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In the UK there are many famous constructions; St Paul's Cathedral, the London Eye, Windsor Castle, Blackpool Tower and Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower, to name but a few.

In fact, Britain is world famous for its high quality architecture and building work.

A career in construction could mean that you end up helping to build your football team's next stadium, designing a new motorway in America or managing the construction of the newest skyscraper in Japan.

A lot of things need to be done before a construction project can properly get off the ground, with creative people, financial experts and legal professionals all playing a part. Once the project has started, construction managers, engineers and surveyors organise all the people working on the site to ensure that what is built matches the original designs.

Choose a career in construction and you'll be joining a large team of people all working together to build a strong, long-lasting and exciting future.

Architecture

When you open the front door to your house, chances are you don't think about the work that went into creating it. But lots of people would have been involved in making sure your home is a safe and comfortable place to live.

The person who designed your house is called an architect.

Architecture - What is it?

Architects are experts in building design and construction. They offer advice to anyone on:

Architects are often involved in conserving old buildings as well as designing and overseeing the building of new property.

They work closely with other people in the building industry such as: engineers, builders, surveyors and council employees. Architects spend a lot of time visiting sites in the UK and abroad, setting up projects, and inspecting building work. They will also spend time researching old records and drawings, and testing new ideas and construction techniques.

The design of buildings can often be controversial - not everyone will like an architect's design, but other people will think they are interesting and exciting.

A lot of people's opinions will be considered and taken on board when a building is being designed - the people who are going to live or work there, the local council, the surrounding neighbours and the architect themselves all have a point of view.

So architects must always be prepared for their work to be discussed and debated, often for many years.

Portsmouth and its buildings

Portsmouth was bombed a lot in the Second World War and many of its older buildings were lost.

One of its oldest remaining buildings is Southsea Castle, an ancient castle built near the seafront by King Henry VIII. The earliest buildings in Southsea were in Castle Road and some of the current buildings date back as far as 1750.

One of the most famous architects to build in Portsmouth is Thomas Ellis Owen. Many of the Georgian and Victorian buildings around St Jude's Church in Southsea were designed and overseen by Owen, including the pretty Sussex Terrace and Portland Terrace.

Owen not only designed the houses, but thought about how the whole area should look - everything from the trees to the curve of the roads was designed by him.

Architects are still doing lots to make changes in Portsmouth - old army barracks in Eastney were recently converted into luxury apartments by following architects' plans. New buildings have been built around the city, including award-winning buildings in the historical High Street in Old Portsmouth. Admiral Lord Nelson School has been praised for its design which is based around the theme of a ship.

The whole of Portsmouth harbour is also being updated and changed. Gunwharf Quays was once a working port and dockyard but now is home to lots of new flats, designed and built by architects.

Becoming an architect

It takes a minimum of seven years to become an architect.

You should make sure that this degree is approved by professional bodies, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the Architects Registration Board (ARB).

To train as an architect, you need to do an undergraduate degree in Architecture. It should also include exemption from the RIBA Part 1 exams.

After this, most students would then go on to study another two-year course which includes RIBA Part 2 examination exemption. An example of this kind of course is the Diploma in Architecture.

You also need two years professional experience in an architect's office. One year is usually taken after Part 1 and the other year after Part 2.

After this you would do a postgraduate course, such as the MA Professional Practice in Architecture, which covers your RIBA Part 3 examination.

Want to know more?

Other careers that involve construction:

See also:

Did you know?

Popularly known as the Tube, London's underground is the world's oldest passenger subway line.

The empire state building was built in 1934 and was the world's tallest building at 1,250ft or 381 metres. However many taller buildings have overtaken since and by 2008 a new tower in Dubai will stand at an impressive 2,313ft, that's 705 metres!