"Innovation" Doesn't Always Mean Expensive

The reading by Samuel Mockbee on his rural studio was very intriguing and humbling for me. One of his first points is that innovation and cost don’t need to have a linear relationship when it comes to effective design. He also rejects the “gentleman architect” model in favor of a hands-on, humanist design philosophy. This is a powerful quote where he addresses a healthier, more empathetic approach that architects should take when designing, regardless of the client’s economic status:

“I believe that architects are given a gift of second sight and when we see something that others can’t we should act, and we shouldn’t wait for decisions to be made by politicians or multinational corporations… Architects should not be consigned to only problem-solving after the fact.”

He goes on to emphasize that architecture is the most social art form and holds the most viable impact over time, as the relationship between people and place continues to evolve. More than the buildings themselves, Mockbee continuously places people and communities first, as the driving force which truly gives architecture meaning - and also warns professionals to not lose sight of this amidst the powerful, attractive technologies now at our disposal.

He makes another great point on the ethical responsibility we will have as architects, in a world that has more voiceless communities than we realize: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ This is the most important thing because nothing else matters. In doing so an architect will act on a foundation of decency which can be built upon.”