Architecture as career choice

Ranjan K Baruah *

We see beautiful buildings and other structure which are well designed and constructed. Designing is important when we build new houses or any other similar objects. Planning and design is important for sustainability.

We are talking about this because we shall publish about architecture as career in today’s edition. Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings or any other structures.

Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements. The term architecture is also used metaphorically to refer to the design of organizations and other abstract concepts.

It is the area of study which deals with the designing and planning of buildings and structures and the spaces between them. Architecture is a highly competitive and multi-disciplinary profession which involves a variety of tasks at work. This is a field which covers various fields including spatial design, aesthetics, safety management, material management etc.

Students from science background may appear for entrances after senior secondary for admission into architecture courses. There are entrances like Joint Entrance Examination and National Aptitude Test in Architecture.

After clearing entrances, students may take admission into graduate level courses in different engineering colleges or other architecture institute. As there is more awareness on JEE , so we are writing more about NATA in this edition for the benefit of our readers and students.

National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) is being conducted by COA since 2006, in terms of the provisions of CoA (Minimum Standards of Architectural Education) Regulations, 1983, published in the Gazette of India.

It is implied that a separate aptitude test in Architecture should be conducted and such test should not be combined with the tests for admissions to Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine and other disciplines.

Being the competent authority for fixing norms and standards for architectural institutions, COA has the necessary expertise to hold a Common Aptitude Test in Architecture, at national level to provide a single window system for appearing in aptitude test and to facilitate institutions, students and public at large for admission to First year of 5 year B.Arch. Degree Course at all recognized Institutions all over country.

The purpose of conducting NATA is to provide a single scheme of examination for holding aptitude test and to facilitate prospective students all over the country to apply for admissions in architecture seats in institutions spread across the country and to avoid appearing in multiple aptitude tests.

However, the actual admissions shall be carried out only by the concerned competent authorities of the respective states/institutions based on NATA.

The NATA also ensures that the eligibility criteria for admission to five year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree course, as prescribed by CoA and duly approved by the Central Government, are strictly adhered to and followed all over the country in Architectural Institutions.

NATA measures the aptitude of the applicant for specific field of study, i.e. Architecture. The test makes an assessment of drawing and observation skills, sense of proportion, aesthetic sensitivity, Mathematics and critical thinking ability that have been acquired over a long period of time and are related to the specific field of study.

We shall publish more on career options related to architecture in our next edition.