Architect & Urban Planner — Pretender

Missions

1. A park for everyone

   The fictional town of Vale Novo is turning an empty lot into a park. The first draft of the plan has some great ideas and some that would shut people out.

   Sort into groups · ~4 min

2. From idea to building

   Vale Novo needs a small library. A trainee asks you how an architect gets from an idea to a real building, and you sketch the main stages on a whiteboard.

   Put in order · ~3 min

3. Share out a street

   Rua das Flores in Vale Novo is 14 metres wide from wall to wall. It's being redesigned, and every metre must go to something: walking, cycling, cars or trees.

   Share a budget · ~5 min

4. The client's dream house

   A fictional family asks you to design a house with a huge glass wall facing south, three floors, and no lift. Grandma, who uses a wheelchair, will live with them.

   Decisions · ~4 min

5. Check the school plan

   A junior colleague wrote notes describing the plan of a fictional new primary school. You review them before they go to the council.

   Spot the issues · ~3 min

6. Renovating the old library

   A fictional town has 10 points of budget to renovate its old library. Some works are required by law, others would be nice to have.

   Sprint board · ~4 min

What they do

Architects and urban planners design spaces for people: homes, schools, parks and whole neighbourhoods. They listen to the people who will use the place, respect rules and budgets, think about sunlight, access for everyone and nature, and draw many versions before building.

Skills

• Planning — Turning a goal into steps.
• Empathy — Understanding how others feel.
• Fairness — Applying rules the same way for everyone.

Typical tasks

• Interview the people who will use a space
• Sketch plans and build scale models
• Check rules on safety and accessibility

Tools

• Drawing software
• Scale models
• Site visits

Responsibilities

• Make places safe and accessible to everyone
• Respect nature and the neighbours

Myth or reality?

Myth: Architects just draw pretty buildings.
Reality: Most of the job is solving problems: light, cost, safety, noise and how people move.

Myth: A city just grows by itself.
Reality: Planners decide where homes, parks, schools and bike lanes go, and ask residents first.

Explore next

• Environmental Engineer — Keep water, air and energy clean for everyone.
• Project Manager — Lead a team from idea to finished project.
• Game Designer — Invent rules and levels that are fun and fair.

Related careers

• Civil engineer
• Landscape architect
• Interior designer

All careers