r/architecture

Hi All,

I just came across this from a fire consultant (UK building regulations Part B): “the width of final exit should be at least the same as the minimum required width of the escape route” - taken from approved documents B. He said because my stairs have 1000mm clear width (to satisfy part m of the regs not part b) my final exit door needs to be also. I have never come across this and ive calculated the occupancy numbers which shows they can easily get out the building with the extra other fire exits in the building. The stairs only serves 26 people on an office on first floor with 2 stairs on either side of the office. My argument is 1. The door from the office to the stairs on first floor isnt 1000mm wide for clear width (surely this is already restricting the width less than 1000mm, as the door provides 850mm clear width). 2. The calculated occupancy numbers are so small it shows it is acceptable, therefore, if there is no stairs there it is allowed to have 850mm width or if i change my stairs to 850mm to satisfy part B of building regs but doesnt for part m).

What are your views and has anyone come across this and won the argument or would i have to just give in and make my door 1000mm clear width?

Thank you

They seem to have very good design & layout tho (I’m genuinely asking & I’m new to this subreddit)

I’d like to know more about city planning & layout. I feel like Disneyland seems to be very planned, beautiful, and give a little bit of frutiger aero vibes (which is my favorite)

I know this profession is hard. I knew that coming into it. I have worked hard, graduated 6 years ago, got licensed about 2 years ago and have been working as a project manager now for a medium sized firm for the last year and a half.. on paper I am doing well. But daily I struggle to just get out of bed and make it through the day.

I feel like such a failure. I feel like every project I work on has so many things wrong with it that I should foresee. I don’t think clients/ consultants/ contractors respect me. I’m learning but I don’t think I’m learning fast enough and it’s to the detriment of my clients.

I think I made a mistake choosing this profession. It requires a thick skin and I just don’t think I have what it takes to constantly see all of the things you have done wrong during the CA process. I don’t enjoy constantly babysitting consultants and pestering them to do their jobs. I am sick of the finger point liability game.

I just have a hard time seeing myself getting through another 25 years of this. I know I’m being a baby and I need to suck it up and come at it with an open mind but I’m exhausted and don’t see the joy in this work anymore.

I don’t see much of a way out though- I hate CA so working in construction seems even worse.

I wanted to ask for a bit of advice on undergrads architecture portfolios. What type of art do top unis prefer? Like yk ink sketches, watercolor stuff like that. I’m going to start preparing my portfolio since I'm applying for uni next year around January. I honestly have no idea what to put in it yet 🫠 and I've heard it really depends on the university too. like one portfolio per sch?? So if i apply like three sch then i have to prepare three portfolios?? 😟

is it weird to make an internship at the age of 26 after a bachelor in architecture and before a master in architecture after realizing iam missing the practical part and the relation to the craft itself? like do you guys think its useful to make an intern maybe for 3-4 months before my archi masters maybe at the carpenter? or would you rather recommend working in a bureau? i feel like i can still do that besides or after my archi studies and i‘ll still work long enough in a bureau and never get this practical experience myself .. what do you guys think?;) thankful, for every opinion and own experience maybe😅☺️

I've recently decided to pursue architecture despite the fact that I am coming from a different discipline (business). I'm all up for the challenge of learning a new field, and I have a passion for houses. I'm just finding it difficult getting used to the hand drawings and bringing my ideas to the page. It also feels like I'm so behind the other students in my class. Does anyone who came from a similar position have advice for someone like me.

Forgive my ignorance but im not an architecture student or professional. Im an archaeologist. In undergrad I took a history of ancient architecture class which turned out to be more geared towards architecture students. I was actually the only non architecture student in the class.

My professor would often show us designs that he had inspired by ancient structures and then he would show us what he actually built in his career and it was night and day difference. I understand that money and what the customer wants is like a big part of why we dont get those cool unique designs.

But like what ends up happening with all those cool designs, drawings, and renders? do they just sit in a filing cabinet somewhere and get forgotten? are they simply used as filling for their portfolios? Seems kinda depressing. is there a place where architects upload all their cool stuff that they will never build?