Being an architect in Pakistan means that you’ve to face a lot of challenges from architecture school where you’ve to move around with a big, heavy bag containing all your tools and models; to working on site where you’ve to argue with the engineers and the thaikaydaar.
Here are some things architects wish they knew before becoming one:
1. You’ll constantly have to explain the difference between architecture and architect
Architecture: the study
Architect: the person.
Please people. Remember that. Thank you so much.
2. Everyone you know will want a free model of their dream home
Jab mein ghar banwaon ga/gee, tou tum say hee design karwaon ga/gee.
3. People think your job is the same as “drawing”
Their usual stance is, “yar naqsha hee tou banana hai. Wo tou mein khud bhi bana lun.”
Then make it yourself, honey. Don’t come up to me later when you mess it up.
4. Professions like civil engineering are often confused with yours
‘Sara kaam tou civil engineer kerta hai. You guys just add shashka.’
NO.
5. You’re also mistaken for an interior designer
Well, you do have the aesthetics but it’s still not the same.
6. You will be haunted forever by the crazy days of architecture school
While studying architecture, you had long, sleepless nights designing models and then creating them while people think that it’s all fun and partying.
7. Because you learn so much about them you will always feel concerned about the historical sites of your city
You’re still not happy with what the government did with the historical sites of your city.
8. People get annoyed when you start talking about the history and architectural value of every single building
You can’t help spreading all that knowledge.
9. If you go to someone’s newly constructed house, you start finding flaws in it
You’ve to sit there silently, keeping your opinion inside because it’s their home sweet home.
10. Clients will come up to you with a design they found on Google and want you to replicate it
You want people to trust you with your originality lekin logon ko Colosseum jaisa ghar chahye hota hai!
11. People think that all you do is sit on your computer playing the “professional” version of FarmVille
AutoCad, Rhino, SketchUp, etc. are not just your regular tools, hun.
12. Your clients will never trust you on your designs and will always try messing them up with their suggestions
And if they respond, they always have some unimaginable suggestion to the design which won’t be fitting to the Pakistani environment.
13. It’s ALWAYS you who will get blamed if a flaw comes up at the end of construction
Although you know kay wo thaikaydaar ki ghalte thee.
14. Everyone will think they know better than you when you’re working on a project
You try to avoid giving opinion because if you get too much involved, they’ll ask you to design it all for free.
15. And you’ve got a Dada jee in your field who everyone looks up to
Although architects’ community is small in Pakistan, everyone is familiar with the amazing work of Nayyar Sahab.
If you’re an architect, then tell us your struggles in the comments section and tag your architect friends as well.
Cover image via: scottdobry.com