Architect
What the work is
Plans and designs residential and multi-residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Provides concepts, plans, specifications and detailed drawings. Negotiates with builders and consultants, and advises on the procurement of buildings.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Works with clients, engineers, consultants and other stakeholders to determine their requirements and objectives for architectural projects
- Develops detailed, innovative, sustainable and functional architectural designs, taking into consideration social, environmental and economic concerns
- Conducts site inspections to assess project feasibility and submit town planning designs for permits
- Addresses requests for information as part of contract administration from consultants, engineers and other stakeholders involved in the building construction process
- Evaluates and selects appropriate building materials, finishes and systems to achieve sustainability objectives
- Completes design tasks (3D modelling) in accordance with project and client design briefs
- Utilises building information modelling (BIM), and applies relevant building regulations and codes to manage the planning and design of building projects
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small architecture studio designing homes, extensions and community buildings. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- You walk through a finished house and see how the family is already using the space
- A tricky site problem finally resolves with one clean idea on a sketch
- A client says the building feels like them, not like a catalogue
Hard days
- A client wants more than the budget and the rules allow, and you have to tell them
- A builder finds a surprise in an old wall and the drawings suddenly need changing
- Waiting weeks for a council approval while the client keeps asking for news
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 241131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.