Keerti Manisha (B.Arch.), Aamil Khan (B.Civil), and Vishal Chettry (B.Arch)

The project execution in the building industry usually involves architectural design, construction techniques and methods, timely execution, and proper human resource management. To achieve the best quality construction, both architecture and civil engineering must complement each other. Both professions have critical and well-distinguished functions that are an essential part of the building industry. However, these two professions seem alike to many people due to subtle differences between both.

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures. Civil Engineering is the design, construction, and maintenance of public works. Architecture is a profession that deals with the expression of ideas, aesthetics, and designs through well-thought plans and detailed drawings. Noteworthily, civil engineering is an inseparable part of our lives as it directly fulfills our fundamental requirements such as home, water, roads, etc. and indirectly provides us with food (through irrigation), power (through dams), etc. It ensures that the necessities of the people are satisfied under all circumstances.

In India, the architecture curriculum, i.e., B. Architecture, spans over five years wherein a candidate develops skills, such as imagination, creativity, sense of space, color, and aesthetics. More often, the students opting for this course have a natural inclination towards art and design. Students are also asked about history, art, graphical aptitude, scenario building, and representation at the time of entrance examination besides basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. On the other hand, B. Civil Engineering is a four-year degree, targeted at imparting multi-dimensional knowledge of project planning, construction practices, materials, structure designing, soil sciences, hydraulics, etc. (Figure 1). The architectural design varies from place to place and region to region with crucial knowledge of climatology to design any building, e.g. churches, hospitals, residences, schools, etc. However, civil engineering overall is about strength and materials and sometimes it might compromise the aesthetics of a building.

Figure 1: Curriculum of B. Architecture and B. Civil engineering

Overall, architecture is the art of designing and constructing spaces while civil engineering plays a vital role in laying the foundation of civilization & creates a nation. Architecture helps design spaces by fulfilling the everyday needs of its users and making it welcoming for all, while civil engineering provides tangible tools & means to meet the people’s core needs, thus ensuring that they lead a comfortable & meaningful life and positively contribute towards building a nation. Architects balance the standards, space utilization, and aesthetics while developing their design concepts. Civil engineering on the other hand targets to impart multi-dimensional knowledge aspects in project planning, construction practices, materials, structure designing, soil sciences, hydraulics, etc.

Architects are examined on their knowledge of space design principles while civil engineers are expected to possess practical and technical solutions to enhance the stability and durability of the structure. Architects are expected to highlight new concepts or ideas in their design while civil engineers are expected to exhibit new concepts & ideas in structural designing & construction techniques. Architecture has been instrumental in making any location or a space popular amongst the visitors, while civil engineering is pivotal in creating the infrastructure that fulfills the needs of the masses and their demands on a broad spectrum. There are very many cities in the world-famous for their architectural style, which include but are not limited to Rome, Greece, Egypt, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Famous civil engineering examples include the Roman Empire’s water supply network, Tower of Pisa, Colosseum, Suez & Panama Navigation Canals, The Grand Trunk Road, to name a few.

However, both the profession has certain drawbacks (Figure 2). First, the syllabus for civil engineering at the undergraduate level is mostly not updated in synchronous to the advancements in professional practices. Moreover, the lag is experienced by fresh graduates in the initial years of their professional careers, thus requires them to undergo additional training to enhance their recruitment. In addition to the above, undergraduate courses have limited practical classes in their syllabus, primarily due to the expensive equipment required to set up & run a laboratory for academic purposes. The architecture studies lack in providing real-time project implementing experience to the students.

Figure 2: Identified drawbacks in the curriculum of B. Architecture and B. Civil engineering

The curriculum forces the students to utilize their time inside the institute, whereas the degree demands exposure to live projects and site visits. Although a limited number of site visits and material surveys are introduced in the curriculum, however, these visits should be combined with overall project execution and implementation. The labs lack modern tools and equipment to facilitate an experimentative study environment. However, in both the fields, the limited availability of trained staff to run & maintain the institution further adds to the gravity of the matter.

Both the profession has been arguably most confused due to the unclear boundaries of one another. Civil engineering as well as architecture involves planning and designing structures, while architecture focuses more on aesthetics, space utilization, and climatic consideration; civil engineering concentrates on the structural elements of the design, to make sure that the structures endure normal and extreme conditions. Therefore, it would not be wrong to state that architecture provides bones and skin to the structure, while civil engineering reinforces the strength and stability of the imagination. In the end, both the architects and civil engineers strive to fulfill the client’s requirement and betterment of society.

The architecture studies lack in providing real-time project implementing experience to the students.

– Daniel Pink