What is our skillset?
Today there seems to be a push in architecture for what De Carlo would call 'specialization'. This is not new and is a defining characteristic of the global economy we live in. As jobs disappear, workers must become more specialized in order to remain competitive in the market. But this ultimately leads to a feedback loop in which all paths lead to devaluation of the worker and their skills.
The most obvious example of this in architectural offices today is the role of computational designer. However others exist: sustainable design director, equitable design specialist, BIM coordinator, rendering specialist, etc.
These titles point to architecture's need to value itself within the market and society it operates in. To bring this back to the question of participation and the role of the architect: what are our marketable skills? Do they have to be tangible things that can be listed on a resume or company website?
If they are not,
then our responsibility to the clients and users we interact with is built on trust
and opinion; it is unstable and relative.
I think about this a lot, it seems in this day and age you have to fight not to be pigeonholed in an office. As architects I believe our greatest strength is our need for a variety of skills and understanding, and while specialization is certainly necessary, its better for us to continue to cast a wide net.
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ReplyDeleteI believe this perspective is also relevant when considering collaboration with other professions throughout the design phase. Although we don't have to have a fully grasp the understanding of structural systems, electrical engineering, mechanical systems, and so forth, a broad understanding of these disciplines is essential for effective building design.