Finding the time to find what you believe
Rem Koolhaas is known for many things, but one thing that stood
out how he took time to stop, learn and write about theory and what he is
interested in as an architect post school, pre practice. Because of this
process, he was able to understand design on a different level and it allowed him
to be able to produce the thought-provoking work he did. Without taking time to
study his thoughts, this idea of creating a different reality could not be as developed
as it is today. Whether or not you agree with Koolhaas’ style or way of
thinking, if more starchitects or upcoming architects were to establish a time
period of learning before practice, I wonder how much different architecture
would be today.
With that said, as students, we are getting thrown
literature from all different angles and are not able to think about what we
believe. We are also so focused on grades and achievements, that were more
focused on figuring out what the professors want us to say versus being able to
discover what we actually think is true.
Unlike Koolhaas, many architecture students do not have the
funds to be able to stop and learn, and then practice. We go into practice to
be able to fund the expenses of licensure and adulthood. The practice of
architecture in America had become so commercialized that the upcoming
architects aren’t concerned with understanding theory, they want the fastest
route to making money. NCARB sets students up to follow the expected path to
licensure. Most of the time, the only stopping and learning a person does after
(or during) school is for the ARE exams.
Some students have a desire to travel and learn from theorists
and digest architecture in a deeper way, but the way architecture as a career
is set up in America limits people from that exploration.
Architects learn and think about how to do it. Through formal education and practice we learn how(tools) to design a project. But, why we do it is a question that relies on self exploration. Almost in every project we are given a program to design around. Therefore the designs tend to be driven by the function. The question “Why” is essential in determining the impact architecture can create in the space or place it surrounds. I do agree that theory is a place to resort and learn from. It’s unfortunate our profession does not have the luxury of analyzing and learning from theory in a 40hr work week practice.
ReplyDeleteI think that the cultural standards of work life in America is the downfall to balancing our mental health in any job, not just architecture. Architecture is so demanding as it is but the monotonous 8-5 life we feel we have to be accustomed to because of technological progressions has killed of any sense of balance. We loose ourselves trying to keep up because we think that's what we're supposed to do but time is always the enemy, especially with architecture. We need to normalize taking time to understand who we are as students, architects, and human beings to create joy and balance in our lives.
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