A knowledge of the building industry, the role of the architect, and an awareness of the various roles and stakeholders can help a student to vigate through education, internship, and career with increased understanding and purpose.
Architecture is inextricable from form, materials, and construction.
Vitruvius is credited with the famous dictum that "Architecture hath three parts: firmness, commodity, and delight." While firmness can be construed as a concern for structure, enclosure, and physical integrity, and commodity is generally understood as various functions that are the motive for building, delight is the quality of great architect that attracts us and tattoos the experience into our memories.
Architecture is the practical art; we must live with and in architecture every day. It provides not only shelter and protection from the elements, but is the environment for our activities and events. Understanding architecture in terms of function, and performance is fundamental.