Defying Gravity: A Career in Architecture in India

Makeovers are the latest trend of the industry. The business models, practices, approach and methodologies, all are undergoing a change. A recap of 10 years would actually highlight the changes the society has gone under, not just in terms of the ideologies and mind- sets but also aesthetically. You enter the metro cities and they greet you with their proud skyscrapers and tall buildings. Everyday we witness these new architectural marvels challenging the gravity and rising to new heights. Little is known to us that these wonders leaving us in awe of the design have a huge research, planning, designing and logical reasoning that goes behind them. It is the individuals with a dream to pursue a career in architecture in India who have to be credited in urbanizing the face of the nation.

Ones with an eye for detail and design are opting for a career as an architect. A career in Architecture in India was initially looked upon as a niche option, but now owing to the increased demand, awareness and the number of institutes, the takers for this profession have gone up. The onus of creating a visually appealing and safe structure lies on the shoulders of the architects.  Architecture is the only discipline that revolves around the four major fields of study i.e Humanities, Science, Art, and Technology. It speaks out for itself and often is laid down as a measurable for the social status and ideologies of an era. If conserved it is tagged as Heritage and if it is ruined the remains serve as subjects of archaeological study. 

Keeping in mind all these valuable aspects of the profession, architecture career in India can help strike the right balance between aesthetics and practicality. The demands of the profession have become very diverse in nature which in turn has broadened the scope of it. The architects bring to the table a perfect blend of the technique, art, safety, longevity, space, structure and aesthetics. Construction is one the fastest growing sectors of the Indian economy. After agriculture, it is the second largest employer and contributor to economic activity. The construction sector accounts for the second highest inflow of FDI after the services sector and employs more than 35 Million people. 

The changes that the construction and real estate sector have undergone have brought about a revolution in the profession. New gateways have been unlocked and unravelled in this sector giving rise to numerous specializations which could not have been thought off earlier.

Speaking about architecture as a career option Kanika Kumar, a graduate in Architecture from Vastu Kala Academy, College of Architecture and Interior Designing, highlights that India is a developing country and pursuing a career in architecture will bear fruitful results for the candidates. Kumar has worked with Ashu Paul & Associates, as Junior architect/interior designer, she emphasises that the pay in this industry is relatively good. The salary package of a fresh graduate ranges somewhere between 2.75 Lakh to 3.25 Lakh per annum.  ‘Architecture is a profession where your experience will speak out for you the most. Pursuing a career in architecture in India with a specialization only adds to your knowledge and helps you zero down on your area of interest’, adds Kumar. She advises that the popular careers in architecture are those in designing and planning followed by landscape architecture and civil, but it primarily depends on the candidate’s areas of interest.  For the future architects she gives out a clear message that investing your career in architecture in India will only lead to a shining future. What needs to be kept in mind is we can’t add concrete jungles aimlessly we should aim for green architecture. New techniques should be adopted to make a sustainable structure. 

How to get there?

The aspiring candidates can get enrolled into the 5 year course of architecture to kick start their career in the field of their interest. There are specialization courses also available which have very recently added to the menu of architecture in India. The candidates can appear for NATA (National Aptitude Test) to seek admission the architectural institutes in the country. The test scores, along with the class XII scores comprise the eligibility of applicants for the undergraduate course in Architecture (B. Arch).

The Specializations

Architecture career in India, so to say, was not a popular career option amongst the youth but in recent years, due to the upward growth of the construction sector it is gaining popularity as a valuable career option. The growing demands for architects have paved way for a segmented structure and have shown the shaft of light to various specializations in the profession. India is now aiming at a comparatively sustainable development level. The recent international summits have also laid focus on the same. Basis the interests of the candidates, they can now go ahead with the stream of their preference. The candidates have the enough options on their plate today.

India is developing at a fast pace. A lot of importance is being given to construction domain which is promising wide employment opportunities for architects both in the public and the private sector. Not just development but sustainable development is the way forward. Hence it has become all the more essential to get on board trained individuals who are professionally skilled in environmentally sound structural growth.

These alterations have given birth to a number of specializations.

Urban Designing- Urbanization is one of the top agenda’s in the economic growth of the nation. Urban designing is the blue print developer of the cities. It is a pivotal part of the architecture field. A specialization in this segment shapes up the physical setting of cities, towns and villages. It includes designing buildings, spaces, landscapes, roads and lay down the foundation of a successful development plan for the nation.

Building Engineering and Management- As the name suggests building engineering and management relates to the engineering and management of the building. It is about the art of coordination with the different authorities concerned in giving an architectural idea a proper shape. Building and architectural management is about paying attention to every minute detail and specification and making sure that the safety measures and design parameters are adhered to in the construction process.

Architectural Conservation/ Heritage Management- Both these courses are related to conserving the architectural wonders that narrate the story of a particular era to us. They are about the technical skills required for the conservation of these resources. It is about the big and small steps that would help us sustain the heritage of the country.

Industrial Design- The industrial design is the process of design applied to various products that are to be used for mass production. It is basically the art of creating bold design solutions which are a blend of art and technology in innovative and practical ways.

Naval Architecture- Naval architecture is all about designing, construction and repairing ships, boats and other marine vessels. It also includes shaping up both civil and military offshore structures like merchant ships, passenger vehicles, warships, semi submersibles, high speed craft and many more.

Architecture concerning traffic and transport planning- Massive urbanization has led to an increase in the demand for professionals taking care of the architecture concerning traffic and transport planning. India is running low on the resources hence extreme care and professional skills are required for planning, designing, operations and management of the national, regional and urban transport systems. The services include city- wise transport plans, parking lots, bicycle route planning, travel habit studies, transport strategies on local and regional levels, public transport and many other relating to these topics.

Landscape Architecture- The art of giving shape to outdoor public areas, landmarks and structures is known to be landscape architecture. The designs need to weigh a balance between the ecological, geological, social and aesthetic factors for the benefit of the human kind.

Environmental Design- The increased awareness about environment conservation is leading to the popularity of environmental design. It includes taking into account environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products.

The Jobs on the Rise:

• Landscape Architects
• Parametric Architects
• Digital Architect/ 3D animation Architect
• Architecture Designer
• Architecture Engineer
• Interior Designer
• Entrepreneur

Courses Available

The final battle

The expanding sector has set up many educational institutes within the country. Picking a course of study is determined by a lot of factors the reputation, placement, course structure, interests, skills and the mind-set. Amongst the many options of courses that are now available for the architects, the ones dominating the field are listed below:

• B. Arch. (Architecture) 
• B.E. Naval Architecture 
• Diploma in Architectural Assistantship 
• Diploma in Architecture (Dip. Arch) 
• Diploma in Architecture Assistantship
• Master of Technology in Architecture Engineering    
• Master of Technology in Town & Country Planning    
• Master of Philosophy in Architecture Engineering

Between 2005and 2008, the real estate sector grew by about 30% annually before slowing down significantly due to a 2008 global financial crisis. It grew by about 8% between 2009 and 2011 and 6.5% in 2012-13. As per industry estimates, the Indian real estate market is estimated to be approximately USD 78.5 Billion in 2013 and is expected to grow to approximately USD 140 Billion by 2022. The architecture market is thirsty for new man power that is technically skilled and has an eye for detail.  A career in this profession was not considered a good option earlier but owing to the drastic makeover the industry has under gone, it has taken a 360 degree turn. It is now one of the highest paying professions in India. The institutes have gone up, the takers for the course have gone up and also as the statistics suggest that the construction sector is going to be on rise and new employment opportunities will be knocking the doors of the architects in the years to come. Digital has taken a toll on the nation and it is now being merged with architecture as well. This in itself is sure to bring out a revolution in the construction and real estate sector.