What is Design/Architecture

“Architecture firms in Lahore is a philosophical, artful and scientific practice of planning infrastructure of living and working spaces.” If, talk about the philosophical approach of architecture, then let’s suppose philosophy is an idea as every scientific advancement has been started from philosophy or idea; architectural philosophy is an idea or inspiration for designing and constructing buildings and infrastructures that is absorbed from the natural or abstract world; artful approach of architecture refers to the visual experience of a building or space design; scientific approach refers to shape the design by applying scientific principles.

A great Roman Architect Marcus Vitruvius said that architecture is all about strength, functionality, and beauty. A Strong structure, a functional one, and expressing a sensual delight are the main features that affect the value of a piece of design.

Architecture is a vast field where there are design structures from macro to micro level. It covers from developing cities or towns to the doors or furniture. It not only overlaps continents but also time, it has linked past, present, and future. In history, the study of different cultures and civilizations tells the most about their living, and in living values, architecture in Lahore lies first. Many generations are not present today, neither their siblings are here nor their languages or customs are in practice, but their buildings, towns, and ghettos are present and have become communicating tools, and telling history to the whole world.

Myths about Architecture

• It is all about walls and roofs

Architecture is not the name of designing walls and roofs; it is all about assessing the proportions & diversions, feasibility, utility, and beauty of a building.

• Architecture and being a builder is the same

It is also said that architects construct buildings, but it is not that true, although architects and builders work closely they perform different duties; architects provide design consultancy & perform site visits to accommodate the construction and assist in design execution complexities while builders or contractors are limited to the construction site only.

• Architectural Services are just an addition to project costs

It is also a myth about the architectural services that these services cost extra, and are a burden on the project cost; architectural services are not a burden on budget meanwhile architects make the design feasible remaining within the limit of the client’s budget. They calculate the cost variations and facilitate the client accordingly.

• Architecture is just about drawing lines or blueprints

It is also a falsity to say that architecture is just about drawing lines or making blueprints; no, behind the architectural work or drawing, there is a whole philosophy or idea that what is the function of the building. What are the feasibilities for it? How it will fulfill the requirements? How it be suitable to all the present and upcoming situations? Which type of environment it create? What does it look like? And many more like these. Without the consultancy of an architect, constructing the building on one’s own is a mistake because it is not constructed as one has thought and there are many functional mistakes, and sometimes there may be any tragedy or accident.

• Architecture is like a sketch art

It is also not right to say that architects just make pencil sketches and charge high. Architecture is not just the art of beautifying the building while there are huge calculations in drawings; an architect has to play with the whole geometry for a single building design, make all calculations, set proportions and dimensions, and prepare the drawings for construction.

• Architects are Artists

Architects are not artists because in art beauty & abstract ideas are entertained but in architecture, including art, many other factors fall like calculations, proportions, geometrical angles, structure stability, etc.

• Architecture & Interior Design is the same

Architecture and Interior design are considered under the same roof; somehow, to some extent it is true but there are many differentiating factors like design philosophy, inspiration, adaptation, course of design techniques, course of action, function, etc.

Scope of Architecture

The question is, what is the scope of architecture? Then, it is a very vast field, holding a grand scope ahead. It covers from a small house to an industrial state. Anywhere in the world, if something is being constructed then architecture will be incorporated. For example town or city planning, all types of buildings: Hospitals, commercial plazas, malls; roads and bridges, dams, factories, towers, etc. are just a few counts where architecture falls.

Different Institutions in Architecture

Many institutions are training young architects worldwide. Some are being mentioned here:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Delft University of Technology
• The Bartlett School of Architecture | UCL (University College London)
• ETH Zurich
• Harvard University
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Cambridge
• National University of Singapore
• Manchester School of Architecture
• Tsinghua University
• The Polytechnic University of Milan
• The École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
• The University of Hong Kong
• Columbia University
• University of Sydney
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Melbourne

How to learn Architecture?

To learn architecture is not so easy, it’s a doctorate in itself. People who are interested in architecture they do diploma or get the 5 years architectural degree from a university. But, inspiration and struggle do not need any institute but a Guru is also the utmost need here. Here, we’ll try to learn architecture by knowing requirements, feasibility, making proposals, proposal analysis, elevation, form making, construction, and technical drawings. By reading & following the given beneath the Architectural/Design process, one can start practicing architecture and with continuous practice, and gaining experience, one can grip this pan. Experience enriches somehow.

Architecture/Design Process

Requirements & Data Collection:

Collecting data and requirements of the building is the first step. Data collection includes site analysis; site issues, site dimensions, directions (North, East, South, West), weather conditions, etc.

Feasibility:

Feasibility includes issues identification and the best way to solve them. Planning to intercept/embed all the requirements; concluding the most appropriate options whose outcomes have been screwed.

Making Proposals:

Some architects make pencil sketches but most of them use CAD software to make architectural drawing proposals. After, collecting all the data, requirements, and feasible outcomes, design proposals are drawn. In these design proposals, design feasibility is also checked. Combining all ideas the best feasible options are made ready.

Analyzing Proposals:

After making proposals, analyzing them is very necessary. Estimate their pros and cons and modify them if modification is required.

Elevation:

The elevation is a big challenge in learning architecture in Lahore. Building elevation is the key to defining an architect’s mastery.  An architect can play in many ways with the elevation. Windows can be added in front walls; roof slabs can be extended and beautiful balconies can be added; a terrace or free wall concept can be used; porch area can be decorated; ornate pillars can be added; arches or verandahs can be added there are many ways through which an elegant façade or elevation can be achieved.

Form Making:

After the finalization of the plans and elevation, form-making is the process. It is to define the shape or texture, proportions, dimensions, and all the calculation settings.

Sections:

It means to divide a building into sections; it also means to provide details of those sections; section detail means what constitutes the specific area or section; material or design detail etc.

Construction and Technical Drawing:

After the plan, elevation, form-making, and sections; construction, and technical drawing are prepared. Construction or working drawings are drawings with construction details; these contain plan layout details, section details, every single door or window detail, and notes. You can call them architectural notes on which basis a building is constructed.

Technical drawings contain structural, electrical, mechanical, and other engineering drawings and details that are prepared by experts or engineers in the specific field. Based on technical drawings, sometimes, architectural drawings may be revised.

 Architecture/Design Software

Architects & designers also use some software for designing and making models and animations. The software has made the design process easier, and more detailed. Farseeing and feasibility are tangible with the help of software. A list of software has been given below:

AUTO CAD

The most common software is used by Architects in Lahore for making plan layouts, sections, and working & technical drawings. Key features are:

• 2D & 3D drawings are designed by using it

SKETCHUP

It is visualization software. Architects use this software for 3D modeling. Key Features are:

• 3D Modeling
• Designing half-cut 3Ds (for instance: cut or break a bar of chocolate; how does it look like from the inside? )
• Rendering (generating an image from 2D or 3D model)
• Animation (an illusory film)
• Isometric views (two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional model or object)

3D Max

It is visualization software. It has almost the same features as Sketchup but its results are more awesome than Sketchup.

Key Features are:

• 3D Modeling
• Designing half-cut 3Ds
• Rendering
• Animation
• Isometric views

LUMION

It is visualization software that is used as a plugin with 3D Max for environmental effects.

V-RAY

It is a visualization plugin that is used with Sketchup or 3D Max for architectural 3D designs. It is commercial software that is also used in other sectors like making video games, filming, media, and industrial design.

CORONA

It is the latest visualization plugin software that is used with 3D Max for high-quality rendering & reality-based shading.

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP

It is used for the finalization of renders. It is used in post-production; to change the background environment; and color temperature control.

These were the most used software in the architectural firm in the Lahore field. There are many others which are the following:

• RHINO 3D
• REVIT
• MAYA
• ARCHICAD
• GRASSHOPPER
• DYNAMO
• FUSION 360
• CEDREO
• InDesign
• CHIEF ARCHITECT
• ALL PLAN
• VECTORWORKS ARCHITECT
• MICROSTATION
• BRICSCAD BIM
• CATIA
• CORELCAD
• SOLIDWORKS