Architect or No Architect | Day in the life RCD

 Architect or No Architect that is the question

 

Hello RCD readers,

What is an architect?

An architect is a skilled professional who plans and designs buildings and generally plays a key role in their construction. Architects are highly trained in the art and science of building design. Since they bear responsibility for the safety of their buildings' occupants, architects must be professionally licensed

When can somebody call themselves an licensed architect by law in Suriname?

KKF has followed the building law of becoming a licensed architect. But OW&V has changed his regulations 2016, so that more people could ask for building permits. Now I don't know what my profession holds and if me and other architectural designers still have a chance in this field with the new government changes. 

 

Requirements for practicing the profession of Architect:

Declare that to obtain a license to exercise the profession of Architect, with the authority to design and supervise all architectural and urban planning works, is required:

 

 a. M.Sc. in architecture with three years of experience at a recognized architectural firm. Three representatives of the Government and one designated by the National Section of the International Union of Architects (U.I.A.) will assess your portfolio.

 

 b. B.Sc. in architecture with five years of experience at a recognized architectural firm. Three government representatives and one designated by the National Section of the International Union of Architects (U.I.A.) will review your portfolio.

 

c. Those who do not meet the above requirements must have completed architectural work for a period of ten years. Three government representatives and one designated by the National Section of the International Union of Architects (U.I.A.) will review your portfolio.

 

Now we all know that becoming an architect with a master degree in Suriname is not possible. Mostly because people who have the power to give us these opportunities simply do not value our profession enough.  I have heard a million times "we are starting a Master degree in Architecture" and we got some kind of urban planning master degree in which doesn't really add up. And the Bachelor degree in Architecture has slowly disappeared by people in conman of our infrastructure university faculty. So my profession is slowly being killed because we are in a weird universe that people in the tech profession think that civil engineers can actually design houses etc and architect profession is obsolete.

 

What can you do with Bachelor degree in Infrastructure now ?

Now what is possible after your Bachelor degree?

• Architectural draftsman
• Constructor (civil)
  
• Contractor (work experience in the building phase)
  
• Project Manager (work experience in the building phase)
• Architectural Mediator
• Entrepreneur 
• Building material stores
  
• Government profession in anything containing Infrastructure
  
• Architectural teacher
  
• Architectural freelancer in your expertise
  
• Architectural designer

Now three of these professions worked for me and that's how my build up went during finding my current work profession. Let's start with a description !! 

architectural draftsman / freelancer / architectural designer

 

To explain the job description of an architectural draftsman. 

Let's show the difference between architect and architectural draftsman.

An architect may be involved in a project from start to finish, helping with anything from planning, design, and documentation, to contract administration and project management. In contrast, a draftsman is someone who produces drawings for construction projects, whether it is a brand-new build or a renovation.

 

Now after being an architectural draftsman for years and sometimes still. I had to find out what fits for me eventually. Becoming an teacher is something I admire from my fellow classmates but I wasn't ready to teach anything. And working for the government wasn't for me. So freelance architectural designer was for me.

What is an architectural designer?

The term architectural designer may refer to a building designer who is not a registered architect, architectural technologist or any other person that is involved in the design process of buildings or urban landscapes. Independent architectural designers generally work on projects that are within these limitations.

Why do I call myself that?

I have not registered as an architect after my work experience and work as a freelancer since I graduated. 

Now what does a freelance architectural designer actually do?

The love for mine profession | Day in the life RCD 

 

How can you become a freelance architectural designer?

• create a CV with your experience at school
• write solicitation letter with addressing the need to learn more about the profession 
• solicited in different variety of companies for more design exposure
• kitchen furniture stores
• carpenter in need of a drafter
• contractors
• architects studios
• windows and doors companies
• any place that needs a drafter (think about everything that you need to build and apply to be a drafter)
• register as architectural drafter department of public works and traffic
  

And what kind of tips can I give you moving forward towards this specialty?

• push to do an internship at the university
  
• find a way of transportation because it will be easier
  
• don't register directly as an architect (if that is your dream profession) because you are working for others and learning the trait with no work experience
  
• find a mentor, teacher or colleague with more work experience who is able to guide you
  
• write down your cost for work and make sure that you are paid above that every project 
• start on the get go as a freelancer, because that's easier to learn more in different specialties in little amount of time
  
• invest in your drafting needs 
• always keep educating yourself 
• marketing 
• finances
• taxes
• laws and regulations 

 

Thank you for reading and good luck