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CONTENTS

Foreword

Dedication
Acknowledgements

Editors note

Introduction

SECTION 1: THE ARCHITECT

Way of Life

The Profession

Do you want to be an Architect?

Options of a Basic Degree in Architecture

SECTION 2: THE STUDY EXPERIENCES

EXPERIENCE 1: A Point In The Right Direction...........................................38

Ask questions and get clear with the answers

EXPERIENCE 2: Architectural Design 101.................................................45

Always see the bigger picture; understand your design

Start early to finish early; time management
keep your social life afloat
work in company of friends who motivate you
learn by appreciating others
Know when to get some extra hands
Be cautious while seeking help
Proper presentation does the magic

EXPERIENCE 3: Case Studies.........................................................................81

Understand the Objectives

What to do while on a case study
Reporting the study

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EXPERIENCE 4: Model Making......................................................................85

You can do it yourself, If you start early

EXPERIENCE 5: Group Work.........................................................................93

Discover the power of selective strengths

EXPERIENCE 6: Dynamics Of CADD Use.....................................................99

Invest personal resources to become proficient in CADD

Dont forget the bottom-line; productivity

EXPERIENCE 7: Internship...........................................................................115

Learn to the letter

Build long lasting relationships

EXPERIENCE 8: Co-Curricular Activities.....................................................126

Student Associations, Design Competitions, Excursions, Sports and Festivals,

Seminars, Workshops and Webinars.

EXPERIENCE 9: The Student Entrepreneur.................................................133

Proper skills + the right opportunities

Discretely avoid drama

EXPERIENCE 10: The Final Year............................................141

Writing your thesis- The research

Managing difficult supervisors
Finishing the Design project

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 SECTION 3: AFTER STUDY
Contributions by Rev. Fr. Arc. P.C Agbonome Ph.D

Graduation; - grades are just figures.

Further Education; - should I?...Home or abroad?

Careers in Architecture

Getting it started Reflections on self-employment / free lancing vs. traditional

employment. Crafting your own vision the four types of Architects identified
by Lovell.

Balancing Financial Demands with Personal convinctions : the world of people

vs the world of skills........................................................................................175

Final remarks...176

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 PREFACE

It is not always about who you are now; It is about who you can become.
Being admitted to study Architecture or any related course, is truly an
honourable thing; However, whether you are going to make the best out
of it or not totally depends on you; and that is what this book clearly
demonstrates.

In a unique auto-suggestive style, the content triggers your creativity. It is

a book which you cannot do without as a student of Architecture. It
remains relevant at all stages of study as it passionately understands the
challenges you are facing, and guides you towards success.

It speaks in an ethereal language, which is not commonly heard in the

classroom. Showing you how you can achieve more by yourself, while
recognizing the place of traditional coursework. It is more of a Character
guide; I would call it the moral angle of your study which anyone hardly
tells you. It literally documents your every single day at college in a
graphical discussion, which you can relate to personally and broadly too.

The Author, being a former student of mine, I can say, has witnessed
first-hand most of the experiences which has been documented here and it
was sure worth the press. In my twenty-two years as an Architectural
Instructor, I havent seen a single illustration this thick, You may even
find what happened in your own college right here!

It is simply a hilarious read!

....................................................................................................
Prof. Thirumeni .M
Dean School Of Architecture and Interior Design
SRM University, Chennai, India.

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 To The Struggling Architecture Scholar

and

To All Those Seeking To Further The Learning And Practice Of

Architecture

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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 EDITORS NOTE

This is a work for all times and all students, it is a great work every
student especially Architecture students should read. It makes a very
interesting reading experience. I am proud to be associated with it.

C.E Chukwujindu (PhD)

Editor-in-chief
Learning to be an Architect.

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 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is divided into three main sections. The first section is an
introduction to who the Architect is and an overview of how he thinks
and works.

The second section covers the study duration and is the core of the book.
It is organised into experiences and lessons. Each experience would start
with a pictorial depiction of the concept, and a short introduction to the
issue. Following this would be a number of lessons for the student.

Inspiration bytes are placed at programmed intervals, to tickle the

readers fantasy and force his imaginations open.

Important subheadings are printed in blue colour within the text or in

italics where attention is required.

Quotes, subheadings, and words of wisdom are printed in orange color

right below major headings and where necessary the authors are
indicated.

The third section addresses life immediately after graduation. It is treated

with great ingenuity, by a co-author who possesses immense knowledge
and experience in Architecture education and Practise.

The concluding section reminds you of the place of God in your efforts,
and leaves you, empowered for academic and professional proficiency.

Happy Reading!

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10
 INTRODUCTION

So you have studied so hard, attended those extra lessons and spent
enormous amount of resources to scale through your 12th grade exams.
You have even succeeded in gaining admission into a higher institution to
study the prestigious-Architecture. Well Congrats; but you will find you
are going to need more than just your quick- witty brains, for this new
ride. You will have to cultivate the rare set of skills identified in
successful Architects which are mentioned in this book.

I have often wondered why there is no real orientation booklet for the
fresh-man Architecture student who has just been admitted to study what
is supposed to be the most creative blend of science and art-
Architecture. Not everyone is lucky enough to have an Engineer father
or an Architect Uncle, in the bloodline, who Would be kind enough to
mentor them. In fact there are many students of Architecture who are
going to be the first Architect in the family.

This book tells you WHAT TO EXPECT and HOW TO TACKLE IT. It
exposes some of the challenges experienced in Architecture Schools and
Colleges as well as terminologies used in the practice; it is meant to give
you a heads-up into the profession you have chosen. This book will help
you make a wiser choice about studying Architecture and to overcome
challenges which you will face during study and just before you become
a professional.

You must have heard about The law of Cause and Effect. The
simple and very powerful law which holds that there is a specific
effect for every cause. Which means that For every action, we
choose to take as individuals, there is always a reaction in form of a
consequence. If you love Brian Tracys teachings on success then
you will definitely love this work because it shows you exactly
how your academic success depends on your own efforts as the
student.

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I was inspired to write this book, because I was once like you and I
wished I had one like this. Now I can see more clearly, and I understand a
lot better, thanks to God and my teachers, including my family and
friends, but you wont have to suffer the same fate because you are
reading this now and its going to be yours forever. Dont lose it.

It contains my personal experiences as an undergraduate and postgraduate

student of Architecture and those of other notable Architects who have
made it to the top of their careers, and who share my benevolence in
helping you up the same ladder. Dont worry there is enough room for
everyone at the top so we dont really mind if youre going to be here too
as long as you promise to design and build sustainably.

This book contains raw quotes, unadulterated philosophies and

compelling illustrations of the works of some great Architects brought to
you as concise, mind blowing tablets of inspiration. It is meant to
complement your classroom instructions and guidelines for the study as
issued by your respective faculties. This book assumes you have
acquainted yourself with those and therefore takes you by the hand and
walks you through the next step: on how you should conduct yourself in
order to make the most of your time as an Architecture student.

Happy reading!

Author

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 ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kosi-Emmanuel Chukwujindu (M.Arch)

Architect at Geometrix Consultants & Builders ltd, Abuja.
3D Consultant at CadrightNig. Studios
[email protected]
[email protected]

The young Nigerian writer obtained his Bachelors degree in Architecture

from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra state Nigeria, after which he
proceeded to obtain a masters degree specializing in Architectural
Design and Theory from the School Of Architecture And Interior
Design, SRM University, Chennai India. He is presently pursuing a
Doctoral degree in Environmental Planning And Management at the
Federal University of Technology, Minna, because of his love for
Sustainable Development. He is a practicing Architect and a 3D
Visualization Consultant in Abuja, Nigeria.

He has a passion for helping younger ones, and in this case Architecture
students - to understand and OVERCOME the challenges of life and the
profession, as he also keeps learning.

The book learning to be an Architect is his first attempt at crystallising

his thoughts in order to help others.

Together, we can make it!

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 Rev. Fr. Arc. P.C Agbonome (Phd)
Present Head of Architecture Department.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State
Ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church Of Nigeria.

He studied Architecture at the university of Nigeria Nsukka

Enugu campus. He did his first, second degree and PhD there. He
studied a bit of philosophy and did a degree in religion. He did
his masters degree in theology with his certificate from
Durkheim university USA. Hes a catholic priest ordained since
1998. Hes also a religious priest belonging to the congregation
of the Holy Ghost. Having served as a superior for Nigeria
Southeast for 9 years he was just elected to serve as a provincial
superior for another 3 years making it 12 years of leadership. His
meticulous way of combining his priestly duties with his
teaching profession has distinguished him as a gem.

In his own words: I am into teaching because I love it. And also
I am involved in practice, I design and build churches,
Residential buildings and Schools.

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