What defines architects and what do they do?

A professional qualified to advice and design both private and public landscapes technically and aesthetically is the basic definition of architects. Yet, this very basic definition of architects barely scratches the surface of the multiple roles architects play during home and building construction.

The role of architects covers a wide range of processes from:

  • Serving as trusted advisors of their various clients
  • Creatively blend diverse disciplines and requirements
  • Address safety and health procedures during the construction
  • Serve the public interest with their artistic and skilful designs

Perhaps the perfect description of architects is to compare them to conductors as they take the lead in reconciling and orchestrating all the elements needed to construct a structure or building.

For architects to do this, he/she must possess the following skills and knowledge:

  • Creative and artistic imagination to combine colours, light, materials, and texture into their techniques and ideas to enable them to meet the cultural, aesthetic, and spiritual needs of their clients.
  • Technical and practical skills to design sustainable, economical, efficient, and safe spaces for their client’s needs.
  • Psychologically understand and possess interpersonal expertise to design spaces that meet the conflicting and complex needs of users, the community, and their clients.

To this end, the complex roles architects do in all their projects include:

Oversee the overall look and function of structures

Perhaps the most familiar concept about architects is their artistic creation of buildings and other forms of structure. However, it is a disservice to architects if only the aesthetics of a structure is credited to them.

Architects should not only make a structure or building look aesthetically pleasing, but also make it functional and safe for users, clients, and the community. All of these factors are seriously considered by architects when they take on a building design project.

Involved in all stages of the construction

One of the important functions of an architect is his/her involvement in all stages of a building project. This includes the initial meeting with the client and through to the final delivery of the completed project. The specific duties reputable architects must have should include:

  • Strong interpersonal communication skills with contractors and clients
  • Designing skills
  • Managing skills
  • Engineering skills
  • Supervising skills

Develop a pre-design sketch plan

A pre-design sketch plan executed by an architect is the best way of showing the clients the project’s requirements, objectives, and budget. Some pre-design services included in the services of an architect include:

  • Prepare cost analysis
  • Meeting the specified design requirements
  • Site selection
  • Prepare land-use studies
  • Conduct environmental and feasibility studies

Create the final construction plans

The agreement between the client and the architect during the preliminary discussion paves the way for him/her to create the final construction plans. The construction details and the appearance of the building are the things shown in the final construction plans. The created final designs should also meet the zoning laws, building codes, and fire regulations of the state.

Architects on-the-job wear many hats for them to design and manage a construction project that has to meet the standards of the state, the client, the users, and the community. The training, knowledge, experience, and artistic flair make architects in Sydney a must-have expert of every building or structure construction.