Architecture For Teens

By Kate Mazade

When I was in high school, I was hesitant to tell people that I wanted to be an architect. If I ever mentioned it, I was met with head-shaking and discouraging remarks about how I’d never get a job or I’d never make any money. Granted the market was only beginning to recover from the 2009 crash, but comments like that only made my hopeful teen self confused and worried that I was making the wrong decision. 

My parents weren’t in the industry, and I didn't know a single architect. Sure there were resources, but I didn’t know how to find them. The only thing I knew about the industry was from an over-exhausted college student who was napping in the elevator on my first campus visit. “I’m more tired than I could have ever imagined,” he said. “But I think it’s worth it. I’ve learned more than I knew existed.”

Armed with that double-edged sword of advice, I committed to study architecture, learning as I went and discovering how big and intense and dynamic and important this industry is. Sometimes I wish that there had been someone to say, “Hey, here’s what’s up. It’s a lot, but it's good too.” 

Well now there is. 

Architecture for Teens: A Beginner’s Book for Aspiring Architects by Dr. Danielle S. Willkens, Associate AIA, FRSA, LEED AP BD+C, is an accessible, encouraging guide for upcoming designers. With playful graphics and casual interviews with industry professionals, the book is easy-to-read and pragmatic. Far more helpful than the banal “You like to draw. You should be an architect,” or negative “Are you sure you want to do that?” advice that most teens receive, Willkens outlines the fundamentals of architecture and provides practical resources and insight. 

The book breaks down a wide range of historical and contemporary architectural, urban, and landscape projects for what they accomplish, rather than just how they look. Simple illustrations by Claire Rollet reduce complex structures and ideas to digestible concepts. With clean lines and bright colors, they say, “So-and-so designed this, but you can too.”

The book walks through the basics the industry without glazing over the responsibility of current and future designers, including social, economic, and ecological stewardship. Written by an architectural historian, researcher, designer, and educator, it surveys different industry paths with diverse representation, showing teens that architecture isn’t just a one-track course, nor is it only a rich white man’s game.

The book brings aspiring designers into 2021 industry issues and says, “You can help too. Here's how to get started.” Applicable, supportive, and timely, Architecture for Teens is the book I wish I had when I was 15. 

Check out Architecture for Teens, starting March 23, 2021.