Did you know that I wrote and published 66 articles this year on Life of an Architect? While that’s a bit off my pace from the previous years, statistically speaking, there’s still bound to be a few that are worth checking out. Unless you’re me, or a psychic, how would you know which ones were worth reading? Since I know you’re a busy person, I’ve taken the liberty of going through and figuring out which posts were the best ones from this last year – I have collected and arranged then according to their popularity here just for you.
In reverse order (based on view count, not awesomeness):
#10 Architecture in the Real World … Sorta
Published: 23 February 2015
Views: 15,721
Why You Should Read it: What is it like to be an architect? Architecture in the real world is a lot different from people think. Does school prepare you for being an architect? The reality of being an architect is that a vast majority of the time spent – for a vast majority of the people who practice architecture involve doing something that doesn’t even come close to resembling design – but – since I am an upbeat and positive guy, I like to think attitude plays a role in whether or not you view this as misery or something else altogether.
#9 Architectural Sketches – Keep or Throw Away?
Published: 12 January 2015
Views: 17,486
Why You Should Read it: Do Architects hang on to their sketches? I generate a lot of sketches in the process of being an architect and historically speaking, I throw them away. A vast majority of the sketches I create aren’t worth hanging on to for any sort of extended period of time, it would be nice to be able to look back at them after a chunk of time has passed … or am I crazy?
Published: 10 August 2015
Views: 17,930
Why You Should Read it: Is it important for an architect to sketch well? What if they can sketch “well enough”? While I have developed my own sort of sketching style, it isn’t art. However, I can’t imagine the design process occurring without picking up a pen and sketching. This post looks at a series of sketches that show the design evolution of the exterior elevations of a cabin project.
Published: 16 February 2015
Views: 18,218
Why You Should Read it: Redlines … it’s just a word but if you are in certain circles, it’s a powerful word. “Redlines” is all you have to say to either send some into some form of post traumatic stress disorder. I fall somewhere in the middle. Love ’em or hate ’em, redlines serve a purpose.
#6 Happiness and Being an Architect
Published: 16 March 2015
Views: 19,975
Why You Should Read it: Making the decision to be an architect is hard but making the decision to not be an architect might be even harder. For some people, letting go of a dream is the hardest thing you can do … but might be the right decision.
#5 Master Bathroom Prison Toilets
Published: 3 February 2015
Views: 21,284
Why You Should Read it: I seem to talk about toilets a lot here at Life of an Architect. I typed “master bathroom layout designs” in to Google and what I found is alarming … and horrifying. Master bathroom layouts from an architect should all have the same components to them – sinks, tub, shower and a private toilet room. What they should’t have is the toilet room sitting out in the main space – just like you would find if you were in prison.
Consider this an online intervention from me to you … don’t have a prison toilet master bathroom.
Published: 28 September 2015
Views: 21,607
Why You Should Read it: Shadows on construction drawings … who would do such a thing?!? As it turns out, I would. I thought adding shadows to these elevations would help convey some additional information and despite the fact that I know you should never add shadows to construction drawings, I’m doing it anyways. Why? Because there are a lot of things that I am willing to try in an effort to get a better built project. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not afraid to branch out and try new things.
#3 How to Survive Architectural School Juries
Published: 31 August 2015
Views: 24,442
Why You Should Read it: What would I tell myself when I was a freshman in architecture school? Easy … I would start with tips on how to survive an architectural jury presentation. Architectural juries are tough and this article will explain how to get present your project with success with just a handful of need to know pieces of information.
#2 I am an Architect and I Draw for a Living
Published: 9 March 2015
Views: 29,320
Why You Should Read it: The need for an architect to draw well is very important. An architect’s drawings conveys more than just how to build a building, it conveys the importance of a drawing. Architectural drawings do more than tell someone how to build something – when done correctly, they provide clarity. they are not just pretty drawings.
Published: 29 June 2015
Views: 77,157
Why You Should Read it: Being an architect has its up’s and down’s … and the skill set we develop in an effort to become better architects can actually make every day adventures out of the most mundane activities … like taking a shower, a slice of living hell.
There it is – the top ten posts from 2015 according to you. Now, it’s only fair to admit that I don’t truly think these are the best, they were only the most popular. One consideration for the posts making this list was that (in theory) the older a post is, the more times it has for people to read. That means that the more recent posts aren’t getting their fair shake.
That’s life.
