Do architects just design buildings? (2023)

Is architecture just designing?

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures. A wider definition often includes the design of the total built environment from the macro level of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the micro level of construction details and, sometimes, furniture.

Architects are often asked to solve a problem for their clients or work on a problem they've identified.

Your architect gives shape to your vision through drawings. The architect provides a preliminary evaluation of the program, schedule and construction budget developed in the pre-design phase and prepares schematic design drawings illustrating the project to review with the owner.

Architects are typically engaged by owners to design a house, or by developers for an apartment building. Often this includes administering the construction contract between the owner or developer, and the builder. It's how they do this that's important. And often a series of extra protections come as standard.

“Architects build and construct buildings” – Architects only DESIGN buildings and this is typically done using, pencil, paper and computer software. A contractor or builder is hired to physically construct the building out of bricks, mortar, wood, steel, concrete and many other materials.

Most architects care deeply about the problems intertwined with the built environment—housing, climate, health, social wellbeing—and the evidence is clear that many of these have reached a crisis point, or at least need stronger action than business-as-usual.

Definition of architect

1 : a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction. 2 : a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking the architect of American foreign policy.

Architects are professionals trained in the art and science of building design. They develop the concepts for structures and turn those concepts into images and plans, which eventually may become homes, office buildings and other facilities.

What are architects responsible for?

Architect Job Responsibilities:

Researches, programs, plans, designs, and administers building projects for clients, applying knowledge of architectural design, construction detailing, construction procedures, zoning and building codes, and building materials and systems.

What is the difference between architecture and architectural design? Architecture is the overall practice of designing structures–from initial designs to the construction process. Design for architecture is strictly the design aspect of the process.

A Building Designer, also known as a Professional Home Designer or Residential Design Professional, specializes in designing light-frame buildings such as single- or multi-family homes.

Architects design new buildings and suggest alterations to existing ones. Architects create designs for new construction projects, alterations and redevelopments.

Building designers are generally (but not always) cheaper. At least initially. You have to remember that they aren't providing the same level of service that an architect would, so it's not entirely unexpected that their design fees would be lower.

Building Designers, are still capable of providing a quality design for most residential and commercial projects too. However, they cannot advertise themselves as architects. Architects are in many ways can be Building Designers but Building Designers are not Architects.

This is based on the requirement. If you have a structure ready and need to decorate the interiors, then you should hire an interior designer. However, if you have an empty plot and need to construct a building from scratch, or need to renovate, then you should hire an architect.

What is the difference between architecture and architectural design? Architecture is the overall practice of designing structures–from initial designs to the construction process. Design for architecture is strictly the design aspect of the process.

Why all architecture is design but not all design is architecture?

All architecture is design but not all design is architecture. Architecture represents the significant design decisions that shape a system, where significant is measured by cost of change.

Architectural designers do, by and large, the same work as architects, but without the same legal responsibilities. They tend to be paid less because they have not gained licensure; however, there is no reason to suppose that a licensed architect will produce 'better' work than an unlicensed one.