The term ‘Parekh-Kar’ or sometimes referred to as ‘PK architecture’ was coined in India during the 1980s when many new, young architects would put their name next to that of some famous architect to create their own signature style.

A well known example of this is Neelesh Kumar (Nek) Vaid – his mentor was Le Corbusier so he signed himself with an extra L thus creating his own identity!

This concept has become very popular now and you will see it frequently especially in developing countries where there are few professionals coming up through the ranks. It is quite common for someone who is starting out their career to use this practice to gain recognition.

However, using another person’s name can be seen as slightly unethical as they might not want their reputation to be associated with yours. As such, it is important to make sure your design does not contain any plagiarism and instead must have originated from yourself.

What is a building structure?

So what are buildings made of? That’s one of the most fundamental concepts in architecture you need to know! A building structure is how your house or office room is built. There are five main components that make up the framework of every building: brick, block, concrete, steel, and glass.

Brick and block are both types of mortar. They hold together any materials they touch, which gives strength to the wall. Concrete is just plain old solid matter and can be mixed and shaped into anything imaginable. Steel is an alloyed metal that is strong and sturdy. And glass is actually pure oxygen and water molecules!

When designing new homes and offices, architects must determine how much space each component takes up. This includes things like where the windows go and whether there should be an opening between two walls. Then, they use these proportions as a basis for creating the rest of the interior and exterior spaces.

Types of architecture

While there are many types of architectural styles, there are two main ones that everyone studies for professional certification or licensure. These are called Neoclassical and Modernist architectures.

Neo-classicism is characterized by large columns and balustrades, along with proportionally sized windows and doors. Classical proportions include having longer legs than arms, which creates a sense of balance.

Modernism, also known as International style or just plain classic design, has its roots in ancient Greece. This style looks very clean and geometric, emphasizing functionality over decoration.

These two styles have some things in common, but they differ enough to be considered separate styles. Both use strong vertical lines, balanced proportions, and simple decorations and materials. However, one may notice that the horizontal lines get shorter in modern designs, making them seem more forward going and dynamic.

Another important difference is color! Neo-classic buildings use neutral colors like tan, gray, blue, and white, whereas modern buildings often use bright colors such as red, orange, and green.

History of architecture

While not everyone agrees, most would agree that humanity has always designed buildings to make a statement about who built them and what they wanted to convey. Buildings such as the Parthenon in Greece or The Cathedral in Paris are examples of this.

These types of buildings tell people something about who you are as person and position yourself among other powerful individuals and groups.

Architecture is also very rich in symbolism and messages. For example, the use of straight lines suggests authority, while curvy lines suggest harmony and balance.

History is also marked by strong narratives, so architects add detail and decorations to help create these stories.

The history of architectural styles is quite complex, which is one of the reasons why it is interesting to study.

Organization of an architecture firm

Like any other professional service organization, the structure of most architecture firms is organized around roles and responsibilities. These are typically not made public knowledge or information, to preserve trust in each other. Architects must be able to work with others, so privacy is important.

Typically there are three main positions within an architectural office- Principal Architect, Associate (or Senior) Architect, and Junior Architect.

The principal architect usually handles all major project assignments as well as day-to-day operations. He or she may also oversee design projects for other architects in the practice. In larger offices, this individual is often referred to as the “head” architect.

An associate architect works directly under the principal architect and has his or her own area to manage. This person might be assigned one or two projects at a time, or it could be several at once.

A junior architect does not have access to many resources, unless he or she proves themselves through hard work and dedication. There may even be times when a junior architect is given a task that requires more expertise than they possess, but they must still complete it properly since their skills are already sufficient.

These job descriptions vary slightly depending on the size of the studio and what kind of projects they take on, but the general idea remains the same.

What is a building engineer?

That is, what does an architect do? An architect designs buildings!

That’s it! Architects design beautiful structures that have roofs and walls, typically using computer-aided drafting (CAD) software to create their visions. Most people know architects from watching TV shows like The Simpsons or House of Cards where they are constantly talking about how many houses they designed or famous buildings they renovated.

Building engineers, however, go one step further than most architects. They also develop and oversee the construction process for buildings including designing the roof, deciding on materials, and overseeing the builders who put those materials into place.

And while some architects may get involved in the construction phase, most let other professionals handle that work so that they can focus more on conceptualizing the space and giving the project a high level of artistic expression.

But what if we told you that there was someone with a masters degree in both architecture AND civil engineering who left his career as an architectural designer to become a full time builder? Someone who now spends his days constructing homes and offices just like any other professional contractor?

His story is pretty crazy actually – he even wrote a book about it! In this article, we will be discussing the fascinating life and career of Paul Kalvach, the guy who broke down the barriers between architects and builders. He will tell us all about his journey as a successful business owner who creates livable spaces for others to enjoy.

What is a construction manager?

A construction manager oversees all aspects of building projects, from talking with architects to finding materials to finalizing contracts. They are also in charge of keeping track of everything related to the project, including supplies, tasks for vendors and subcontractors, and changes to the schedule.

A construction manager does not directly work with contractors or builders, but instead gets their orders from the people who do. This includes anyone at a studio or office space, as well as any outside suppliers such as roofers or plumbers.

Construction managers are usually paid per hour while working on a project, so they must make sure time is accounted for effectively. This can mean tracking down someone else’s equipment that was left behind, scheduling additional meetings due to unexpected delays, or both.

What is a designer?

As mentioned before, being a professional designer means more than designing logos and websites. It also includes creating decorative elements for homes and offices, furniture, fashion designs, and even graphic novels! All of these are part of our definition of what it means to be a professional designer.

While educating yourself about all things visual may seem like a lot to take in, there’s an easy way to start. The first step is to determine if you want to consider yourself a professional designer.

If you feel that you already have enough skills to say you are a professional designer, then by all means, go ahead and claim it! But if you don’t, we recommend giving yourself a little bit more time to grow as a designer.

It will take some work, but investing into your design education and career development now will only help you in the long run. You will still be able to call yourself a pro well into future years.

What is a contractor?

As we have discussed before, being able to identify a good contractor is very important. Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear definition of what makes someone a “good” contractor.

Most people agree that contractors who take care of their jobs are worth paying for, but this alone doesn’t define a good contractor. It is also important to look at how well a contractor takes care of his or her colleagues, and whether they advertise themselves properly.

In fact, it has been shown that nearly half of all contractors are not actually professional employees in their own right!

The term “contractor” is often used as a way to disguise employment fraud or illegal activity. For example, you might hear about a “contractor” company where only the person with the most experience gets hired so that the employers can help them keep up false credentials.

As such, some countries have laws which require every employee to be verified by a second source beyond just their references. These sources could include tax forms, job applications, and more. This helps ensure that no one goes under-the-radar and that workers are whom they claim to be.