Architecture - BArch.

Nearing the end of my first semester as an architecture student I often watch in wonder the people who seem to be doing this just for the hell of it. When I first started on this course I didn't quite expect the hectic schedule and vast expenses. So just to forewarn the people who aspire to study architecture - don't do it unless you truly enjoy it and are sure that this is what you want. If your in it for the money, then sorry, you are going to be penniless for a very long time, stretching your last couple of quid between materials, equipment, printing and many drunken nights to relieve your stress levels.

 If your thinking that it would be a good choice to go for when you don't know what you want, but you just want to go to university with everyone else - your wrong. The university experience an architecture student has is completely different to your average student - even there are no exams, your work is revieved ona constant basis, with deadlines piling up as you pull out your hair and live on coffee and energy drinks. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm actually one of these people that enjoy what we do in our course, I would have probably gone mad by now.

With such a high demand on university places to study architecture with ratios as high as 10 people to one place, it seems a true waste when people that aren't truly engaged with the subject are offered to be a part of the course. So, just a wordof advice to these who are thinking of aplying - do you actually want to be an architect?

Design.

As first year architecture students at University of Dundee we are now facing our first design project. With no limitations in budget, topography and creativity we can all (technically) astound teachers and students with our ideas. Unfortunately, the one major disadvantage is our lack of knowledge and experience, which drags out the design process and stubs our imagination. The issues of impracticality and regulations cause our tutors to direct us towards changing our concepts, making it difficult to remain within a clear sight of who yourself are as a designer. Over the last four weeks I myself have gone a long way from my initial ideas that catered for an artictic family that liked to party - in my head a house inspired on the gothic revival movement (fig.1) was a brilliant way to go.

Fig.1

However, after discussing the matter with my tutor and friends, I had realised that all the requirements and issues I had overlooked placed my 'dream house' on the extreme side within its concept. From there, my thought pattern made a 180 degree twist, and I became interested in the works of Shigeru Ban (Fig.2) and Mario Botta.

Fig.2

As my design evolved, I had to address many other issues, such as meterage, positioning and sizes of windows etc., to make the house a true landmark within its landscape. With a couple more weeks of hard work on the project, I hope it all works out.