Public's Architecture - What should architects match with?

'Architecture is too important to be left to architects'

As we know, the CCTV building designed by Rem Koolhaas is structural challenging and re-translate the word skyscraper. It becomes the landmark of 21st century China and is mentioned a lot by architects worldwide as an excellent case study. Even in North Korea, they use this building to conduct propaganda for their politics.

Though the CCTV building is such successful from an international perspective,  it is unwelcome among the most of the Chinese people. Due to the shape of this building, people consider it as big pants. With the media publicity, 'big pants' becomes this building's only recognizable name. On Chinese website, you can always see 'big pants' is ranked in top X the ugliest building.
(one of the rankings: http://www.souid.com/zhongguoshida/1319.html)

I think this is a tragedy to the architect and also to Chinese people. When a great designer tries to design a building for someone, they should be familiar with their 'clients' very well, not only the culture, society, economy or politics, but the most crucial thing is to match 'clients' appreciation. Architecture is important to be left to architects, though architects should not design it for them self. Be awarded for whom the building is built for.

North Korea painting shows a bright future for communism. (left)       Ironic illustration from China mainstream media. (right)

 North Korea painting shows a bright future for communism. (left)       Ironic illustration from China mainstream media. (right)

'The discovery of the users' needs'

Learning from Las Vegas was published in 1972 and it is a classic textbook for architecture institute. To the modern eye, the duck shape restaurant looks like a joke. Unfortunately it's not extinguished and actually lives well like a living fossil. The two 'buildings' showed below, are also ranked in the ugliest building list with 'big pants'. Do architects who design those two don't know the atheistic of architecture? I don't think they can get the degree and licence without the basic atheistic.


Then, why do they design these buildings, for wealth, for reputation probably bad ones, to match architects' appreciation to the clients? This is no longer a tragedy but disaster.

1931 Long Island Duckling (top) & 21st century buildings from China (bottom)

1931 Long Island Duckling (top) & 21st century buildings from China (bottom)

translating version Learning for Las Vegas

translating version Learning for Las Vegas