Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-10

Paris.
IMAGINATION, an interest in peo-
pie and an understanding Of their
psychology are prime requisites OF
the modern architect. You will
need them all, If you are to follow
the profession as your life work, to-
gether with the technical side of the
profession. a knowledge of art, engi-
neering and, of course, the talents OF a
business man.
You should realize at the outset that
the architect is not an artist in the old
fashioned sense of the word The ira
ditional architect concerned himself
more with the appearance of building
than with the use or the purpose OF the
building itself. This was because the
art of building was developed under the
aristocracies that preceded our demo-
cratic forms of government. and, very
naturally. vanity, either OF the archi-
tect or his patron, played a large part
In the development of the profession,
and the tradition has continued that an
architects chief purpose is to make
building beautiful
Today. however, utility leads the way
in architecture. You must solve the
practical elements of problem first,
and. curiously enough we find that in so
doing, new art and new beauty even
more true than the old is developing.
Today building is like the manufacture
of automobiles.
Machine Before Beauty.
In this latter industry, you must make
a serviceable machine before you strive
for beauty in appearance. So, too, in the
field of architecture, you have to de-
sign Serviceable and comfortable MONIES
and buildings before considering the
purely decorative effects. Or, to go
further, you will find that the purely
decorative effects will grow by them
selves if you work in this fashion.
Real beauty in design is achieved
when utility is your goal Always keep
that in mind If you are studying archi-
lecture, or are about to begin your ca
reer in the profession. Keep your feet
OH the ground. You can't dwell In the
clouds and build buildings for men who
live on the ground.
You should have good, all-roumd
education as a background for your
professional training. A liberal arts
course, combined with study in archi-
lecture, will give you good start. tx
cellent courses of instruction In the
profession are offered at practically all
the important American universities.
1t is no longer essential that those OF
YOU who are trained here as architects
GO abroad for further study in order to
be considered highly qualified. Now we
have the strongest schools of architec-
ture in the world right here in America
Most of them use the BeauX Arts Sys-
tenn under the supervision of expert
enced and practical architects. Forty
problems are offered each year on
competitive basis, making for healthy
rivalry among students from coast to
coast.
You will need patience, persistency
and determination for some years fol-
lowing your graduation from an archi-
tectural school. You will get your flrs1
job in the drafting Office Of firm OF
individual. Your starting wage vii
run from SIS to $35 week. You car
count on salary increases, If you remain
craftsman, until you reach a maxi
mum of $4,000 or $1,000 a year.
Once you gain sufficient experience
unless you are confident of your ability
to reach a place ultimately where vol
can share In the profits, 1t would 81
wise to start in business for yourself
You will be facing long, hard pull, bu
If you make the grade you will reap ricf
rewards-not rich, possibly. from tn
standpoint of other businesses, but rtcf
in interest and usefulness.
You should not leave school and ente
practice for yourself without period o
practical experience. Men erecting
homes or buildings have large sums a
stake, usually representing fairly larg
proportion of their savings, or their for