What is Architecture?

What is architecture? According to Dictionary.com, architecture is: "the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings."

Sounds interesting right? Well, some of us are not very artistic. Some can't even draw a straight line regardless of how hard they tried. Architecture can be learned and it doesn't only focus on the artistic area of a person. There are computer programs that can help someone design a building, home, or even a city block without having that person physically draw one line. We have the Autodesk Autocad software, which are a group of Computer Aided Design programs that aid in the design of buildings. I've had some experience with these programs and they are useful if you know how to use them. The first step is to learn how to use the software, sometimes it can be confusing and frustrating, but with practice and time anything is possible. Another CAD (Computer Aided Design program) that I enjoy is Revit Architecture. This software includes what the Autodesk programs have but this software is much easier to use. There are many things you can do once you've designed your building. You can take digital pictures of it by rendering the image. You could make a movie of the building, to show particular areas inside or outside of the building to show maybe in a presentation or anything of the like. What I really like about Revit Architecture is the fact that this program combines all the design blueprints or sketches together and it creates a professional, final piece that is presentable to anyone.

Architecture combines different areas of the human mind, art, math, creativity and the environment. Everything is put together, thinking about how it affects the environment, and calculated precisely with calculus so that the final project is delivered safely and in a timely manner to the client. There have been architects ever since the dawn of civilization. All those people that built villages, cities and then countries; they were engineers and architects. Working together for the purpose of expansion and survival.

Some modern architects are focusing on green architecture. This means the use of "green" materials which are environmentally friendly materials that do not pollute the environment. Some architects focus on the creativity with crazy designs that seem out of this world, while some are more conservative and design structures that are simple and ordinary. Architecture differs from one person to another, we all have different minds and thoughts. We all have different ideas, therefore, architecture can be unique to one specific person and might not be able to be recreated.

Whenever you have time or have an opportunity, grab a pencil and a sheet of paper; draw what's in your mind, and you, too, could be an architect.