Things Architecture School Never Taught Me

Things Architecture School Never Taught Me- Real Lessons from the Ground, Not the Classroom

Architecture is not just about buildings, it’s about people, chaos, constraints, and courage.” — Aakaar Studio

Architecture school gave me a foundation. But real practice? That’s where the true learning began.
This is a raw and honest take on what they never taught us in design studios, juries, or classrooms.

1. Design is Only 20% of the Job

In school, we lived in sketchbooks and software. Every problem had a creative solution.
In real life, I learned:

The client doesn’t care about your concept — they care about how livable it feels.
Execution, detailing, project management, coordination — that’s the real grind.

2. Communication > Composition

No one told me I’d be spending more time:
- Explaining a design to a confused client
- Defending my vision to a contractor
- Convincing a carpenter to follow millimeter-accurate details
  Design is nothing if you can’t communicate it clearly and calmly.

3. Drawings Don’t Build Buildings — People Do

Working drawings are important, yes.
But execution depends on:

How clearly you brief the site team
How often you visit the site
How well you earn trust with vendors and workers

The best-designed house can fall apart without the right people.

4. Time is a Ruthless Master

In school, we had weeks to design a small pavilion.
In reality:

Clients want options yesterday
Contractors want decisions now
Authorities want compliance immediately
You either learn to manage your time — or your time manages to break you.

5. Perfection is a Myth — Progress is Survival

I used to obsess over perfect lines, pixel-perfect renders, flawless models.
Now I know:

Deadlines > Details
Clarity > Complexity
Done > Perfect
Architecture is a fluid, living process — not a gallery show.

6. Site Conditions Will Humble You

On-site realities can kill your best designs:

A tree can’t be cut, so you redesign around it.
A wall leaks, so your bathroom concept shifts.
A neighbor objects, and your entire orientation changes.
Adaptability is not weakness — it’s survival.

7. You’re Not Just an Architect — You’re a Therapist, Negotiator, and Firefighter

Some days I’m:

Calming a panicked client
Mediating a painter and carpenter fight
Solving plumbing issues over a WhatsApp video call
And somehow, also designing a beautiful villa.

Architecture school sharpened my mind — but practice toughened my skin.
The real curriculum starts the day you step onto your first site, handle your first panic call, and watch your first wall go up (or down).
And that’s where the real love for this messy, magical profession begins.

📸 Want to see our raw sketches, process chaos, and construction grind?

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website: aakaarstudio.com