Architecture or Engineering?

25 April 2006 | Category: Architecture Debates

Someone brought up a very good question in MetaFilter.com. It goes:

Which is better, pays more, has more personal freedom?

I’m an undergrad architecture student questioning my career choice. I like design work, but I understand that the life of an architect is characterized by stress, sleep deprivation and no personal time.

I’d like to hear from people in the field:

    *Is architecture really as torturous as it sounds (I get about 5 hrs sleep average as a student, does it get better?)?
    *Do you have any artistic influence as an engineer?
    *Are the hours as demanding? Job security?
    *Any special training or certification required (like the licensing exam for architects)?
    *Environmental/civil/structural???
    *Bachelor’s or Master’s?

I’ve browse thru the answer posted by various readers of the article, some are quite true for example reader Orangemiles said that engineers think architects are the dreamers, and architects think engineers are the killjoys.

Another reader Salvia pointed out that architecture graduates design stairwells, spec out bathroom tile, and are “AutoCAD monkeys” (this is the phrase other people use) for the first 5 years after graduation. I’m not sure they get any artistic influence there. Of course, people tell you scare stories about almost every profession — I’m sure the talented and self-motivated escape this somehow, which is very true.

Personally, I think what salvia said is very true and I hate it when people use the word architorture. If architecture is indeed so torturing, then why in the world one would want to take up the course? They said that only architecture student sleep 5 hours per day, and they spend most of their time in studio not knowing what life is all about, I say that is so untrue. It doesn’t matter what course you are studying, if it is torturing then you are in the wrong course. If it is interesting, then you has passion for it, and if you know every facts at your fingertips then you are a bookworm, constantly updating yourself with magazines and books.

The discussion going on over there is well worth reading, what are you waiting for?

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2 Comments

  1. schien
    on August 23rd, 2007
    1

    Hi! This is my first time to view this site and i love it. Btw, i am in the first year of architecture and what you said is soooo true. I am not sure if i could judge since I am only in the first year but I really enjoy it. And guess what, I still have my 8 hours of sleep eventhough there is so much things to do!

  2. lvp
    on October 1st, 2007
    2

    I shall title this piece “MY RELATION SHIP WITH ARCHITECTURE.”

    I have an abusive relationship with the Architecture. I stay up days on end fighting with it, I’ve abandoned my family and friends for it, my personal appearance has depleted because of it, and sometimes it drives me to the bottle. Architecture and I have been together for 4 years now, we have had our ups and downs however, I still love it. What can I say it needs me and I need it.

    MORAL TO THE STORY; in any relationship, good or bad, if you’re not willing to give it your all don’t get involved.

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