Learning how to design buildings is one of the most valuable skills you can have in your life. Beyond providing you with an impressive career, learning architecture also helps you understand the function and influence that powerful buildings have on people.

Architecture has been around for centuries, so there are many ways to learn this art form. You do not need to be educated as an architect to begin exploring architectural styles, shapes, and concepts. In fact, some of the best architects were not professionally trained before they learned their craft.

There are several ways to learn about architecture, from watching documentaries and reading books to visiting museums and attending lectures or workshops. By mixing and matching these strategies, you will find it easy to pick up new ideas and insights into the field.

Make a good list of topics that interest you

An easy way to learn about architecture is to get into reading, You can pick and choose which subjects appeal to you, or you can read everything in order!

Some great ways to do this are to follow different architects’ blogs, watch their YouTube videos, listen to interviews they have given, and read books written by them.

By learning about other people’s ideas and concepts, you will come away with new insights and knowledge. Plus, it will give you some inspiration for your own designs!

Architecture is an art form, so there are many styles and types of buildings. As you gain more experience, people who specialize in certain areas may offer classes or lectures at your school or through community groups and associations.

There are also plenty of online resources available, like courses via Udemy and Canva.com. You can even create your own educational material or video lessons using sites such as YouTube and VLC.

Join a design studio

One of the best ways to learn about architecture is to be involved in it. Design studios offer students the chance to get some hands-on experience while studying architectural theory. By being part of a team, you will also have direct supervisors who can help you navigate through your career or even push you towards achieving your dream job as an architect!

There are many different types of design study groups. Some focus more on practical skills like interior designing, building models, or brick laying, while others may only require you to look at pictures and talk about concepts. No matter what type of project they give you, however, you’ll always get good exposure to the field.

Nowadays, there are several resources available for anyone looking to start their own design business. With the ease of access to information via the internet and social media, starting from a small scale is possible. Many people have made a successful transition from working for companies to running their own business and/or marketing themselves online.

Running your own company comes with its own set of responsibilities, but this is not a task for someone inexperienced. There are plenty of sites out there that cater to every level individual.

Watch architecture documentaries

A great way to learn about architectural styles is to watch documentary videos about them! There are many YouTube channels that feature different architectures of buildings and sites, as well as interviews with architects.

Architects talk about their inspirations and what influenced their style, so listening to these stories can be very informative. They may also discuss past projects or current ones, which you could look into further.

There’s no need to buy all expensive materials, though! You can simply follow your instinct and pick up bits and pieces here and there to understand more about it. Or, if you are already looking into other material, then just add this one onto yours because they probably have lots of resources available to them.

And don’t forget crucial parts like roofs and windows :).

Talk to an expert

It is very hard to learn how to do anything on your own without experience or lessons from others. This includes learning about architecture! If you want to pursue architectural studies, then it is important to be exposed to different styles and concepts.

There are many ways to achieve this. You can take courses at university, look into online resources and tutorials, talk to experienced architects, and read books written by practicing architects and designers.

By being hands-on in your approach, you will also get more out of the material. The best way to learn anything really is to go deep down in learning process that has been done before and apply it to new materials.

Architecture as a practice comes with its own special set of tools and techniques so becoming familiar with them is another good source for knowledge.

Keep a personal journal

Keeping a personal diary or journal is a great way to learn about architecture. You can do it as structured, written notes or unstructured. Either one works!

Architectural drawings are a nice touch but they are not necessary for practicing architects. What you should look into developing are drawing skills, understanding of styles, and concepts of space.

You don’t need expensive materials like photopolymer plates and brushes to practice drawing. Any standard pen, pencil, brush, and paper will get the job done!

And while there are courses that offer certification after being taught according to the Architect Registration and Commission Division (ARCC) of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), many people feel this training is over-hyped.

Practicing architectural drawing is mostly learning how to draw well and apply different styles. It’s also studying how professionals use certain tools and what qualities in their work make an effect.

There are many ways to take lessons outside of schools too. Online platforms like Udemy and YouTube offer interactive lectures and tutorials. These are free so there is no risk involved in trying them out.

Ask friends for feedback

One of the most important things you can do as an aspiring architect is ask people about what they like, dislike about buildings, how to improve your drawing skills, and so on.

By asking questions, you’ll get some great tips that may even be hard to believe!

There are many ways to gather such information. You could ask in a casual setting with no agenda, or you could go into more detail about specific types of buildings.

The best way depends on who you talk to and what their style is. But we would recommend starting with a close friend or family member who has clear examples of good architecture and then from there expand onto other acquaintances and colleagues.

You should also read up on successful architects and builders to learn from them. There are plenty of sites where you can find lots of information, but not all of it is quality material or legitimate.

Challenge yourself

A lot of people start looking into learning architecture as they feel it is their career goal, but then get discouraged because they cannot find any resources or courses that are affordable or free.

There are many ways to learn about architectural theory and practice independently. You can read books, research materials online, take lectures and seminars, attend events and conferences, and even create your own lessons and tutorials using Adobe Photoshop, Sketch, or other software packages.

By putting in some effort you will definitely be able to pick up at least some bits and pieces of knowledge which will help you towards your goal.

Architects usually have an undergraduate degree first so studying those could form the basis for you starting out. Then depending on what area of design you want to pursue, there are often accredited professional bodies such as The Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) or The Institution of Structural Engineers (ISE) who offer certification programs.

These would require you to prove through examinations that you know the material well enough and that you can apply it professionally.

Think about starting a business

Starting your own architecture practice is not like running any other type of business. You will need an incredible amount of self-confidence in yourself before you can really consider it.

Businesses depend on steady income, but being an architect means there are constant changes coming with projects. It could be something as simple as designing a room or house for a client, to undertaking a project that requires many months of work.

In both cases, the money comes later (hopefully). What most people do not realize is that architects earn more than their colleagues working on similar projects, only because they have additional training beyond just their degree.

This is why it is so important to learn outside of academia. Take courses at community colleges or look into free resources available online.