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Designing is a concept that cannot be created nor destroyed, it can only evolve. Designing must evolve for the world to sustain and survive. Our lives are completely dependent on the concepts of design. The house we live in, the clothes we wear, the phone we use, the car we drive, the workplace, cafes, malls, transportation, gardens everything around us is the design that impacts our lives on a daily basis. Architecture, one of the key elements of design, is also the only proof of existence since the beginning of time. Everything that there is, is nothing but architecture. The past is the reason, the present exists and only the present can allow the future to exist. Architecture is the key tool that links the existence of the past - present - future. Change and evolution are the only constants that pave the way to the future.

Architecture is a vast topic starting from shelters to luxury living, based on human activity and requirements, it can be categorized under a few subtopics that cover the types of architecture in today's world. However, these types of architectural buildings and styles evolve based on the evolution of human activities and requirements. As human needs change, their surroundings also change.

As an architect – A student or professional, there is a vast range of possibilities one can explore and pick out their favourite book from the architect's library, however, these top 10 evergreen architectural subjects may be -

1. Residential Architecture

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This type of architecture that focuses on providing shelter. Designing homes of all kinds as per human needs and requirements.

High-rise apartment buildings that cater to all kinds of communities, bungalows and private villas, community living, student housing, redevelopment projects, and residential townships. The scope changes as per the city’s demands and the existing communities.

As an architect, a major in residential architecture involves understanding the daily needs of the residents and designing spaces that cater to their financial and experiential goals. Learning and exploring every city’s building codes, the rules and regulations for residential architectural design.

2. Commercial Architecture

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The type of architecture that focuses on designing workspaces. Humans spend most of their time in their workspaces, hence today the workplace needs to be better and effectively designed than the living space.

Designing high-rise Institutional, commercial, co-working spaces, museums, convention centers, malls and clubs, restaurants, retail shopping centers, and much more. As modern-day living and working spaces are evolving, so are commercial architecture in terms of space requirements, needs, and material exploration.

There is great scope and financial returns in designing commercial spaces today for an architect. The role involves designing spaces to cater to 2 typologies of people mainly – consumers and workers.

3. Urban Design and Urban Planning

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Urban designing and planning revolve around designing and planning cities on a larger scale.

Township projects, cityscapes, streetscape, transit-oriented designs, transport designing, policy-making, implementing and redesigning city rules and regulations, planning and designing spaces at a city level. Where communities as a whole, are the target audience and not an individual. The scope also includes designing an identity or an image for the city.

An urban planner and designer works very closely with government officials and the local municipal bodies of the respective cities. In a way, they help design the smooth functioning of a city.

4. Landscape Architect

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Landscape architecture, as the name suggests, involves designing the in-between spaces. The spaces that act as a buffer between the built and unbuilt. The green spaces that help the master plan breathe in a city full of concrete buildings.

Since the style caters to a specific area of design, landscape designing involves – residential, commercial, recreational, institutional, sports, gardens, and urban designing as well.

All structures require a buffer space; hence landscape architecture involves all typologies of design. As a Landscape architect, the expertise includes to use of regional or contextual flora and fauna in the design. Learning the material palette and botanical library is a must.

5. Interior Architect

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An architect who designs the outer shell of a structure as well as the inner shell. The type of architecture involves designing interior spaces that cater to all communities – From affordable to luxury interiors.

Since the style caters to a specific niche of design, it is explored in all typologies of structures – Residential, commercial, institutional, sports, recreational, entertainment, and much more.

As an interior architect, the role involves designing spaces that are function-specific and user-specific. The role includes constant involvement with on-site contractors, material exploration, and up-to-date technological advancements in the field. The advantage of interior architects is the duration of the project completion is lesser compared to the architectural projects, hence the demand is greater.

6. Services (MEP) Architect

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This type of architecture involves designing all the services and functioning of a building. Constructing a building and making sure the building is ready to be used or lived in.

The design area involves a specific niche which results in high demand and can be applied to all typologies of buildings. The services may vary from stormwater, drinking water, drainage system, HVAC system, fire-fighting, housekeeping, Electrical, etc.

As an MEP consultant, an architect can excel in specifically designing the services of any building. The demand for such jobs increases.

7. Conservation Architect

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This type of architecture involves restoring or preserving the historical monumental buildings of national interest. Conservation architects also protect the heritage and cultural essence by redesigning or retrofitting the existing structures.

Documenting, analyzing, Researching, journaling, retrofitting historical structures, policy-making, and conserving the history and culture of the architecture.

As an architect, the role involves archeologically studying the structures, and monuments, finding out their age, and designing a solution to preserve or redesign the structures in an efficient way. Conservation architects also are linked with sustainability and effective architectural solutions.

8. Architectural Documentation

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A type of architecture that is slowly growing in today's environment which includes architectural photography and architectural writing. Can also be referred to as architectural journalism.

Architectural photography, Architectural writing, Videography, Blogging, Architectural marketing.

As an architect, documenting the works of other architects, and different typologies of structures in a way that layman can understand. Writing and knowledge sharing for other architects, students, and people with architectural interests. This job is slowly growing and its demand will only increase in the future.

9. Real Estate Developer

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This type of architecture involves developing and dealing with real estate and land development. Buying and selling of land and designing a purpose for the land development.

Consultancy, Building and selling, Real estate, proposing design briefs, understanding the value of the land, and designing suitable solutions for development.

As a real estate developer, the architect's role involves valuing the land and its potential to develop a design solution where the value of the land will increase and benefit the developer. This job mostly involves consultancy and investing.

10. Industrial Architecture

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This type of architecture involves designing industries, factories, retail, MOT testing centers, and government buildings.

Large-scale projects that involve huge machinery and services for production and manufacturing.

Industrial architecture is completely a separate and specific niche to excel as an architect. They deal with different materials, scales, anthropometrics, construction styles, target audiences, functions, and circulation.

Architecture is all about designing and planning, our lives, our surroundings, and our environment as a whole – individually and as a community. The basic purpose of architecture has always been to provide efficiency in human activity. No matter how much technology advances, the purpose of architecture will always remain intact. Architectural styles, materials, and construction patterns have evolved over time, and with more advancements, architecture will keep on evolving. The above-mentioned types of architecture are the most common and reliable typologies without which, living or evolving will cease to exist. Hence the demand for such architectural styles will never be out of demand.

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Text provided by Pooja Gosar -

An Architect aiming to redesign the idea of design. She believes that architecture is a story of built and unbuilt. The architecture we see is not the whole story, there are multiple layers to it. Pooja believes in unfolding these layers to the world and exploring architecture beyond perception.