Interior architect to architect
An interior architect already meets 33% of what the architect role asks for. The move turns on 27 required skills not yet in the profile.
78.2/ 100
1 How much of what an architect is expected to do is already part of an interior architect’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the architect role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An architect role treats 18 of its required skills as things an interior architect already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- architectural design
- architectural theory
- architecture regulations
- building codes
- create architectural sketches
- design building retrofitting solutions
What stands in the way is 27 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 26 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An architect role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an interior architect background worth leading with.
- already held sustainable building design engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held satisfy aesthetic requirements communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held design microclimates in buildings communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held architectural theory engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held evaluate integrated design of buildings information skills
- already held architectural design engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 26 carried skills, including the 18 the architect role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 69 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn design open spaces required
- still to learn write an architectural brief required
- still to learn consider building constraints in architectural designs required
- still to learn design building envelope systems required
- still to learn design passive energy measures required
- still to learn integrate building requirements in the architectural design required
- still to learn satisfy technical requirements required
- still to learn advise on building matters required
- still to learn create solutions to problems required
- still to learn design buildings required
- still to learn design spatial layout of outdoor areas required
- still to learn integrate engineering principles in architectural design required
- still to learn negotiate with stakeholders required
- optional, not held design harmonious architecture optional
- optional, not held adapt existing designs to changed circumstances optional
- optional, not held advise customers on building materials optional
- optional, not held communicate with construction crews optional
- optional, not held design an artificial lighting system optional
- optional, not held design building air tightness optional
- optional, not held design window and glazing systems optional
- optional, not held develop a specific interior design optional
- optional, not held investigate microclimates for buildings optional
- optional, not held advise legislators optional
- optional, not held apply systemic design thinking optional
- optional, not held communicate with local residents optional
- optional, not held develop professional network optional
- optional, not held liaise with local authorities optional
- optional, not held manage contracts optional
- optional, not held participate in governmental tenders optional
- optional, not held prepare lesson content optional
- optional, not held provide lesson materials optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- still to learn airtight construction required
- still to learn building information modelling required
- still to learn envelope systems for buildings required
- still to learn environmental design required
- still to learn green building practices required
- still to learn sustainable building materials required
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held cartography optional
- optional, not held energy efficiency optional
- optional, not held environmental indoor quality optional
- optional, not held landscape architecture optional
- optional, not held topography optional
- optional, not held types of glazing optional
- optional, not held zero-energy building design optional
- optional, not held building materials industry optional
- optional, not held historic architecture optional
- still to learn study the relationship between buildings, people and the environment required
- still to learn interpret technical requirements required
- still to learn perform field research required
- still to learn conduct field work required
- still to learn execute feasibility study required
- still to learn provide cost benefit analysis reports required
- optional, not held assess heating and cooling systems optional
- optional, not held monitor parameters' compliance in construction projects optional
- optional, not held prepare building permit applications optional
- still to learn identify necessary human resources required
- optional, not held carry out tendering optional
- optional, not held ensure compliance with construction project deadline optional
- optional, not held finish project within budget optional
- optional, not held follow work schedule optional
- optional, not held oversee construction project optional
- still to learn use CAD software required
- optional, not held use specialised design software optional
- optional, not held fine arts optional
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an architect role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 design open spaces practise this
- 02 study the relationship between buildings, people and the environment practise this
- 03 write an architectural brief practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 26 skills that carry over
- already held architectural design knowledge
- already held architectural theory knowledge
- already held architecture regulations knowledge
- already held building codes knowledge
- already held create architectural sketches skill
- already held design building retrofitting solutions skill
- already held develop architectural plans skill
- already held draw blueprints skill
- already held ensure infrastructure accessibility skill
- already held evaluate integrated design of buildings skill
- already held identify customer's needs skill
- already held integrate measures in architectural designs skill
- already held integrated design knowledge
- already held meet building regulations skill
- already held satisfy aesthetic requirements skill
- already held sustainable building design knowledge
- already held urban planning knowledge
- already held zoning codes knowledge
- already held design microclimates in buildings skill
- already held energy performance of buildings knowledge
- already held engineering principles knowledge
- already held furniture trends knowledge
- already held furniture wood types knowledge
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held physics knowledge
- already held project management knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- optional, not held construction legal systems optional
- optional, not held make architectural mock-ups optional
42 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held design harmonious architecture optional
- optional, not held adapt existing designs to changed circumstances optional
- optional, not held advise customers on building materials optional
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held assess heating and cooling systems optional
- optional, not held cartography optional
- optional, not held communicate with construction crews optional
- optional, not held design an artificial lighting system optional
- optional, not held design building air tightness optional
- optional, not held design window and glazing systems optional
- optional, not held develop a specific interior design optional
- optional, not held energy efficiency optional
- optional, not held environmental indoor quality optional
- optional, not held investigate microclimates for buildings optional
- optional, not held landscape architecture optional
- optional, not held topography optional
- optional, not held types of glazing optional
- optional, not held zero-energy building design optional
- optional, not held advise legislators optional
- optional, not held apply systemic design thinking optional
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- optional, not held building materials industry optional
- optional, not held carry out tendering optional
- optional, not held communicate with local residents optional
- optional, not held construction legal systems optional
- optional, not held develop professional network optional
- optional, not held ensure compliance with construction project deadline optional
- optional, not held fine arts optional
- optional, not held finish project within budget optional
- optional, not held follow work schedule optional
- optional, not held historic architecture optional
- optional, not held liaise with local authorities optional
- optional, not held make architectural mock-ups optional
- optional, not held manage contracts optional
- optional, not held monitor parameters' compliance in construction projects optional
- optional, not held oversee construction project optional
- optional, not held participate in governmental tenders optional
- optional, not held prepare building permit applications optional
- optional, not held prepare lesson content optional
- optional, not held provide lesson materials optional
2 further entries not listed here
21 held skills the architect role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role CAD software knowledge
- not needed by the target role CADD software knowledge
- not needed by the target role advise clients on interior design options skill
- not needed by the target role advise on architectural matters skill
- not needed by the target role aesthetics knowledge
- not needed by the target role assist in interior plant projects skill
- not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
- not needed by the target role communicate with customers skill
- not needed by the target role design principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role design space for religious needs skill
- not needed by the target role ecology knowledge
- not needed by the target role estimate budget for interior design plans skill
- not needed by the target role green space strategies knowledge
- not needed by the target role materials for interior design knowledge
- not needed by the target role measure interior space skill
- not needed by the target role monitor trends in interior design skill
- not needed by the target role prepare detailed working drawings for interior design skill
- not needed by the target role promote sustainable interior design skill
- not needed by the target role technical drawings knowledge
- not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill
- not needed by the target role write work-related reports skill
18 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn airtight construction required
- still to learn building information modelling required
- still to learn envelope systems for buildings required
- still to learn environmental design required
- still to learn green building practices required
- still to learn sustainable building materials required
- optional, not held architectural conservation optional
- optional, not held cartography optional
- optional, not held energy efficiency optional
- optional, not held environmental indoor quality optional
- optional, not held landscape architecture optional
- optional, not held topography optional
- optional, not held types of glazing optional
- optional, not held zero-energy building design optional
- optional, not held building materials industry optional
- optional, not held construction legal systems optional
- optional, not held fine arts optional
- optional, not held historic architecture optional
Common questions about this move
Can an interior architect become an architect?
Yes, and it is a career change move. An interior architect already covers 33% of what an architect is expected to do: 26 skills carry over, 18 of which the architect role treats as required.
What skills does an interior architect need to become an architect?
27 required skills are missing, plus 42 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is design open spaces.
How hard is the move from interior architect to architect?
Its learning distance is 78.2 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.