Jack of all trades Master of none

Jack of all trades Master of none

Does and orchestra conductor just conduct the trumpets and leave the percussion to do their own thing or does he work with all the instruments to create a piece of art that has continuity and harmony? I feel like architecture is much like this example with the architect as the conductor and all the building components as the different instruments.  The conductor may not have the ability to play the piccolo part in the performance but he understands its role within the whole and directs it on how to play. Also to continue the analogy, each piece of music is different and the melody (or for the analogies sake the more designed and celebrated component of a project) is not always the trumpets.  Sometimes it’s the flutes, or the saxophones, or even the baritones.  Likewise each project is different and depending on the program, the user, and the context determines which element in the building should be the melody. 

Architects in general are not masters of any particular “instrument” while composing their building.  Yet we must strive to be a jack of all trades and understand some about all trades to design a cohesive project.  To say that we should only focus on the façade is in turn saying we should ignore all other elements making the façade not as good because it is not enhanced by the other elements around it that could brighten or balance out its design with the whole project.