Civil engineers and architects are two main pillars of the construction and real estate industry since their knowledge and skills are required from the planning to the delivery of any development project.
If you’ve ever looked at structures [like apartment buildings, bungalows, markets, offices, airports, churches, shopping plazas, houses, etc] and wondered what goes into their creation process and who decides their principles — then you’ve landed on the right place.
In this post, I will try to make you understand the basics of design architectural planning along with the help of some critical functions. I will also explain the difference between Architect and Civil Engineer.
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Architect vs. Civil Engineer — What Sets Them Apart?
There are high similarities between both professions [architecture and civil engineers] yet are quite different from one another. Although both jobs involve critical functions, they rely highly upon each other to accomplish a vision. These functions are essential for construction, project development, and real estate sectors, so they’re best when they’re working together.
For someone who doesn’t understand the technicalities of who is who and what is what, these two jobs can seem quite alike. In fact, I have witnessed many people mistaking one for the other.
But the truth is the differences between civil engineering and design and architecture planning is pretty clear like a crystal.
In fact, I will share some information and some well-defined roles that set them apart from each other.
I’ll give you a definition of each, so you can easily take notes about what makes them different.
What is an Architect — Roles, Responsibilities, and Functional Areas in Designing and Planning of a Project
Beginning from Architects, they are involved in the process of planning and layout designing structures and project implementation.
The job nature of architecture requires them to put their attention on the beauty of the project as well as spatial functionality.
Architects are primarily concerned about these things:
- Aesthetics of the development project
- Artistry look and feel of the structure
- Functionality of the design and plan
What is a Civil Engineer — Roles, Responsibilities, and Functional Areas in Design and Planning
Now, when we talk about civil engineering, they are the individuals who focus on the structural factors like sustainability of the design, material study, and other technical stuff.
Their job is to make certain that the building stands tall during normal weather conditions and doesn’t collapse during extreme conditions like natural catastrophes, fire accidents, or even deadly winds.
There’s no doubt that they collaborate harmoniously with architects, but they need to make certain that the quality of the design, architectural planning, and structure is heavy.
Key Takeaway from the Post
- The job of architects requires them to focus on the functionality, outlook, feel, and aesthetics of the space. They also focus on the development work but are mainly concerned with creativity and art.
- In comparison with architectural designs, focusing on the structural elements of the designs sketched by an architect is the job description of civil engineering. Their job is to make sure that the building can survive both normal and extreme conditions like a natural catastrophe, fire accidents, and etc.
No matter how different or similar their jobs are, the key to success of a project is that they both work together and develop an understanding of the other person’s job. Even if there’s a proper design, if implementations of the design fail, both of them will be responsible for it. Teamwork, empathy, and management is vital to execute and deliver results required by your client.