Interior Architecture is a bridge between architecture and interior design. It provides professionals with the proper knowledge regarding the building of structures and the importance and understanding of load bearing walls. The fields of Interior Architecture and Interior Design are quite similar. Some people refer to the two fields as one and call it Interior Architecture Design.
Interior architectural design professionals in the United States cannot call himself or herself an Interior Architect unless they have completed the educational requirements to become a fully licensed architect. The actual definition of Interior Architecture is a program that prepares people to apply the architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational and for business purposes so as to function as a professional interior architect. This includes instruction in the architecture of heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, structural systems design and professional responsibilities and standards.
If interested in a career in the interior architecture design field there are plenty of options available to the aspiring designer whether they wish to attend a college or university or take classes online. These courses explore the links and similarities between interior design and architecture. Interior Design programs will challenge you to explore creative ideas for using space and re-inventing how buildings are designed. Some areas of study include the conceptual creativity of design and the philosophy and theory behind design plus the latest technology used for interior design.
Individuals pursuing an education in interior design or interior architecture can expect to develop a wide range of skills including the use of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) software, video and photography. Other skills will be developed in the studio such as the use of models and how to construct the models.
Interior Design programs prepare the interior architectural design student for technological, cultural and environmental issues. Students who attend a studio classroom are taught in workshops, lectures and seminars.
Here are some basic courses the interior architecture design student will study in their first year:
o Design Visual Thinking
o Materials and Construction
o History and Theory of Design
o Introduction to Interior Architecture and Design
o Design Making Ideas
o Design, Spatial Investigations
o Design, Context and Process
o Structures, Environment and Sustainability
In the second year of studying interior architecture design, the student will study the following modules:
o Communication and Participation
o Design Exploration
o Design Proposition
o Interior Environments
o Modern Architecture
o Interior Environments
o Tectonics and Realization
These are very in depth courses to help prepare the interior architecture design student for real world situations. In the third year of study, students can expect to learn the following:
o Design Research and Proposition
o History Dissertation
o Design Resolution
o Placement
Work placement can be in any Interior Architecture Design field that takes on entry-level designers. Professional work placement is an excellent opportunity that can pave the way to a rewarding career in interior design. As work placement is considered the bridge from study to professional employment.
