Topic – What Does an Architect Do?

What Does an Architect Do?

Architects are people who plan new buildings. Before construction workers can start a building, they need to have a plan to follow.

The first thing an architect does is talk to the person who wants the building. That person is called the client. The architect finds out what kind of building the client wants. Will it be a house, a store, an office building, a hospital, a sports arena, a shopping mall, or a school?

Next, the architect finds out what needs to be inside the building. For a house, the architect needs to know what rooms are needed. For example, how many bedrooms and bathrooms are needed?

The architect might make some quick sketches to show ideas for the building. Some sketches show what the outside of the building will look like. Other sketches show where each room will be and how big it will be. The client looks at the sketches and might ask for changes. Then the architect makes new sketches showing the changes the client asked for.

When architects design a building they make sure

•  The building is safe for people to use.

•  The building meets the needs it was designed for.

•  The building has a pleasing appearance.

The plan to the right shows some of the symbols an architect uses when they design a house. In the upper right room, there is a countertop, a cooktop, a sink, and a refrigerator. In the lower left room, there is a bathtub, a toilet, and a sink. What rooms did the architect draw?

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