AN ARCHITECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

July 2021.

4 years after graduation, while looking for eye-catching architectural renderings and flawless drawing sheets to dazzle everyone, that would also be a testament to my journey as an architect thus far, I got an insight that all of these designs necessitate a background tale or explanation. So, I scrapped the idea of discussing my involvement as a junior architect on a specific project and instead started penning down my responsibilities as a newbie and the beautiful journey right after college!

Circa 2017.

Fresher Architect with skills I thought that could easily land me a job. But even after five months, I still hadn't found the proper fit. Right when I was about to apply to a couple of more jobs, I got an email. An email from my present boss asking to join the studio. Well The studio had already won me over the day I went there for my interview! The professional profile impressed me. The location of the office was ideal and quite candidly, my boss told me this office wasn't a corporate structure; It was a small, 3-year-old company with a sizable portfolio and instead of painting a rosy picture that didn't reflect reality, he was true to himself. And I am a huge advocate for those who tell it straight! Result: I joined.

Lesson 1.

After overcoming the first-day jitters and exchanging the typical pleasantries, I was assigned my first task. And after college I was eager to demonstrate my abilities, and with first-day elation, I started designing a children's bedroom as assigned to me. Sounds easy right? I felt the same way. I spent the next two hours creating the greatest possible layout and presenting it to my boss with great expectations to be applauded, only to be told that it needed to be redone. Designing a children's bedroom can be simple, but not when the space is shared by a brother and sister, a toddler,and a teenager! Finding a balance between what is required and what each individual desires can be challenging.And we, at D42, don't merely assign areas for furniture and call it a design; we provide tailored solutions to all design problems.

Lesson learnt: Ask questions.To get the right answer, you need to ask the right questions. Design is nothing more than the correct solution to a problem.

Lesson 2.

I was well versed in site visits during my internship, as my job was to accompany a senior and take notes at every visit. But vendor meetings were always something I dreaded. I wasn't present at either one and was unfamiliar with how they operated. Here things were different, The tasks given to me were nowhere near as mundane as a first timer can expect to receive. I was entrusted with the great responsibility of selecting materials. It was exciting yet nerve-racking to be asked to attend a vendor meeting for a project. Plywood samples, wall paint swatches, cladding samples and many more! It was fascinating to see the variety of materials available, so I chose the extremely unique ones.When I told Boss about it, he wasn't too pleased with my choices and taught me something I will never forget. Unique meant a longer time in procurement and we could not afford a delay in that project as it was on a tight schedule and budget.Even the client found it insightful because they had previously encountered similar issues.

Lesson Learnt: Stick to schedule. You were entrusted with the work by the client for a reason, otherwise anyone can design.

Lesson 3.

We must prepare GFC designs for the site while designing a dwelling.I once attempted to compile all of the information into a single document to ensure that it was all in one place. When the construction workers arrived at the job site, the drawing perplexed them for the volume of information concentrated in one sheet. That was when I learned that Architects utilise drawings as a means of communication for the clients, consultants and vendors. But people who are going to execute it, on the other hand, may find it difficult to read it. As a result, we must utilise an intermediate process that is easily legible and understood by the site workers too.

Lesson learnt: Architecture is a collaborative process in which everyone engaged contributes something.

Lesson 4.

After a year, We successfully completed a project that was designed for 2 days with 3 people sitting at a meeting table. The design was good, effective and sustainable. But the next 11 months were spent where the design problem was resolved: fine tuning of that project, development & GFC drawings, specifications, details, cost estimates, reacting to unpredictable conditions, collaborating with other consultants and the client. This led to 11 months of implementation for a two-day design problem and a little change in design.

Lesson learnt:

“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but they were laying bricks every hour” - John Heywood. Of course, there's designing and drafting to be done as an architect, but that's only a minor part of the job, as executing the design is really the bulk of the work.

Conclusion.

First jobs are similar to first loves: exhilarating, magical, difficult at times, but invaluable in retrospect! So get started, you will eventually burn the bridges! Don't be afraid to ask for help, Put your faith in a trusted mentor and join a team that shares your vision! And always learn from your mistakes!