The Worst of the Best

 "Rem Koolhaas. He is the worst, but...he is also the best."

----------David Franco

I am only picking this title because I thought what David commented on Rem was pretty interesting. 

What I really want to talk about stems from what David responded to what Nick said. If my memory serves me correctly, he said something to an extend that in Europe or maybe specially in Spain they were able to spend more time in a few designs and come up with good designs in a longer period of time versus in the US, it is more about the efficiency and getting more drawings billed out as quickly as possible. 

I am not clear about what is going on in Europe, but I think I can speak to a few things that is happening in the US firms.

First of all, if you want to be a millionaire, being an architect will probably not get you there.

" the fact that the median average wage for architects is $76,000; compared to lawyers, $133,500; and doctors, $169,000 for family doctor to $519,000 for a surgeon." 

The Architecture Lobby---A response to AIA Values

I know money does not equal the gratification of turning a design into a physical building, but when one is starving, how can he or she keep doing the things that they love? Especially when some of them have families that depend on them.

In this article, the authors(Peggy Deamer, Keefer Dunn, Manuel Shvartzberg Carrio) also mentioned that the amount of  hoops that one has to jump thru to be legally called an architect prevented more underprivileged from entering this field.

In this other article(A Guide to Determining Appropriate Fees for the Services of an Architect) that has a chart that highlighted the fees structure in Canada.

The suggested fee structure for schematic design is from 12% to 25% which is about 1/8 to a quarter of the billable time for a project which can be interpreted spending less time in coming up with a good scheme, right? I would be curious to know firms like Kierra Timberlake and Studio Gang how to bill out time that is being spent on research.

Like any other things that starts off as a good thing, I am sure that AIA starts off as a good things, but what I gather from AIA these days is that they care more about charging more fees in order for one to be an architect.

Anyway, in this other interview that Peter Gluck did with Second Studio Podcast that he is suggesting the way why AIA is the way they are is because that they are only lobbying for the bigger firms' interests which left the smaller firms in the dust. 

(https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL21pZG5pZ2h0Y2hhcmV0dGUubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M/episode/NGNlMDhmMDAtMzIwNS00ZmZkLTg5ODQtYzA2MmI5NDQzNmMw?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjw0Ynzivn2AhV0mmoFHWwWB60QjrkEegQIAhAI&ep=6)

I guess this post is just complaining about the status quo of our own profession. I know this is might not be the most helpful for the graduating class, but this is something to think about. I will end with this poem from Donne.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by John Donne

No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.