What kind of physics and maths is needed for architecture?

Question

I was just wondering how much physics and maths is involved in Architecture? And what are the equations like?

I want to become an architect because of my creative side, but I am not naturally good at maths or physics, although i managed to get A's in Gcse.

Also, i haven't taken art, maths or physics at AS, so i don't know if i can study it.

please help!

Answer 1

Depending on the region you are in (US, UK, Europe) there are different demands within the architecture coursework. This is because an architect has different legal responsibilities in different countries**.

But in general most courses have a requirement for modules or lectures in at least the basics of engineering and material science. This means that having a grasp of the basics of advanced maths and some physics understanding helps.

There may however be booster courses offered and a good lecturer should be able to commmunicate the ideas without maths. Read the following excellent books now and you will be suprised how much you understand:

"Structures - or Why Things Don't Fall Down", by J.E. Gordon,

published by Penguin, 1988.  Cost: approx. 13 pounds. (ISBN 0140136282)

"The New Science of Strong Materials - or Why You Don't Fall Through the Floor", by J.E. Gordon,

published by Penguin, 1988. Cost: approx. 7 pounds. (ISBN 0140135979)

Apart from this you will need to be reasonable able with numbers to cope as an architect in practice. You have to dimension, cost and budget your design sometimes on the spur of the moment.

Then we do have calculators... but a good rule-of-thumb sense of scale, size and quantity will always be handy.

All the best,

Mike

**For example in Spain the architect signs for the engineering aspects of a building and so has to be technically capable to calculate structure etc. In the UK the architect is not expected to be able to do such calculations because the engineer carries that liability.