Adona, Leanne Claire V.

ARC 1454 Section 2

Ar. Vannesa Grace Cabiedes
Formative Assessment 1: Understanding Interior Architecture, Architecture, and Interior
Design profession

Architecture is defined as the art and technique of designing and building

architectural structures like residential buildings, houses, commercial buildings, bridges, and
roads, among others. It is a practice associated with construction, though it is distinguished
by its fulfillment to serve the utilitarian and aesthetic aspects of a construction project. Thus,
it is concerned with achieving the practical and expressive requirements of the design and
planning of structures and facilities that are functional, cost-efficient, modifiable, and resilient
against any disasters (COURSES.com.ph, n.d.). In a design project, architects are tasked
with several responsibilities during all its stages, chiefly in design and project planning. As
such, they are in charge of creating the overall visual appearance of the structure.

To be an architect, one must first earn a five-year bachelor’s degree in architecture,

where students are trained to be professional architects through developing their skills and
learning the various theories and disciplines in the architectural field. In the latter years of the
program, architecture students are tasked with attending on-the-job training in architectural
firms to apply their acquired knowledge and skills in an actual work setting. After completing
the program, graduates must first undergo a two-year internship with an architect that will
supervise, train, and review their work before they can try to earn a professional license.
After their internship, only then can they earn licensure by passing the Architecture
Licensure Examination (ALE).

While architecture deals with the overall visual appearance and design of a structure,
interior architecture gives more emphasis on the interior and functionality of space for human
occupancy. It merges art and science to create, restore, and readapt interior spaces. This
type of architecture focuses more on the indoor or enclosed areas of a structure, and its
practice is usually employed in retrofitting, renovating, rehabilitating, or expanding interior
environments (MasterClass, 2021). Hence, interior architects are responsible for building
and rebuilding the inside of a structure. They are also involved in creating the architectural
layout of the engineering systems found in a building, which is why they also approach their
design process on a more technical level. To be an interior architect, one must also undergo
the same process of being a fully-fledged architect since having a license is also a
requirement for this job.

Another field that overlaps with interior architecture is interior design. It is defined as
a specialized branch of architecture focusing on space planning and creating aesthetically
pleasing designs specifically for the interiors of homes and businesses inside a built
environment or existing structures (MasterClass, 2021). It is closely related to architecture,
but what sets these three apart is that architecture is concerned with both the interior and
exterior of a structure; interior architecture focuses more on interior spaces; and interior
design gives more emphasis on decorating interior spaces with furniture, lighting, and
accents.

Becoming an interior designer requires taking a four-year bachelor’s degree in

interior design where students would study the different concepts of art and technical
methods in building interiors, discuss concepts related to architecture and engineering, as
well as learn about home accessories and furniture (Valencia, 2015). After completing the
program, graduates can also take internships to gain more experience in doing actual
interior design work. Furthermore, they must also pass the Interior Design Licensure
Examination to become licensed interior designers.
 References

Architect: Education and Job Training Requirements for Becoming an Architect. (2009, July

28). EduChoices.Org.

http://educhoices.org/articles/Architect_Education_and_Job_Training_Requirements

_for_Becoming_an_Architect.html

Bachelor of Science in Architecture in the Philippines – Courses in the Philippines: College,

TESDA, Online, Short Courses. (n.d.). COURSES.Com.Ph.

https://www.courses.com.ph/bachelor-of-science-in-architecture-in-the-

philippines/#:%7E:text=The%20Bachelor%20of%20Science%20in,%2C%20bridges

%2C%20and%20the%20like

Become an Interior Architect: Step-by-Step Career Guide. (n.d.).

BestAccreditedColleges.Org. Retrieved January 22, 2022, from

https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/become-an-interior-architect-step-by-step-

career-guide.html

Friedmann, A. (n.d.). interior design | Definition, History, Styles, & Facts. Encyclopedia

Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/art/interior-design

Interior Architecture vs. Interior Design: Explore the Differences. (2021, June 8).

MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/interior-architecture-vs-interior-

design

Interior Design Basics: 5 Interior Design Tips for Beginners. (2021, June 8). MasterClass.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/interior-design-basics

Valencia, R. J. (2018, June 4). Become an Interior Designer in 3 Easy Steps. Real Estate

Blog - Trending News , Guides, Tips and Articles | Hoppler.

https://www.hoppler.com.ph/magazine/featured-articles/3-steps-on-how-to-be-an-

interior-designer-in-the-philippines