0001 The Welcome Post
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, welcome to the brand new The Architecture Student Diaries website. Here at The Architecture Student Diaries I aim to provide advice and motivation to current architecture students to assist in their studies, as well as informing those interested in learning more about architecture, and just what it takes to make it in the vast and demanding architecture industry.
I understand exactly how difficult studying architecture is. Right from your first studio session in first year, you are thrown in the deep end, pushed to your limits and presented with challenges and exercises that at first make exactly zero sense to you. However, there is no need to fret, as you are not alone. Every single first year goes through the exact same emotional, caffeine fueled roller coaster. Well… except for that one kid named Derick who always manages to get HD’s without even trying. Damn Derick… Thinks he’s top stuff... Anywho…
For everyone except Derick, architecture school is most likely going to be the most challenging educational experience you will ever undertake, and it is going to test you and your resilience. But let me tell you, at the end of the day, it is worth it. You are going to make life long friends and accomplices through many late night studio sessions, learn more about the world than most people can comprehend, and come out with some pretty cool skills that you will be able to impress people with for the rest of your life.
Architecture school continues to challenge from day one to the day of your final studio presentation in fifth year, but with the wisdom, tips, and tricks you will learn from this site, I will make it a heck of a lot easier for you. And not to mention that you will always be one step ahead of everyone else in your school, which is always nice. I have been in your position and I know exactly what it takes to get the marks you want and how to get the most out of your studies and ever-growing tuition fees. Unfortunately, no, there is not a cheat code to architecture school that I will be giving you, it takes a lot of hard work. Though by reading my classes you will be getting as close to a cheat code as there is.
The Architecture Student Diaries was created by an architecture student for architecture students for one reason: to help you succeed with as few tears and broken scale rulers as possible. On this site I will be posting helpful content including:
Tips and tricks for everything from what stationary to buy, to public speaking, to techniques for dealing with the stress of architecture school
Product and book reviews to get the most out of your uni budget
Recommendations for travel, learning tools and even what to wear for a review
Tutorials for sketching, designing, CAD software, photography and all things creative
Guides for success and finding inspiration
As well as the occasional funny post, most likely filled with some of my best dad jokes
With this above mentioned content, I hope to ease the inevitable stress that architecture school brings. Architecture is one of the worlds most fruitful and passion filled professions and if you ask me, it’s just about the most rewarding job you could ask for, behind being paid to watch Netflix (yes, there are people out there who get paid for that). People get drawn to architecture and architects because let’s face it, we aren’t normal, after all who in their right mind would willingly put themselves through what architecture school dishes out. But, as I always say, normal is boring.
Architects are sexy to the outside world (probably because they don’t see us at 3am, nine coffees deep, with a potato chip in our hair from the snack we fell asleep in) because we are the ones that shape the world, we are the ones that through our deep passion and creativity have the ability to present the most beautiful things that man can imagine. And that my friend, is very attractive. Keep that in mind.
As architects we have the capacity to make a location a landmark, we have the ability to create a space that makes nature even better than thought possible. How do architects do that? Because they are differently minded, and that’s great. The fact that you have chosen this path and are reading this post means that you are like this too. Some people will think that you are odd because of the way you are able to create things out of nothing or see something a way no one else can, but it’s not odd, it’s the way you are meant to be. After all, without architects, where would we be? Probably still fighting for shelter in caves naturally formed in cliff faces. That may be a bit of an overstatement, but you see what I mean?
You’re special. Don’t fight it. Grab it with both hands and never stop trying to get better.
There is always going to be someone better or more talented than you, that is simply how life works, not only in architecture. But if you follow my tips, you will start to have people chasing your talent instead of you chasing them. It’s a well known saying that an architect is a Jack of all trades, but a master of none, and this saying could not be more correct. Architects don’t just know how to draw pretty buildings; architects need to know a little bit about everything in order to create structures and spaces that are fit for everyone and everything that is to inhabit them.
This is why this site will also teach you why it is so important to never stop learning and to never get caught in the mentality of ‘I know it all already, there is nothing left for me to learn’. Architects do not begin to reach their peak until they enter their 50’s, and the older and wiser you are, the better you will be. A simple way to understand this is if you look at the great works of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright with the 1959 Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan or Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe with his 1958 Seagram Building in New York. At the time of the erection of these two structures Wright would have been 92, though had died at the age of 91, whilst Mies was 72 years old at opening. That’s pretty impressive for a couple of old men if you ask me. If you want to be an impressive old man or lady too, just remember to never stop trying to get better, even if you are 90 years old.
Stay tuned on The Architecture Student Diaries as there is a lot of terrific content coming up right here in my classes as well other content to come on our socials, all of which will help you become the best architect possible as well as helping you become the best you possible. Make sure you keep up to date by following the TASD Instagram ‘@architecturestudentdiaries’ and our Facebook page, under the same name, to see inspiration and what The Architecture Student Diaries are up to. I will also be putting announcements on social media whenever a new class is about to drop so you never miss a chance to learn!
I wish you the absolute best in your studies and I am extremely excited to assist you along the way through your architectural journey and hope I can help to ease some of the stress in the years to come.
Ladies and Gentlemen, school is now in session.
Iain Colliver, SONA, YBA, GKIHS
