I have seen many passionate enthusiasts around me who gets into architecture studies with great enthusiasm, only to become frustrated within a year or two due to the high costs associated with the field. They often express regret, saying that if they had known how expensive the journey would be at every step, they might not have chosen to pursue architecture in the first place.
The Basics
In order to learn and grow the skillset from 1st year to final year, a student has to master the following :
- Concept Sketch
- Digital Drawing
- 3D Modeling
- Photorealistic Rendering
- Presentable Attire
The majority of these frustrations stem from the dependency on high-capacity gadgets, such as powerful drawing tablets, laptops and PCs. Architecture is not just about aesthetics and functionality; it also demands that you present yourself well, as a capable representative of good design. All of these not only require expensive hardware, but also software that comes with a heavy price tag on a monthly subscription model! I am not going to mention the tuition fees and accommodation, just to be polite.
Physical Model
The ultimate nightmare of every architecture student is that they have to create a physical miniature model of their academic project designs. Each semester may contain 2 to 3 projects and there are ten semesters in total. Making a model is no easy task and the costs significantly add to the overall expense. Prestigious universities might even require 3D-printed models, which only drives the costs higher.
Sleepless nights and mounting expenses gradually take a toll on a student’s personality year after year. Now, imagine this from a student’s perspective who comes from a poor or middle class family. They wanted to become an architect with so much passion, didn’t think about these expenses, now midway through their studies, they find themselves doubting their abilities, caught in a tough competition with their hard-earned savings on the line.
Moreover, Architecture is a five years course, one year extra than most bachelor’s degrees out there. One extra year to wait out to become a professional consumes more of your time and money.
The Network
It’s not just about buying fancy stuffs prove yourself that you belong in the elite community, it’s that you have to belong in the elite community. Architects’ talk about art and culture and design buildings for those who can afford to create a unique structure that stands out from the typical surroundings. This kind of work doesn’t come from simply being a bookworm or a top student in class. Clients will entrust you with their dream building only if they know you personally, which often means being part of the elite society. Therefore, it’s not enough to develop yourself as a designer while accumulating huge debts from accessories and tuition fees.
A practical example is, take a look at this Barcelona chair. It’s a very famous furniture designed by the father of minimalism. Anyone remotely connected to architecture studies knows about this masterpiece and its origin. It is available in pretty much all around the world, but comes of a heavy price tag, placing it firmly within the realm of elite society. As a result, those who understand and appreciate its beauty often can’t afford to own it, while many who do own it have never even heard of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
In conclusion, even if you are a scholar or have been admitted to a government university where you don’t have to think about the huge bill of architecture studies, there are still numerous expenses that will constantly make an architecture student think, “I need to buy this and that as soon as I have the money,” just to get by.
It’s not a luxury to purchase these things; the real challenge lies in the decision to pursue this field of study.
