Rule of thumb for gap years is to not extend beyond a 5 year window. You'll be fine.

Besides, you're needlessly worrying about grad admissions since they have a pretty steep folio criteria (not in terms of design): size; layout; pages etc. Pricks...

The world is full of people who have gone to graduate school long after their bachelor's.  So don't worry about that.

Now, you're right that you should be able to explain this gap (via your application essay or an interview): what you've been up to, and what now brings you back to school for an MArch.  But the notion that there's an expiration date for this process is false.

As to potential recommenders: this is harder.  Would the admissions folks accept a letter from an employer or two?  Or, you could also try this: identify the 1-3 faculty from your undergrad days that are likeliest to remember you.  Write them a letter (better than an email, more respectful, less likely to miss), maybe include a photo of yourself, and explain your predicament.  Might they be willing to meet with you for 15 minutes so you could refresh their memory, and show them a few graphics from your class with them?  Then, hopefully, a letter from them?

That might work.  Good luck!

I went to grad school about 7 years after undergrad. I think the "gap" in your education path is fine. It's part of your story as an applicant, and they definitely don't want every student to be coming directly out of undergrad.

As for the letter of recommendation, I had zero chance of connecting with an old professor. I took a few classes at a local community college before I applied and got a letter from one of those professors. Probably not ideal, but was good enough for my needs.

I agree that your gap is definitely fine and might even be pros. And you are still on the same path of the profession, which is great. Many have to do unrelated jobs after Bachelor for years just to earn the tuition fees for their master degree, and many of them got accepted to great programs.

But what program/course are you interested? More theory side or construction or parametric? Some universities prefer excellent academic ability while others focus on your design/practical ability in general. This will affect the portions of your academic/practical projects in your portfolios, especially for those who require very limited pages/projects. 

Hey good details! I am in the exact same boat as you. Also very concerned about how to get recommendation letters. 

One idea I've had is to maybe only use one or two professors for a reference letter, which would be weak/bland given our lack of robust personal or academic relationship. And, instead, I'll lean on a letter or two from a personal or professional connection, like a friend or an old boss, who actually is a trained architect, designer, construction mgr, etc, and could speak to my thoughtfulness about the profession and demonstrated commitment to learning about the field. So for you, perhaps someone from your old design/build job or a mentor who you consulted with for your competition projects? Or a close friend who's an architect you've spoken with a lot about the field/design issues?

I'm applying for MLA programs and have worked as a farmer and landscaper under a master gardener, architect, and experienced farmer, etc. I learned a lot on the job. I realize recommendation letters from professors are meant in part to highlight your capacity to engage in academic, scholarly learning. But I also think schools recognize the value of experiential learning, and would find it acceptable for recommendation letters to come from folks who gave trained us outside of the classroom and have developed our skills and minds. 

But, I do not work in admissions. I would love for someone who works at a school or in admissions to chime in!

good details, if you get any more advice or decide how to approach this issue, please update this post! It would be a help to me and future readers. Good luck!

I'm an architect with 10+ years of experience. I have worked on diverse scales and typologies of projects at all stages. I've always had a fascination for technologies in design and so I explored and have been proficient in quite a lot of softwares. All these years, I have been attending workshops and webinars often on various programs and design. I've also used them in my professional/personal works. Now, I'm planning to do masters in architectural computation. I'm aiming for ICD Stuttgart, Bartlett, AA or ETH Zurich. How difficult could it be for me to crack into colleges/universities?