Architecture (noun): the act of artfully placing complex forms in remote locations to be photographed for magazine covers.
Architecture (noun): the memory of that which could have been, that is invoked by the residual form remaining after extensive value engineering.
Architecture (noun): Public disinterest derived from a combination of self importance and greed.
Architecture (noun): The compromise arrived at by the client and the designers after the president of the firm and the client played golf yesterday.
Architecture (noun): The hard metallic outer shell surrounding confused school children pointing at the large early period Calder mobile hanging from the ceiling.
Architecture (noun): The space between 4 or more glass walls, wherein wealthy people shower.
Architecture (noun): Profession wherein ones salary is amusing to the majority of other professionals.
Architecture (noun): The homes that hipsters admire.
Architecture (noun): Structure approved by banks.
Architecture (noun): The touch, the feel of titanium. The fabric of our lives.
Architecture (noun): creativity plus financing minus creativity
Architecture (noun): The solid form of angst
I agree that there are many hats that we wear that add value to everything that we do. I also believe that helping all of these different facets or our profession to be more widely understood by the general public can do nothing but increase the perceived value.
ReplyDeleteAll of that being said, I do think that the hats that are most important for all of us to don to one degree or another are those of educator and cheerleader. So that we can get to a point to where the general public can understand the value that we bring as architects, they must first understand the value of the Architecture itself.
We must do a better job of communicating, with contagious, how a well-designed space can truly make life better. Whether, on a small scale, taking the time to listen intently to our clients and then communicating efficiently how a project can best solve their "problems" or, on a large scale, leading a community activity to help people understand the effects of good day lighting, everything that we do can be aim towards a better general understanding of the necessity for a well-designed built environment. Increase this understanding and it is inevitable that the perceived role of the architect will increase.