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Joshua Brown
Mr.Piatak
English III
February 27, 2014
The Architectural Journey
Architecture relies on the idea that people will create amazing things using simple
methods. For example, when Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb it took him many tries to get
it right. Architecture encompasses anything that requires construction whether a building or
landscape. Things can always change in to something bigger and better. An architects job
becomes like a trivia game when trying to get a clients needs right; For example trial and error
when Thomas Edison put different things together to make the lightbulb, similar to architecture.
Unfortunately sometimes a client will provide what they want and they expect it to get done right
the first time. Architecture encompasses the design and making of new things that people often
think could not happen in real life. This paper will explore the history and process of becoming
an architect, as well as what a day in the life of an architect might look like.
Ancient Egyptians built buildings that held up in extreme conditions. In other words the
pyramids and due to the scarcity of wood the would use mud and rocks.The majority of the rocks
that consist of limestone and sandstone since they exist in the desert. Some of these great
pyramids include The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza. Soon later Egyptians
created the brick which they used for royal places and fortresses. Bricks began to give the
Egyptians new ways to build smarter and faster. The large stones comprised tombs and temples.
This mud has a special meaning to the Egyptians because use the mud from the Nile River to
build their houses and this mud could be compared as us using mortar to hold the bricks together
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on our houses. This mud also provides natural recourses to the Egyptians. The Egyptians use this
mud to build just about everything around the river. Due to flooding many of the houses close to
the river got destroyed. The Giza Pyramids; constructed 5 miles into the Egyptian desert. These
pyramids got built in the fourth dynasty to show that Egypt has power just like other countries.
Many of the buildings that they built served for religious purposes, for example as a temple for
their worship. ("History Of Architecture)
Ancient Greece became know for there temples and many of them still stand today. The
buildings that they built include the Town Council Building, a Stadium, a open air theatre and
different monuments to the leaders of their time. Greek architecture consist of a decorative style
and the fact that the way Greeks made their buildings in a different manner than the Egyptians.
High ground has allowed the towns important buildings to go in these places and allow people to
see these buildings as almost a piece of artwork then a regular building. The Greeks often chose
limestone for their material of choice, like the Egyptians. ("Greek Architecture, Cartwright)
The Roman Empire used the Byzantine architecture as their main style of architecture.
The Byzantine architecture has a big part of the roman culture. It also has artistic background
compared to the other areas of architecture. During this time plaster became introduced to cover
up the in side of the walls of buildings. This would allow many artist to paint in these buildings.
Mostly the major churches in the area. The structure that we use today like pillars and arches
began to integrate into the churches and other builds as a artistic and structural part of the
building. This era introduced many different new structural inventions to architecture. Vaulted
ceilings and domes become apart of this new type of architecture. In the Byzantine Empire a
major part of their achievements are the Gothic architecture and many of the different cathedrals
that they helped design and build. ("Roman Architecture, Cartwright)
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The Pre-Islamic styles have existed for three to four thousand years and have influences
in many civilizations. The islamic architects used many similar ideas that there ancestors used to
build buildings. Their style includes decorative bricks and other rocks. Many civilizations around
the mid-east adopted the islamic architecture. Irans architecture often appears in many different
cultures. The influences of the architecture in the country include all of the great leaders of the
country which they have built many of the buildings in grand scale to show their power in the
country. During the fall of the empire over the years some of the different bridges and builds
with stood the different acts of destruction, but not all of them survived the battles and wars that
happened throughout the area. A lot of the different structures have influenced the way we build
our buildings and bridges over the year, from just the quality of the craftsmanship of the
buildings. Many of the buildings got built for the Kings that ruled during that time. The great
mosques of Khorasan, Isfahan, and Tabriz each used geometric shapes to build the buildings, and
the shapes to form the different variety of sizes that they wanted to help build the buildings.
Local materials, and local building methods got used to build the buildings in the area to keep the
culture in the buildings even though there newer buildings. This applies to the different statues
they have throughout the cities.("Encyclopdia Iranica)
The renaissance era often refers to the Italian Renaissance that began in the 14th century,
but it has considered to consists around Europe in general for more than a century before people
actually started to call it the renaissance. This kind of architecture was one of the first called
modern architecture. This time becomes a new beginning for Rome and some of the rest of
Europe. The new European buildings show a different concept where spaces can have
completely different view points, to show that every room has a purpose with each
viewpoint.("Renaissance Architecture.)
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With in the Incan architecture, they created bridges that would help them build on top of
a mountain. They could also move massive rocks from the bottom of the mountain up to the top
to where they started to build temples and houses for the people of their village and surrounding
areas. The way they built the buildings surprises the scientist and other architects still today. The
Inca's way of moving rocks, they would take rocks and cut them to fit walls that not only did not
need any mortar to hold them together but they only need to build three walls for houses. The
houses got built close enough together so that this became a new way for them to build. This way
of building keeps it strong enough for it to still exist there today. The way of building by the
Inca's becomes responsible for building Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu remains as one of the
greatest accomplishments by man kind. ("INKA ARCHITECTURE, Less Is More--Much
More!)
Modern Architecture varies for every country in that they all have their own ways of
modernizing their culture. The way they do things, but they all in some cases collide with each
other on the structural side of the buildings. Many companies that build skyscrapers build and
design the ones all away around the world. Since they now know how to build some of the best
buildings in the world. The design of the buildings depends on where they happen to live or work
in the world and who wants them built. Modern architecture for America could include a
industrial looking building, or it could include a building that consists of all glass on the outside
and the structure consists of iron and steel. Materials have a great influence on the design part
and also the build part based on what the builder can build with the materials that the customer
wants for the structure of the buildings. ("What Is Modern Architecture?)
Zimbabwe, the largest city in Africa has some of the greatest architectural achievements
in the world. By the late 1900s, most buildings reflected the European style. This influence
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comes greatly from the europeans moving to Africa a modernizing Africa. There also includes
different islamic influences not just in architecture but in the African culture, even though they
stick to their ancestors way of doing things. Local africans live in mud houses as we call them
and have a design of a dome. ("African Architecture, Oliver)
Many of the different countries that create new buildings after this time including the
United States have influence from these different regions of the world. The different regions
have created more than just something new they created evolution for many people to take and
make something better than the architects during A.D. time every thought. Back when
architecture first started many of the architects did just start by building saying I want to build
this. If they had experience whether a carpenter or a man that started working with rocks to build
a building. The architect was the average man that built himself a house or barn for his family
and livestock to live in. And he had limited materials to use that he found throughout the desert
or woods.
Many architectural buildings and different items that have consisted of wood or rock can
relate to religion in some way. Back when people started to come to america and we started
forming churches and other buildings needed for government we used architects and other artist
to help form and build the inside and outside of buildings. St. Patricks cathedral in New York
was designed by James Renwick Jr. He used Gothic style influences to help design and build the
cathedral. This type of architect gets used mainly around colleges, private schools, and now of
days gothic style architecture gets used in churches and cathedrals. Gothic architecture was
started in England in the 1740s. The first gothic style skyscraper was built in Chicago for the
F.W. Woolworth company. The gothic style has gotten spread world wide since the first gothic
style build was built in 1740. ("Gothic Architecture)
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The Gothic style includes different and sometimes creepy designs in the buildings and
even sometimes in the building itself. The various styles of Gothic architecture came about it
many different buildings in the 11th and 12th-century. Partially in France and around Paris and
surrounding areas. Glass and jagged stones in the top and out front of the buildings become a
key features to tell if a building could get the gothic style as the type of architecture. The glass
usually tells stories from the bible since many of these buildings get designed to become
cathedrals or churches. They then took polls which actually help the support of the building.
Columns get made big enough so that the building itself becomes taller than any other building
during that time.("Gothic Architecture)
To become a architect you have to have a high school diploma and apply to a college
with a architecture program. Colleges that have the courses to become an architect include
Clemson, NC State, Auburn, and many others including community colleges. Classes that
require you to become a architect are many math classes which include algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, and calculus. Most likely a art for the design part of architecture like building scale
models and drawing out blue prints for a customer. Many colleges recommend you take 6 years
of college to get a professional license in whatever type of architecture that you decide you want
to study. Then you can apply to become a intern at a firm for a couple of years until they move
you to a higher position or you decide to move to a different company. What you do one the job
depends on whether or not you like to work in the physical side of things. Where you get to go
out and make sure that the buildings get built the way you designed them and having the right
materials becomes a major part of the job. Or in some cases where you play the role and general
contractor to where you get all of the permits signed. And that everything going on during the
job stands up to code. Then you have the part of the job where you stay at the office and do paper
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work which could mean handing the bills or your going and meeting with clients to get new jobs.
To build new buildings get these new building built in a time period which have the needs for the
client. As the architect you get many jobs not just one which explains why they make it hard for
you to get a license or even the degree for that matter to become a architect. For some people it
takes them anywhere from six to eight year to get their license to become a architect and they
might not even work at a firm yet. ("What Math Classes Do Architects Take in College?)
The process of getting your license to become an architect. Now of days to become a
architect you go to school and take classes that prepare you to become a professional architect
that you need to get hired by a firm that wants you to bring in money for them. Or you can go out
and have your own architectural design company and get your own clients. Which could mean
building a custom house or building skyscrapers for big name companies. In this case it requires
you to hire other companies to do the actual building of the building. Which allows you to build
and go through the building the process. The building process entails of making sure the
foundation of the land can properly support the building and it has to become a level surface to
build on. Then you would allow you to put in the plumbing system for the building or house.
They can then start framing the building for the dimensions of the size of the building. Then they
can put the roof on the building and then start putting the electric system in the building. With
this they can put insulation in the building and then putting dry walls on the wall. Then they can
put whatever flooring they would like in the building. Depending on if the project contains
building a house or some sort of other type of building they can put a kitchen or offices in the
building and finish the building. The main part that architects focus on is the outside of the
building and let designers focus on the design part of the space. With saying this its essential to
inform you on the building process. ("ArchCareers.org - Becoming an Architect.)
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With the license you can either get a Bachelors degree, Masters or a Doctors but does
not mean you need it to become a licensed architect. Then you have to go and intern at a
company and you have to do 700 different units that include having eight hours during one. Once
you have completed your hours and training during the internship you can go and take your
Architect Registration Examination (ARE). With this you can go and apply for your license in
that state that you would like to work and live in. (How to Become a Licensed Architect?)
The main difference from todays architects and architects from a hundred years ago,
architects today go to school for a long time. And the technology that we have now compiles
information to help them come up with better and smarter ways to build buildings that need
certain regulations. Regulations can play a huge role in the inventing new ways that become
smarter and safer to build and live in these buildings. Architects back then did not get the chance
to become a classified architect because they did not go to school and the buildings that got built
had different flaws. But the architects that succeeded became well known architects. Today it's
hard for many people to become architects based on the process it takes to become a architect.
And the fact that once a project goes bad and wasn't designed well many people tend to not trust
you with building the building they want to have. ("Beaux Arts & Back Again.)
Architecture in a way introduces new ways of life since the pilgrims came to America.
When Columbus needed a way to get to america they built ships for him to come and explore
new lands around the world. And later when they didn't have anymore room in the buildings that
had already built in New York they decide to build up. When skyscrapers came about they had
no regulations. These new types of building at exceeded anywhere from 8 to 12 stories high. In
Rome when they needed water from the rivers that were miles away they invented pipe lines that
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brought the water to them so that they wouldn't have to travel far to get water. ("Beaux Arts &
Back Again.)
The different types of architecture include landscape architecture, industrial/commercial
architecture, and residential architecture. All of these types of architecture have some of the same
ideas as of architecture. But they all have different focuses on what type of buildings or
landscape they focus on.
Landscape architecture consist of designing outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to
different areas of the world that become known world wide. Depending on if you begin doing a
landscape for a commercial of residential venue. The landscape architect has to focus on
different parts of the job which includes the visual aspect to make it a appealing to the person
that has you doing this job but also efficient you should monitor water and to make sure the
plants can grow in the area that they get planted. The area must allow the plant to strive and
flourish. Private properties differ from a commercial property because they have different people
who own them. Even though the aspect of them becomes the same, the customer has different
wants and needs since they own different properties. Also depending what part of the world you
do work in has a major decision in what your going to do with the work area that you have.
(Summary.")
Commercial architects become responsible for creating and overseeing the design of a
structure. The architect should plan the projects and see them through. They may also build a
scale model or include blue prints of the structure. This means that the architect can go and work
closely with the client to get a idea of what they want to see the space become. Architects
become responsible for appraising the project to give customer a idea on what the project will
cost. And all of the details will get placed in the appraisal. A licensed architect may specialize in
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one type of building or design. These architects work for a firm that get high up clients that want
specific plans for major buildings for their companies. This may also include managing the
project or a couple of projects at a time. A commercial architect could work for the government
or the city and help build public landmarks, or government buildings that the government or city
needs to function. ("What Is Commercial Architecture?, Francois)
A residential architect designs buildings and structures that people live in. Residential
architects work in many different settings than other architects. The may own their own business
and specialize in different types or buildings like custom houses or apartments. Residential
architects may work by themselves or get help from other architects. The job day includes
designing buildings, meeting with clients, and checking on the current buildings that get built at
that certain time. Residential architects designing living environments that become a perfect
space for people to live in. They have to have bachelors degree in architecture,to even think
about getting a license and running a business. Residential architects receive training in
designing families houses, apartment buildings and nursing homes. Architects do not actually
construct buildings, but design them according to the clients needs and wants in the buildings.
Even though that some architects have experience in the building process many of them dont go
anywhere near the job site unless the client needs there hep in making a major decision in the
building process. Or a design that a client questions. What usually happens on the job, architects
works very closely with the carpenters to achieve the end product that complies with everyones
needs in the end. ("What Is Residential Architecture?, McMahon, Wallace)
Architecture as we know it has not changes for many years, even though it has been
modernized it still consist of the same if not similar ideas it did 100 years ago. The life of the
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architect has never changed. They continue to build some of the worlds greatest structures.
Through all of it they have never strayed to far away from a challenge.











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