you to increase your expertise as an architect. In this article, we explore 11 traditional and digital tools architects may use to improve their efficiency and the quality of their projects. Compass A compass, also known as a pair of compasses, is a technical drawing tool architects use to inscribe arcs and circles. In some instances, they may use a compass to draw lines representing distances, for instance, on a map. Thanks to using a compass, architects achieve a high level of accuracy when creating plans and blueprints. Cutting board or mat Cutting mats are used to protect the surface of your tabletop or workbench from cuts, glue or any other damage that can occur while paper cutting, cosplay crafting, model making or just about any other hobby. Cut, slice, mold and paint on the surface, wipe clean and then do it all over again with the next project. Cutting mats are a versatile “tool” we don’t always notice but are always glad we have. Desk lamp One way to avoid the perils of bad lighting and screen glare is to invest in a desk lamp. The goal of every good desk lamp is to alleviate symptoms of eye strain by reducing the contrast between your screen and the dimness surrounding it Drafting tape For most professionals in the engineering or artistic disciplines, ideas and concepts begin on simple sketches and drafts. The paper on which you work needs a solid and steady environment for rendering your ideas. For architectural and engineering drafts that required some degree of accuracy, the paper needs to be secured to the surface to allow for proper and accurate first renditions. The use of masking tape partially fulfills the requirements of the process, but presents some notable disadvantages. Drafting tape, especially manufactured for this express purpose, increases your efficiency as a draftsperson. Drawing board A drawing board is a type of large multipurpose desk used for sketching, inking, drawing, and technical drawing on a stable surface. Usually, these drawing boards are used at an angle with clips to hold the paper in place. These are usual very smooth boards on which paper is mounted or placed so it doesn’t move and allows for more precision! Measuring tape A measuring tape is one of the most indispensable pieces of equipment for construction professionals. No matter what role you play on the job site, you always need to have an engineer’s tape measure ready so that you can confidently assess the work being done. You may be surprised to learn that there are many ways to use a tape measure in construction, though. Indeed, measuring tapes aren’t just essential — they’re incredibly versatile, too. See how the following three uses can help you get the most out of your laser measuring tape. Mechanical pencil Mechanical pencils are writing instruments that come with lead-advancement mechanisms and use graphite leads that could be extended or retracted using a button. There are many types of mechanical pencils, each offering different advantages and being suitable for different scenarios. Precision cutting knife A precision cutting knife is great for cutting small pieces of paper that you may use in modelling. You may also use them for other arts and crafts, like decoupage or to make stained glass objects. When using a cutting knife, make sure to cut on a self-healing mat. Scale ruler Scale in design refers to the enlarged or reduced representation of a real, full-size object in a drawing or physical model while retaining the proportions of the original. In architecture, we generally reduce the scale rather than enlarge it. A scale drawing or model is like taking the original and shrinking it down proportionally. Sketchbook Architecture schools typically have a sketchbook on their mandatory freshman supply list. In my opinion it is one of the most important tools to help one document, problem solve, practice drawing and archive their career as an architect. Bond paper Bond paper is a high-quality, low-cost option available in various sizes and weights. It is an incredibly diverse paper and is often used for a variety of applications, including architectural drawings, engineering, and landscape design. Bond paper can be purchased with non-reproducible blue lines, which provide a scale of reference for drafting, but are not visible when the paper is scanned or copied. The architectural activity stands to gain greatly from using Architecture tools. It is now easier than ever for architects to gain access to state-of-the-art tools, improve efficiency, and develop groundbreaking designs. They also benefit from the ability to efficiently and cheaply recreate their projects to try them before actually building them. As an added bonus, architects can now put their attention where it belongs: on creating exquisite, functional buildings.
Things That Every Architect Should Know
Architecture is an all-inspiring field with an ability to create striking and purposeful buildings and connect with communities through impactful designs. However, to be a successful architect, it takes time, self-refinement, practice, and persistence, especially after you begin your career. Staying up-to-date with the current trends, polishing your skills, and having industry-specific knowledge are some other aspects you need to refine and stand out in the stiff competition. Besides implementing what you’ve learned from architecture school, here are some essentials you need to work on as an architect. Mathematics plays a vital role in architecture, not because architects need to use complex formulas every day, but because math enables us to establish scientific and quantifiable relationships between different elements. The logical thinking skills developed by solving mathematical problems and equations are directly applicable to many aspects of architectural design. As an architect, you don’t have to be a mathematician, nor do you need to remember advanced concepts like calculus 15 years into your career. However, you must be proficient enough in math to solve problems that require critical thinking and logical reasoning. When we think of architectural concepts, we think of an abstract idea, one that is unchanging throughout the design process. This is not necessarily the case, a concept can be linked to many factors, and can evolve as the design grows. Architectural concepts are the designer’s way of responding to the design situation presented to them. They are a means of translating the non-physical design problem into the physical building product. Every project will have critical issues, central themes or problem essences, and the general issues of designing a building can be approached in a number of ways. Architectural rendering is the process of creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional images of a proposed architectural design. The goal is to illustrate a lifelike experience of how a space or building will look before it is built, accurately representing design intent. There are three main benefits of using 3D rendering software for architecture projects: Effective communication, fresh perspectives, and enhanced teamwork have created some of the world’s best projects. People who can communicate their desires, goals, and wishful outcomes are game-changers, and those people are valuable for any architectural company. It’s hard to talk about where you could be in 10 or 20 years. However, focusing on mastering your communication skills while you’re still young and improving intellectually, will make you ideally suited for future leadership positions. Learning from architecture about different periods is critical. The concepts of modernism, structuralism and contemporary styles are often inspired by architectural heritage. Traveling around to explore mesmerizing architectural constructions is an excellent way to get inspired as most modern concepts, designs, and ideas use a framework similar to these historical marvels. Architects are known to be creative and provide practical solutions in terms of design. Traveling more often to these places will increase your creativity and let you tap into new ideas and approaches. Staying up-to-date with the current laws and regulations about constructing buildings is necessary. Knowing these regulations will assist you in finding out information like the size and number of windows you could install in a building. Only a few construction laws are directly related to the architect’s work but knowing this information will surely improve the way you design buildings. Besides the things mentioned above, plenty of other skills can be honed like practicing time management, following a code, and focusing on providing quality services will always aid in making an impact through your designs.
A brief history of architecture
Architectural history is the study of building through the ages. It comprises architecture and architectural styles ranging from pre-ancient civilizations to contemporary architecture. A subject in its own right, the study of architectural history forms an important component of an architect’s education, although it is a subject that is also accessible to those outside mainstream architectures. Architecture is a by-product of human existence and every age has its own distinct architecture, whether that is defined by prevailing ideas, construction materials, technology or new building types. The study of architectural history, therefore, is not just about a study of the buildings themselves but also the conditions – social, economic, political and material – that influenced those buildings. It also involves the study of stylistic and spatial expression. Why an understanding of architectural history is important? Knowledge of architectural history gives an understanding of the ideas that were important to and shaped past societies. A building can reveal much about the society that produced it. For example, a tall building would be tall for a reason: what idea did it express that required such height, usually at great expense in terms of cost, not to mention the lives lost to achieve it? Gothic cathedrals were the tallest buildings of their day because religion both ordered and regulated society. Today, the tallest buildings are usually office buildings, an indication of how important commerce is to the modern world. Why did some medieval houses include a jetty (a small projection or overhang) at the first and sometimes second floor levels? The reasons are bound up not only with gaining a little more living space but also about conspicuous consumption, an ostentatious feature to express the owner’s wealth and prestige. Medieval windows and stained glass are typically characterized by small glass elements held in place by lead cames. This was because glass was not only very expensive but also because it could not be manufactured in large sizes. The gardens at the 17th century Palace of Versailles just outside Paris follow the then French style of being highly formal and ordered, expressing a mastery over nature. This was an important concept in an age of enlightenment when great progress was made in philosophy and the sciences, and architects and designers were keen to express such notions. The Origins of Architecture Architecture came from the Latin word “architecture” or from the Greek word “arkhitekton.” Arkhi meaning “chief” and tekton meaning “builder.” The product of architecture are often buildings, and historical buildings are usually considered achievements in architecture. Architecture, however, is a general term. It can also mean the physical structure of buildings; the study, science, and art of designing buildings and also structures that are not buildings, or software; the method of designing and construction of buildings; and the practice of offering or rendering design services by a professional architect. Architecture is not just about the design and construction of a building, but also the space and ambiance of the structure. It also considers the social and environmental impacts of a building. Aside from this, it also includes the practical aspects of the construction of a building, such as scheduling, budget, administration, and the documentation which are usually drawings which show the plans and specifications of the technical side of the project, and also other systems that will be constructed together with the building. According to Marcus Virtruvius Pollio, a Roman architect in his “De Architecture” (English: On Architecture), the oldest surviving written work on architecture from the 1st century AD, a good building satisfies three principles: firmitas, or the durability and robustness of a building; utilities, the suitability for the purpose it is built for; and venustas, or beauty, meaning the building should be pleasing to the eyes. It is the first book that tackled architectural theories and style such as those of the Greeks and the Romans. American architect Louis Henry Sullivan proposed a concept and coined a phrase for architectural design, “form follows function,” which means that the shape of a building should be based on its supposed function. While this concept not only applies to buildings, it has always been wrongly credited to American sculptor Horatio Greenough. architecture rarely escapes the imprints of the era it is being built in, and whatever becomes out of it in the next few decades, it will be the echo of our generation. Another possible way of looking at it is adopting the idea that history reoccurs, which would mean that postmodernism was the contemporary version of the Baroque, and we are much likely to return to the new revivals.
