What is an architect?
Q: What is an architect?
A: An architect is a person who designs buildings and prepares plans to give to a builder. They decide the size, shape, and what the building will be made from. They need to have good math and drawing skills as well as imagination in order to create attractive structures that are safe and will last for many years.
Q: How do architects design their plans?
A: Architects use pens, pencils, computers, and models (small toy-sized buildings) to make their drawings or drafts of the building they plan on creating.
Q: Who designed great European cathedrals during the Middle Ages?
A: The great European cathedrals built in the Middle Ages were designed by a Master Builder who scratched his designs on flat beds of plaster since paper did not exist in Europe at this time.
Q: What qualifications does an architect need?
A: Architects need to go to university and learn how to make a building's structure safe so that it will not collapse. They should also know how to make a building attractive so people will enjoy using it. Additionally, they must have good math and drawing skills as well as imagination in order to create successful structures.
Q: How long can architecture last?
A: If the design, materials, and construction are all good then architecture can last for hundreds or even thousands of years; however this is rarely the case since usually cost limits its life span but fire, war, need or fashion can also affect things.
Q: What factors influence changes in cities?
A: As towns and cities grow it often becomes necessary to make roads wider or build new train stations which requires architects being employed again resulting in changes within the cityscape. Even very important buildings may get knocked down due to change needs too.
Q: Who are some famous architects?
A: Some famous architects include Frank Lloyd Wright, Fazlur Khan, Bruce Graham, Edward Durell Stone, Daniel Burnham Adrian Smith Frank Gehry Gottfried Böhm I M Pei Antoni Gaudí Oscar Niemeyer etc
