In front of the lift of my flat, there is a rectangular design on the floor. The perimeter of the rectangle is laid with brown tiles. The central portion is bare with a layer of cement as no tiles had been laid.

This crude pattern is seen on every floor from the first to the twelfth floor.

I asked a Housing Authority officer why the rectangular pattern has tiles along the sides only. He replied that it was an architectural design.

I retorted, "If this is an architectural design, everyone can be an architect."

Please let me know if my reply is grammatically correct.

Thanks.

It's grammatically correct, but (as FounDit has pointed out) we'd be much more likely to say "anyone" (or "anybody") instead.

"If this is an architectural design, anyone can be an architect."

Would it be better if I rephrased the reply as follows?

"If this were an architectural design, anyone could be an architect."

[I was disappointed that the Housing Authority had done a slipshod job by leaving the central part bare (without tiles.)]

Thanks.

I prefer the first version.

OK. The second sentence is a stronger statement, and you may certainly use it.

In my opinion, however, if someone deliberately designs something as a piece of architecture, it is thereby an "architectural design". In this case, it is a bad architectural design, which anyone could make.

This
"If this is an architectural design, everyone can be an architect."
or

this is correct

"If this is an architectural design, then everyone can be an architect."

Teachers please speak.

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I am a layman.