Archinect - Forum

Season's Greetings to all you Architectural Wild Things

2024-12-21T14:44:12-05:00

Anyone walking on the totally wild side of design lately? - check out the light fixtures for an exercise in creativity of the repurposing kind ...

Thesis vs Non Thesis Masters in the Work Field

2024-12-21T14:19:00-05:00

Hello, so I'm currently applying to masters, Carleton, Dalhousie, Mcgill, UBC. But a big thing I'm kinda curious about is Mcgill and UBC non thesis programs vs Carleton and Dalhousie thesis programs. Does it make a difference once you get into the work feild weather you end up doing full thesis vs just a thesis project? Such as if you dont do a full thesis will it be more difficult to get jobs or if you end up wanting to do more research as your job would it stop you from being able to do that. I want to consider UBC and Mcgill more but the non thesis is triping me up because I like doing research and it sounds interesting but I've already done my undergrad at Carleton and I'm not sure what living and going to Dalhousie is like or if they are a good school.

Thank you for your time!

Quick Guide with Twinmotion and Rhino 8 for Architecture Students and Beginners

2024-12-20T20:13:36-05:00

This video covers how to get started in Twinmotion with Rhino 8. This video is intended for beginners trying to get started as quickly as possible.

Can You Help an MSc student? Seeking professionals with experience in HBIM/ Adaptive reuse/ Conservation for Research Interviews

2024-12-19T03:22:53-05:00

Hello Archinect Community,

My name is Buddhika Bandara, and I am an MSc student in Building Information Modelling at the University of the West of England. I am conducting research on HBIM Implementation Challenges in Adaptive Reuse Projects for Heritage Buildings in the UK.

My research focuses on understanding the practical challenges and limitations encountered in HBIM workflows, including data acquisition, model creation, information enrichment, and implementation stages. I aim to explore these issues through 45-minute semi-structured interviews with professionals who have experience working on heritage restoration, adaptive reuse, or preservation projects involving BIM.

I have been reaching out to organizations such as Historic England and the National Trust for Scotland and have received responses from a couple of professionals so far. However, I still urgently need more respondents to complete my interviews by 26th December so that I can finalize my qualitative analysis.

I und...

Can You Help an MSc student? Seeking professionals with experience in HBIM/ Adaptive reuse/ Conservation for Research Interviews

2024-12-19T03:19:49-05:00

Hello Archinect Community,

I und...

Bonuses/Raises/Promotions ('Tis the season)

2024-12-18T14:36:00-05:00

Same topic again ... Any bonuses, raises or promotions - good news in terms of career this year?

We got nothing, with a promise that they would "consider" raises in first quarter. Sucks.

Production Design Architecture?

2024-12-15T17:45:00-05:00

Hey guys! I am an architecture student who has an interest in production design, as in the making of film/theatre sets and stages. I love movies, and have always loved how they are made, but I don't know how I could learn more about production design, as its generally a theatre arts topic rather than architecture. So if anyone can help me with the following questions, or advice in general, I would greatly appreciate it!

-What are some good production design books or videos to have learn more about the career?

-Is it possible to be a production designer with a bachelors in architecture?

-Anyone know any popular production designers?

-What are your favorite movies from any genre with awesome sets?

Architecture Boards Printing

2024-12-14T17:59:00-05:00

Hi everyone! Does anyone know where I can get 24 x 48 boards printed in high quality? I’m aware that Staples offers this service, but the colors tend to look desaturated, and the graphics lose clarity. Are there any other reliable options available with just a few hours' notice on Monday?

Graduate Portfolio Viewing Equipment

2024-12-12T12:50:00-05:00

Good afternoon,

Over the past few months, I've been working on my portfolio for graduate applications on a 1440p ultra-wide monitor In my college town and have nearly finished it. I returned to my home town where I opened it to the final touches on a 1080p monitor and it looked completely different. Lines, textures, and images have all lost there quality that had months put into them. As the gap closes to the application deadlines I ask the question.

Do most universities use OLED or 4k /2k monitors to view portfolios? Or will they be sitting on small laptops / Ipads to view them?

How should I go about this trouble?

Revit vs Revit LT

2024-12-11T11:46:00-05:00

Looking to make a switch from Autocad to Revit, does anyone have experience with Revit LT. This is mainly for residential and small commercial projects. The cost of LT is much less and a good starting point to get acquainted with the program before jumping in to a full version.

Rhino 8 Tutorial - Illustration Style Architecture Renderings and Drawings

2024-12-10T17:10:14-05:00

https://youtu.be/j82Mn4-pPQY

This video covers how to create illustration style renderings and drawings in Rhino 8. Applying materials to layers, modifying display settings, editing lineweights, and print display in Rhino 8. This video also covers architecture layout on InDesign with color blending options.

Chances of getting into Canadian M-Arch with 2.6 Gpa?

2024-12-09T12:10:00-05:00

wondering what the chances are of being accepted into canadian M-arch programs with my current gpa of 2.6. Im graduating this year with a bachelors in Urban planning, but have always wanted to pursue Architecture. I blame my grades on myself of course, but also my degree almost 75% of it was consisted of Various Geog, Anth, Soci, History and other no Urban planning related classes that were required to take, which made me lose interest in university. I plan on applying to UBC, McGill, Ucalgary and Carleton at the moment, are those schools even worth applying too? I feel my portfolio is fairly strong but have just been overly stressed about this recently and would like to hear some insight.

Mass Timber Experiences

2024-12-06T12:35:00-05:00

Anyone here ever worked on projects doing mass timber?

If you're able to share what type of project was it?

What are your thoughts on working with mass timber?

Tiki bar, and other c00l whatever pics thread

2024-12-05T20:14:43-05:00

Just a thread to throw tiki bar pics and whatever else c00l shit you come up with. Have fun.

Soft Architectural Diagramming Aesthetics in Rhino 8

2024-12-04T19:57:39-05:00

If anyone needs help creating soft architectural diagram aesthetics Rhino 8

GC has offered to complete the architectural work "for free".

2024-12-04T14:16:00-05:00

I have been working with a 501(c)3 for over 10 years and am currently working on designs for a major expansion of their facility. After nearly 3 years (they don't have the money to build the project yet), we are close to having an approved set of schematic design drawings. The owner met with me yesterday to inform me that the GC has offered to complete the architectural drawings, based on our schematic design, "for free". The GC is not a licensed Architect and they typically use another architectural firm to design and seal their projects. We have offered dramitically reduced fee to this owner but I can't compete with "free". In fact, I doubt that these are free architectural services and that the GC my just bury the cost in OH or some other line item. I am looking for a hold harmless agreement that will protect my firm from any issues after we hand off the project. Always remember "no good deed goes unpunished".

Small scale concrete models.

2024-12-03T11:45:00-05:00

I'm a artist working on a series of small concrete models of buildings, probably 100cm square at their largest. I'm looking for advice on making moulds, should i just invert the building? Or any other materials that would acheive the same look as concrete.

Thanks in advance.

What materials were gold leaves put on in Fondazione Prada building in Milan?

2024-12-03T11:04:00-05:00

I know the so-called Haunted House is covered in 200,000 gold leaves, but I can't find any information on which material they were put on, i.e. what's under it. Was it simply concrete or something else?

Seeking some career guidance

2024-12-02T22:20:00-05:00

I am 50 years old and have worked as an architectural designer for over 20 years--spending most of my time as a drafter. I began my passion for design and schooling in Barbados, but never got the opportunity to continue my education after coming to the US. I've worked at least 5 firms (in NJ & NY) since arriving here but when the market gets funny, I get laid off. Thankfully, I have had the opportunity to doing some really great residential designing at a few of those firms, but my name was never on the final drafts.

Unfortunately, I've been out of work for almost a year and can't seem to get a bite on ZipRecruiter, Indeed, LinkedIn, UpWork, Craigslist or any other employment site. I've applied for everything from part-time, contract and full-time work--with no luck.So I'm hoping to seize this time and reconsider my options.

Right now, I am considering going back to school so I can work for myself, but in the meantime I need income. I would like to freelance, take on contract work...

Hi everyone, I have a question about whether it’s necessary to contact professors before starting a graduate program in architecture

2024-12-01T13:49:00-05:00

I’ve noticed that many applicants, particularly those pursuing research-based master’s degrees or PhDs, often reach out to professors beforehand to discuss potential research topics or supervision. However, my case is slightly different.

I’ve been admitted to the Master of Architecture program at RMIT University, which is design-based rather than research-focused. At RMIT, studio selection operates through a balloting system, and the themes for each studio change every semester. From what I understand, students are encouraged to choose creatively while aligning their studio projects with their long-term goals, especially for their major project.

Here’s my situation: I’m applying for a scholarship, and the provider expects evidence that I’ve contacted professors and discussed my major project. While this makes sense for research-based programs, I’m unsure if it applies to design-based programs like mine.

Has anyone here had a similar experience? Is it typical or beneficial to contact...

cross section cut, continuous or broken?

2024-12-01T12:04:52-05:00

should there be a Line between the floors/foundation or can it be a continuous line - I like the aesthetics of the latter but I'm not sure if it's allowed? Due to the scale, I am leaving them infill blank.

How is the glass on the door beam installed? Won't it fall down? It looks like there is no supporting structure underneath. Structural glass

2024-11-26T12:28:00-05:00

Structural glass

Islamic Architecture Muqarnas Guide Resource

2024-11-25T19:36:41-05:00

If anyone is curious about Muqarnas generation and modelling. This video goes into the construction methods and modelling.

Staffing Structure

2024-11-25T17:18:00-05:00

Curious what the staffing structure in everyone's studio is like, and your ideal structure should be.

By staffing structure, I mean the demographic pyramid of the firm - by experience level. A healthy firm, IMO, has a bulge in the middle and a base that is just as fat or a bit slimmer. The pyramid's top is relatively light. In terms of personnel experience, this would mean a firm that has a solid core of folks with 5 - 7 years experience who are able to guide new staffers (with the help of more experienced architects of course), and a group of senior PMs of around the same size.

An unhealthy composition (Again, IMO) is one with a small waist. That is, a lot of 5 - 7 year experienced folks have left the firm, leaving a gulf between untrained new staffers and overworked senior PMs who have no time (or incentive, given the history of folks leaving) to teach newcomers. The newcomers are left frustrated and leave soon after, perpetuating the vicious cycle - though the firm can still coun...

The Housing Crisis - Should Architects Get Politically Involved?

2024-11-25T16:49:18-05:00

From some current housing articles: A bipartisan consensus around making it easier to build while builders and those in the construction industry have long complained about regulatory hurdles, their concerns weren't reflected among policymakers and the media until housing became unaffordable even for the elite. There was a turning point when college-educated millennials began struggling with the high cost of housing, while similar Americans "in prior generations, at this point in their life, would have been in homes, had some equity, not stretched so thin, starting to build some wealth”. At the same time, the housing shortage has begun to impact communities across the country rather than just large coastal metros. It's led to a rare cross-party alliance. You have the intellectual elite of the progressive side of the ledger kind of merging with what I would describe as the lunch pail builder, developer on the conservative side of the equation. It's a funny situation now because you h...

Hi fidelity Voltage protection - Architect Audiophiles?

2024-11-24T21:45:12-05:00

Anyone?

I built a a fairly serious system during COVID.
A few weeks a I was left with a blown out tube amp after a brown out. Tube amps don't like this stuff. Not the first time. They blow reciters and key components when voltage dims and then surges.
I firmly believe it is the utility.
I've also been told I have a loose leg either on my local panel (condo) or the building panel.
Have an Electrician coming out to check my panel (condo)
Based on this chain - I'll need to have building management do a test on the building panels.
Any other ideas
I'm looking for a solution before before I spend major bucks.
UPS backups don't work - these things need pure sine waves to behave. Thanks. I appreciate all helpful responses.

An art gallery form concept dillema

2024-11-22T11:46:00-05:00

Hi guys, I am doing my final semester for a diploma in architecture. I need ideas that I can use for my form concept that would best be relevant to my project.

Kindly assist me, I am relying on you guys and would appreciate as much help as possible

How much do architects make? And how is it related to job satisfaction?

2024-11-21T11:37:00-05:00

Just graduated from a 5 year B.Arch program, and had these questions for a while. (What is the career trajectory like, will I actually be as broke as people tell me I will be?) So I visualized 13,000+ surveys Archinect has collected since 2013. The results are fascinating, and sometimes disheartening. For instance:

➡️ The median salary over all years is $64,000. Architects with higher salaries are generally more satisfied—but not always.

➡️ The percentage of female architects drops significantly with years of experience.

If you want to check out the visualization: desaiwang.github.io/architects-salary

This is a beta version, so I would love some feedback! Let me know if anything feels unclear, or if you have ideas for new features or insights to include.

Take Over

2024-11-19T15:23:00-05:00

Say you worked at a firm for 15-20 years. A small (under 20) well establish firm in a rural / small city area. Everyone you work with has also worked at the firm for similar amount of time, except for 2 newer draft persons. What if you were the second last person to be informed of the firms take over by a national firm, two years after negotiations with the partners started and only 2 months before the deal is to be done. Second last of all the long standing employees. How would you interpret that? Should note that you have your own client list and one client is an international company that kept your company going during and after covid.

What type of house is this?

2024-11-19T11:48:00-05:00

I'll be detailed but discreet.

What type of house is this? One of my dad's friends owns a house like this.

It has a basement with a built in movie theatre and a basement storage room. On the main floor, it has an office room, a living room connected to a kitchen. Top floor, it has 6 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms, the master bedroom has a walk-in closet, a bathroom with a separate tub, separate shower cubicle, and a bidet by the toilet. The backyard consists of two patios: one wood deck on ground and a stone patio at the basement back sliding doors.

This is the type of house I'll need when I plan to move to another part of Canada. But is this a mansion if it's 6,795 square foot house with 6 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms or 6,742 square foot house with 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms?

A duplex would be a house that's shared between two families or parties. This type of house is meant for only one family.