I’m trying to get more into architecture and interior design, but it’s really difficult for me. What are some good resources for learning architecture, interior design, and getting inspiration? My favorite design style is minimalism.
Perhaps the books of Frank D.K. Ching could serve your purpose, starting with “Architecture: Form, Space & Order” , “Building Construction Illustrated” and “Interior Design Illustrated”
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May i ask your actual purpose? I mean is it just a hobby or do you want to be an architect in the future? So that we can narrow down the resource advises accordingly.
You can check these websites: Architizer , Archdaily , Dezeen , Archinect , Leibal , Architonic . They contain useful articles, interviews, project showcases, products etc.
I advise using something like feedly to keep track of (RSS) news and blog posts from those websites.
Also i find architectural documentaries really interesting, such as: My Architect, Koolhaas Houselife.
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As a practising building designer with nearly 40 years experience, I’d say this is a pretty big topic!
If you are coming at it from the conceptual end and you like minimalism, you could do worse than start by studying Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion. It is perhaps the most influential building that kicked off the minimalist design trend that we remain gripped by nearly a century after it was designed.
If you are interested in getting something built, you need to understand how buildings are constructed and that’s a whole different area. Bear in mind that M C Escher could design some great staircases but no one has ever been able to build any of them!
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@filibis It’s just a hobby right now, but I’m considering going to school to get a degree in architecture. I think being an architect would be a very helpful job because architecture plays such a critical role in our day to day lives.
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It’s still regarded as a noble calling, however, the path to success in the design field is now even more difficult to navigate than it was a decade or more in the past because the academic curriculum encompasses much more material than previously and the requirements for obtaining professional licensure are more stringent…especially in regard to pursuing such a degree or license in the U.S.
I refer you to the following resources as an initial foray into this area:
NAAB -Accredited Architecture Programs in the United States
Guide to an Online Architecture Degree
ACSA Map of Architectural Programs
NCARB Certification Guidelines
A Bachelor’s degree in Architecture is considered a first professional degree in the field and is not as frequently offered today. The B. Arch is typically awarded after a five year course of study. The M. Arch degree is more commonly offered at most architectural programs and usually requires seven years as a minimum duration to complete degree requirements. Once an accredited degree is earned, applicants for professional licensure must work in the profession under the supervision of a licensed architect for a minimum of a year (depending on jurisdiction) and successfully pass the state administered, but nationally standardized, Architectural Registration Examination. The A.R.E. consists of several parts, and unless the requirements have changed since I sat for it in 1980, the site and building design portions are offered over a two day period in the spring while the other technical written and multiple choice portions are given during the early winter months.
Usually if applicants work for an architect while still in school, much of that internship period is applicable to the registration requirement.
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I second the Frank D.K Ching books. Form space and order is a great grounding in the practicality of architecture. But also read more conceptual works like “the poetics of space” or other similar books.
The true essence of architecture, the thing that makes you say “wow” when you experience a building, lies beyond the practical. Finding the balance between the practical and the phenomenological is the key.
One thing I find the most inspiring is listening to architects talk about their work in public / professional lectures.
There are a few online that I have seen in the past. I think some of the bigger schools post the lectures of big name architects online? It helps if you like the architects work, but sometimes understanding the thought process behind work you don’t like is enlightening.
The other thing is to visit works and experience buildings. And if you have the time, sketch them.
One of my favourite lecturers used to say that “if you want to understand a building, draw it.”
Good luck with your education.
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@jvleearchitects
I have to admit, the amount of time and money it takes to become a licensed architect is mildly discouraging, but I think I’d really enjoy going to architecture school and working as an architect. One of my life goals is to design & build my own house. I have dreams too, like drastically lowering the cost of housing while retaining the quality of a modern home. It could really free people considering “more than half of households spent more than half their income on housing.”
@filibis
I’m really enjoying architizer.com… Thanks for all the great resources.
@Anssi
The Frank D. K. Ching books look really helpful. I’m definitely considering buying a copy…
I made a list of all the resources everyone gave me, so I can reference them whenever. Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.
But after all that, think of the low pay and lack of job prospects! 
That said, if your interest and talent lie in being a computer wiz, there is demand for that, so there may be alternative education/career paths to look into.
+1 on the Frank Ching books, BTW. My favorite theory book on residential design is The Place of Houses.
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My intent was certainly not to discourage you, but rather to offer a clear view as to what to expect if you accept the challenge to pursue the profession of architecture. Many people actively participate in this field, and while a small percentage of architectural grads ultimately become licensed the majority do not seek licensure. Yet there are innumerable of ways to be involved in the profession whether registered or not. I am aware of architectural graduates working not only in the fields of design and construction, but in such diverse areas as filmmaking, product design, construction law, software design, city and regional planning, defense contracting, education, medical design, shipbuilding, aerospace engineering, transportation, government, various types of research and education to name only a few.
I encourage you to follow your dream particularly because the architectural profession is so very emblematic of human civilization…entire cultures are understood primarily through the buildings and artifacts left behind, and also because of the universal potential that can be unleashed by innovative design ideals.
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Yeah, I have a feeling that selling houses will be really difficult, unless I make them more affordable… I think people would buy more houses if it were affordable to them. If you get more customers than the average architect, then you can make more money than the average architect. I wouldn’t mind getting the salary of an average architect though… I could probably live off that wage with money to spare. Although, considering the cost of housing… You know it’s a tough market when it’d take me 10-25 years of savings to even afford my own house design…
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