Architect or architect
"Who are we to tell people how to live..."
I question the role of the architect, and through my decision in education and my designs seek to reshape the role I choose to take on. Does this make it right? no. Does this make it wrong? no. Much of what John Habraken describes and argues for does not hurt the role of the architect, but rather help it. Modernism sought to create a universal identity for buildings and thus those who design them. The break, the mutiny was when we realized we are all different, and postmodernism sent us all in a thousand different directions with a thousand different identities. Today, much more than every before we are taught to seek our identity, to let our own interests, desires, our own "reality" shape us as designers. We don't create the role of "the architect", but create our role as architects. You can choose to ground yourself in reality, to shy away from it as, or strike a balance and establish yourself within reality as a craftsmen of space.
"What is common cannot be special, but it can be of high quality."
On a personal level, I agree very whole heatedly with idea that the architect is more embedded within society than ever, and absolutely has to be. At the same time however, we cannot exist totally within it. Perhaps the best piece of advice I received as a young designer was to never be comfortable with your designs. Always seek adversity, never "play it safe", don't do something because "that's it's always been done", and I try to make sure I adhere to that idea. Positive outcome or not, you will have learned some lesson along the way. This extends all the way down to the mundane world. You will never have nothing but glamorous projects, but that does not mean the boring ones do not require your attention. Your obligation, your identity as an architect, your role in the shaping of reality demands the same effort for a modest dwelling and budget-free high art museum. We need "backdrop" architecture as much as we need foreground architecture, one cannot be appreciated without the other.
The architect's pride has done enough damage to the profession, and thankfully my generation seems on average more level and collaboratively minded.
Photo Credits: http://eldoradoexperience.org
I question the role of the architect, and through my decision in education and my designs seek to reshape the role I choose to take on. Does this make it right? no. Does this make it wrong? no. Much of what John Habraken describes and argues for does not hurt the role of the architect, but rather help it. Modernism sought to create a universal identity for buildings and thus those who design them. The break, the mutiny was when we realized we are all different, and postmodernism sent us all in a thousand different directions with a thousand different identities. Today, much more than every before we are taught to seek our identity, to let our own interests, desires, our own "reality" shape us as designers. We don't create the role of "the architect", but create our role as architects. You can choose to ground yourself in reality, to shy away from it as, or strike a balance and establish yourself within reality as a craftsmen of space.
"What is common cannot be special, but it can be of high quality."
On a personal level, I agree very whole heatedly with idea that the architect is more embedded within society than ever, and absolutely has to be. At the same time however, we cannot exist totally within it. Perhaps the best piece of advice I received as a young designer was to never be comfortable with your designs. Always seek adversity, never "play it safe", don't do something because "that's it's always been done", and I try to make sure I adhere to that idea. Positive outcome or not, you will have learned some lesson along the way. This extends all the way down to the mundane world. You will never have nothing but glamorous projects, but that does not mean the boring ones do not require your attention. Your obligation, your identity as an architect, your role in the shaping of reality demands the same effort for a modest dwelling and budget-free high art museum. We need "backdrop" architecture as much as we need foreground architecture, one cannot be appreciated without the other.
The architect's pride has done enough damage to the profession, and thankfully my generation seems on average more level and collaboratively minded.
Photo Credits: http://eldoradoexperience.org
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