YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO A COURSE IN ARCHITECTUREDescriptive Geometry, Mechanics, Graphics & Visual...

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THE ART & TECHNIQUE OF DESIGNING AND BUILDING

ARCHITECTUREYOUR QUICK GUIDE

TO A COURSE IN

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Architecture ArchitectureCourse Review Course Review

CONTENTS1. Introduction 03

2. Eligibility Norms 05

3. Selecting an Institute 07

4. Course Content 09

5. What after Graduation? 11

6. Professional Talk 11

7. International Appeal of the Course 16

8. First Person 17

9. Industry Talk 19

10. Select Institutes offering B.Arch in India 22

11. Select institutes offering PG courses in Architecture 22

12. Select institutions abroad 23

INTRODUCTION

“I don’t think I even start with any precon-ceived ideas - the real inspiration comes from the person and the place and the

function to which they want to put the building to.” Laurie Baker, architect and father of ‘low-cost’ housing in India (1917-2007).

Buildings for homes, offices and shopping malls are the outcomes of hard work put in by archi-tects. Architecture is not just confined to erecting a structure. It encompasses considerations like weather, cultural and economic factors.

With ample opportunities for specialisation and employment in the diverse field of landscape and urban design, a degree course in architecture is high in demand.

“Architecture is a confluence of arts and sci-ence. It is a very interactive course where stu-dents are encouraged to come up with ideas,” echoes Harshvardhan, an alumnus of JJ school

FAST FACTSProgramme B.Arch Duration Five years Eligibility 10+2 with PCM Entrances JEE Main, NATA Fee Rs. 31,300 per annum at SPA, New Delhi; Rs. 9. 99 lakhs for five years at BIT, Mesra Best Bachelor’s institutes SPA, New Delhi; Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai: IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, NMIMS’s Balwant Sheth School of Architecture (BSSA) Prominent Master’s institutions SPA, New Delhi; IIT Roorkee; IIT Kharagpur; Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh; R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore; Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi; CEPT University, Ahmedabad

ARCHITECTURE INVOLVES MAKING AN IDEA INTO A PROPOSAL OF A BUILT ENVIRONMENT, READY FOR EXECUTION. A BACHELOR’S IN ARCHITECTURE HELPS YOU LEARN HOW TO CONCEPTUALISE AND DESIGN BUILDINGS

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Editor: B Mahesh Sarma

Project Editors Dr. Nimesh Chandra, S. Rajaram

Research Shiphony Pavitran Suri, Prerna Singh

Art Director Anshul Sharma

Asst. Art Director Rajesh Chawla

Cover Design: Rajesh ChawlaCover Photo: Rajesh Chawla



of Art and Architecture. The 5-year course trains students to integrate socio-economic, climatic and design parameters in the process of development. Prof. Rajat Ray, former Dean, Sushant School of Architecture, Gurgaon says, “Students learn how to conceptualise and design buildings. They build on their skills of understanding spatial environments and expressing those ideas through drawing, imaging and modelling.”

ELIGIBILITY NORMS

Candidates keen on taking up B.Arch degree course at The School of Plan-ning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi

should have scored at least 50% marks in Math-ematics alone with Physics, Chemistry in combi-nation at 10+2. The eligible candidates are expected to qualify JEE Main examination con-ducted by CBSE annually. Most institutes including IITs, SPA and Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh admit students on the merit of score obtained in JEE Main. Other Gov-ernment, Govt. Aided & unaided institutes like Guru Nanak Dev University accept admissions according to merit in National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) conducted by Council of Architecture. Regional institutes may have state-level exams for admitting students to B.Arch. Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi conducts its own entrance exam comprising two papers on PCM and aptitude respectively.

IF YOU HAVE PASSED 10+2 WITH PCM, OR ARE GOING THROUGH YOUR FINAL EXAMINATION, YOU CAN APPLY FOR JEE MAIN TO GAIN ADMISSION FOR B.ARCH. SOME INSTITUTIONS HAVE A CUT-OFF OF 50 PERCENT IN MATHS

Job Roles Design Architect, Town Planner, Digital Architect Earning Potential Rs.12,000–Rs.15,000 as Junior Architect Job areas Town planner, Architecture Design, Design Associate Top recruiters Town and urban planning organizations, real estate firms, etc.


Architecture Course Review

SELECTING AN INSTITUTE

Some of the best institutions for architec-ture were started during the British colonial rule. These include Madras

School of Industrial Arts, (1850) Government College of Arts, Calcutta (1854) and Sir J. J. Col-lege of Arts, Bombay (1857).

Tin Maharashtra, the admission to B.Arch pro-gramme for the category of ‘All India Seats’ is made through Centralized Admission Process (CAP) conducted in several rounds. Maharash-tra and outside Maharashtra seats comprise ‘All India’ seats that are filled based on the meri-torious performance in JEE Main (paper II). There is a set quota for residents of Maharash-tra at J.J. College of Architecture. Maharashtra state candidates may apply for All India seats through JEE Main score in paper II and avail MAH-AR-CAT 2013 score for admission against Maharashtra state seats. Students who qualify

THERE ARE 280 INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IMPART ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION IN INDIA. YOUR SCORE IN THE JEE MAIN OR STATE/ INSTITUTE-SPECIFIC ENTRANCES WILL DECIDE WHERE YOU STUDY

MAH-AR-CAT (Maharashtra Architecture Common Aptitude Test) fill up Outside Maharashtra Seats (OMS) in unaided institutes.

The Department of Planning and Architecture at IIT Roorkee offers 5-year B.Arch degree course accredited by Indian Institute of Architects (IIA). The institute is engaged in research and development through consultations and sponsored projects with several funding agencies.

SPA, Delhi is another highly reputed institute for undergraduate and post-graduate courses in architecture and planning. Students are trained in an inter-disciplinary approach towards construction. It is highly acknowledged for experienced faculty and international collaborations.

Council of Architecture, the statutory body for regulating standards in education and profession in India, approves the 5-year degree course offered by all institutes.



COURSE CONTENT

AThe five-year course is spread across ten semesters. The coursework pertaining to arts, engineering and technology is

taught through theory classes and studio ses-sions. You will be introduced to Basic Design, Descriptive Geometry, Mechanics, Graphics & Visual Communication alongside Mathematic in the first semester at IIT Kharagpur. Detailed study of Descriptive Geometry, Basic Design and Mathematics constitute the core of the second semester. “An updated knowledge of architecture softwares like, AUTOCAD and Revit is an essen-tial part of the learning,” remarked Sahil Jalan, a fourth year student of B.Arch (Architecture and Regional Planning) at IIT Kharagpur, who is also the Advisor of Students’ Alumni Cell.

Third semester focuses on the concepts in Cli-matology & Solar Architecture, Architecture Design coupled with field tours. The learning is

THE COURSE SPANNING TEN SEMESTERS GIVES YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUBJECT RANGING FROM BASIC DESIGN TO THE LATEST BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING INTEGRATION

enriched by course in Computer Aided Design & Simulation alongside His-tory of Architecture. By the end of the second year you would have acquired an in depth understanding of the History of Architecture, Architectural Design and Building construction.

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies’ Balwant Sheth School of Architecture (BSSA) has structured its 5-year course into three categories of Design; Design and Technology; and Theory. The coursework is divided into a trimester system advancing every successive year under the same classifica-tion. Theory comprises courses in humanities architectural history, theory of design and elective.

Fourth year onwards you will be introduced to planning and architecture in urban, rural and regional contexts under the subject ‘Building Bye Laws and Design Professional’ at Sir J. J. College of Architecture, Mumbai. At the end of the fourth year, each of you will be assigned an independent dissertation project. This enables you to conduct research and analysis of climatic condi-tions, socio-economic problems and transportation involved in designing a building. Inclusion of “building information modelling (BIM) integration” may you become industry- ready, explains Sahil.

National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli gives the students to flexibility to select up to three electives in the ninth semester while the final semester is solely dedicated to dissertation work.



WHAT AFTER GRADUATION?

If you are interested in academics, you can pursue postgraduate and doctoral pro-grammes offered by some of the reputed insti-

tutes across the country. “Straight after gradua-tion (B.Arch) students can take up higher studies like M.Arch, MCP or MBA,” shares Sahil. Undergraduates with a valid GATE Score can apply through PGCET to secure admission to M. Arch. Postgraduate degree gives you an opportu-nity to specialise in vast array of fields, ranging from urban design to sustainable architecture. You can also opt for an MBA (Real Estate) offered by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University’s School of Management Studies (in collaboration with SPA), says Professor Satish Khanna of the SPA, Delhi.

More than 70 percent of students opt for Mas-ter’ or further studies after completing their Bachelor’s programme. They specialise in

EXPLORE AVENUES FOR PRACTICAL LEARNING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CLASSROOM LEARNING AND INDUSTRY REQUIREMENT. JOBS ARE APLENTY, BUT GO FOR MASTER’S IF YOU ARE ACADEMICALLY INCLINED

streams such as Landscape Architecture, Architectural Conservation, Urban Design, Building Engineering & Management, Environmental Planning, Housing, Transport Planning, Regional Planning, Town and Country Plan-ning, Industrial Design etc. The SPA and CEPT Ahmedabad are considered to be some of the best colleges for a Master’s degree.

If you are interested in doctoral research, Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture, at SPA is a good bet. The Centre is dedicated to conducting research in the fields of energy studies and impact of climate and solar energy on architecture. Sahil says that recent research in architecture focuses on computational design, integrating BIM (building information modelling) with live construction practices, biomimicry, algorithmic design, and use of alternate building materials, like bamboo.

“Architecture has a rather steep slope of learning. The journey is lined with constant dismissals and disapprovals before the final acceptance of projects,” shares Sahil. Before you take up architectural projects, you should get reg-istered with Council of Architecture after completing B.Arch degree. This registration entitles you to practice the profession.

For undergraduates jobs are available in various government departments such as Indian Army, Town and Country Planning Organization, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd. etc. Teaching and research at several reputed institutes are highly rewarding. A career in academics essentially requires a doctoral degree after postgraduate studies.

Private sector jobs are highly concentrated in firms like Jones Lang LaSalle, L&T, Jindals, IMAXE, etc. Private practices post registrations are equally recognized in residential townships. Such a practice would entail more than design as put forth by Bhaskar Rattan, associate architect with a Delhi-based



firm, “While 30 percent of the job focuses on designing what the client wants, it is not about design alone.” A fresh undergraduate may start as Junior Archi-tect or Assistant and earn Rs. 12,000 to 15,000 a month, says Pritpal Singh, another Delhi-based architect.

PROFESSIONAL TALK

Ankur Manchanda Architect with DesignHaaus Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad

An architect with DesignHaaus Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, Ankur Manchanda speaks about career avenues and scope for higher studies

in the field of architecture

Q. What are the job opportunities after gaining a B.Arch. Degree?A. Currently, there is a huge demand and supply deficit in India for skilled professionals in architecture. The difference between required versus regis-tered architects is more than 4 lakhs! A fresh graduate with desired skills and passion to excel is sure to find placement.

Q. What skills should a fresh graduate acquire to become “industry-ready”?A. A year of work experience brings to light the gap between classroom prac-tice and industrial applications. The gap, however, may be bridged by explor-ing avenues for practical learning. The role of internships and part-time jobs is crucial in developing practical skills. Therefore, internship projects must be chosen carefully. The knowledge of the appropriate software is essential. I caution students against picking up irrelevant CAD, MAX courses at random institutes. Instead rely on inputs from seniors that are valuable in pursuing additional courses.

Q. What are the requisites for pursuing a course in Architecture?A. A degree course in architecture is dynamic in nature as it uses both left and right side of the brain. This is not to say that people with lack of design aptitude can’t make it to this course. In fact, design comprises only 5-10%



of the entire project execution. Get to know about architects with respect to their thought process, projects to gain insights on architecture as a profes-sion. Learning architectural history helps in understanding developments that led to its progress over the years.

Q. What are the current research avenues?A. Select research areas are: Green Architecture, Net Zero Building, Bio-mimicry, Low Cost Housing, Alternative Material, Seismic Architecture, Real Estate, Vernacular Architecture, Urban Design, Pattern Study, Bar-rier Free Environment, Ergonomics, Furniture Design, Luminaire/Lighting Design. Additionally, students may browse interesting videos online available at research interest page of institutes like, Massachusetts Institute of Tech-nology to learn more.

Q. How relevant is undergraduate curriculum to the industrial requirements?A. Architecture as a career goes beyond theoretical knowledge taught in colleges. The faculties belong to an era that the industry has long forgotten. Some faculties are obvious exceptions, but sometimes the faculty at the institute may show restraint to new changes as they seek their utopia in rules written in prehistoric times. The basic impediments during undergraduate study are lack of sponsorships available for students to experiments and learn new ideas.

Q. What are the latest trends in the field of architecture in terms of design and concepts? A. There is wide gap between Indian and international trends, but green living is the latest avenue for architects. Experimentations with building materials is gaining momentum once again, as seen in the revival of exposed concrete, first used by Le Corbusier at Chandigarh. In addition to this, a sad but heavily dominating trend in the architecture industry is Vaastu.

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL OF THE COURSE

The opening up of the Indian economy and rapid globalisation has led to equally rapid collaborations of Indian institu-

tions with their international counterparts. Institutes like SPA forge international associa-tions through Overseas Research & Develop-ment Centre to inspire students in Africa and the SAARC nations.

Undergraduates from prominent institutions in India feel that Indian architects are still not preferred over their overseas counterparts. This is mainly due to lack of professional approach given to the curriculum at the undergraduate level. The undergraduate training should follow recent industry needs and demands.

Internationally, the undergraduate course can be pursued at universities leading to the award of B.Arch. /B.A degree course in architecture.

RESEARCH ON COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING IS BOOSTING THE DEMAND FOR ARCHITECTS ABROAD



FIRST PERSON

Krush DattaniAlumnus of IIT Kharagpur,

Working with Shimizu Corporation, Singapore,

An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Krush Dattani who is currently employed with Shimizu Corporation, Singapore, gives his insights on the interna-

tional appeal of architecture as a career option.

Q. How do you describe the changing face of architecture as an indus-try?A. The education and practice of architecture in India and overseas has been an enriching experience. The field of architecture is driven by creativity and technology now. With this the professional roles of an architect have become more complex and diverse. It involves making an idea into a proposal of a built environment, ready for execution. This can be explored at a construc-tion- consultancy company or by practicing as a licensed freelance architect.

Q. What are the professional roles of an architect?A. A fresh graduate in architecture may function in a range of domains from inception to execution. The diverse functional areas include designing wherein the designation is that of design architect. Areas such as construc-tion industry employ architects for execution of the projects while real estate firms seek analytical advice from them. In addition, digital architecture offers many job opportunities in exploring this platform developed by reputed ‘building information modelling’ (BIM) players like, Autodesk.

Q. What silks are required for international internships in architec-ture?

A. Creativity remains the prerequisite. The recruiters look for advance skills on platforms like CAD/Authority Submissions in fresh graduates.

Q. What are the international research and design trends in architec-ture?A: The use of advanced materials as cost effective alternatives to fulfil the objective of green and sustainable living is being widely researched. In my opinion, reuse of any material is a green concept and that’s how it should be practised to foster sustainability. The other domain evoking research interest among architects is the use of BIM technology, which is a one-stop platform for all information regarding a building, encompassing all aspects from Design to Details for example, Autodesk Revit. Apart from the newly developed fields, conventional domains like, urban planning also interests the architects today.

Q. How did an undergraduate degree help you in meeting your profes-sional goals?A. The study of architecture at IIT Kharagpur was inter-disciplinary on account of the allied courses that we took up with Mechanical, Civil and Elec-trical Departments. The curriculum was designed to relate to the concepts of Built Environment. It is imperative for an architecture student to understand the system of mechanical services that make any living space functional.

The internship helped me learn new professional skills. In addition, partici-pation in annual events such as Architectural Students’ Association (NASA and ZoNASA) exposed me to different domains of design namely, design, product and industrial. The institute encouraged and favoured architecture students in cultural events like Diwali.



INDUSTRY TALK

Hafeez ContractorRenowned architect,

“Creativity, not marks make a good architect”

Aweak student up to Class 10, getting admission to an architecture col-lege proved to be an expedition for this renowned architect! Yet, he

maintains that creativity and not merely good marks maketh a good architect. Hafeez Contractor talked to Careers360 about his career trajectory, and tips off aspiring architects

Q. How did you get clarity about your career?A. I wanted to be an architect since I was in Class 3, though I didn’t know the term “architecture” or “design” back then. I would design forts, tanks, cars, guns, sections of a building. In Class 4, I was thrashed by my English teacher Mrs. Gupta who caught me drawing instead of writing in class. But she also told me to become an architect when I grew up. That was the first time I heard the word ‘architect.’

Q. How tough was the admission process back then?A. I got 50 percent marks in SSC and could not get even an admission form to any architecture college. JJ School of Architecture only gave forms to those with 80 percent and above. After a year of doing the rounds at various col-leges I came to know of Academy of Architecture, and coaxed a nice elderly Parsi gentleman Mr Dallas, Head of Indian Institute of Architecture to help me. He wrote to Mr Wandhrekar at the Academy of Architecture, who in turn allowed me to take the entrance exam.

The only condition to get admission was to pass the entrance exam, and I did! Today, I tell people that to be an architect you need to be a creative per-son and not someone who is good at studies.

I never got more than 50 percent up to SSC but once I joined architecture, I stood first class first throughout. It shows that the way our education system is, even when people want to be architects they are not able to do so because of academic numbers.

Q. Your first salary and the way you spent it? A. I started with Rs. 30 a month in 1968. I gave it to my mom. I bought a stencil, which I had eyed for months and a pen with the rest of the money. In the first month I got an increment of Rs. 20. My studies were for seven years and during that time I had several promotions and went on to earn Rs. 1,500 a month.Q. What were the challenges you encountered as a young architect? Has the situation changed nowadays?A. Early on I have worked 19-20 hours a day for the first 14 years of my work life! As an entrepreneur, came the challenge of maintaining staff. Especially today, youngsters are more money conscious. As a young architect, I never thought about how much I am going to get out of a project. I just wanted to work. Today every kid first wants to know how much he will earn. Values have changed.

Q. What are the turning points of your career? Which project gave you visibility? A. Right from my initial project of Vaastu at Worli, to Rajneesh Ashram, to Lake Castle, to my DLF building in Delhi, everything has been a turning point. Today also every new job has to be a turning point. And unless and until you do that, you better retire.



Q. What sort of aptitude does one need to be a successful architect? A. The attitude for every professional, at any stage of career, should be that you started your career yesterday and you want to make it good today. Keep abreast of the changes in your profession; what’s new, how you could adapt and change with time, change and hard work being the only constant.

Select Institutes offering B.Arch in IndiaSchool of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

Sir J.J College of Architecture, Mumbai

Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee

IIT Kharagpur

Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh

Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, NMIMS, Mumbai

Department of Architecture, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli

Department of Architecture, National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode

Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

Manipal University, Manipal

Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai

Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad

Department of Architecture, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar

Architecture and Planning, MANIT, Bhopal

Select institutes offering PG courses in ArchitectureSchool of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee

IIT Kharagpur

Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh

R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore

Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad

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Select institutions abroad Institution Country Department Degree

Columbia University in affiliation with Barnard college USA Department of Architecture BArch

Georgia Tech, College of Architecture USA The Irwin S. Chanin School of

Architecture BArch

University of California USA Department of Architecture and Urban Design BArch

Cornell university USA Department of Architecture BArch

UCL Bartlet school of Architecture UK Faculty of the Built-in Environment BSc

Glasgow School of Art UK School of Architecture BArch

Edinburgh School of architecture UK — BA (Hons.)

University of Cambridge UK Department of Architecture BA (Hons.)

Oxford Brookes University UK Department of Architecture BA (Hons.)

University of Sheffield UK School of Architecture BA (Hons.)

YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO A COURSE IN ARCHITECTUREDescriptive Geometry, Mechanics, Graphics & Visual...

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