Perspectives

Why architects? Why architecture?

Sometimes, I step back and remember, not everyone knows an architect. Most don't understand what the professional title fully implies. However, I’m pretty sure, in general, people think architects are smart and cool. I do. Apparently, so does my wife!

But I’m not interested in individual architects. I am interested in their collective impact on individual communities and the world. Building is very powerful, for good or for bad. But architecture—in my mind—is typically good. However, there are too many bad buildings. How can you tell? The outside kills the street and the inside disrespects its occupants. The space within and in-between is oppressive and dull. The exterior imposes itself on the landscape, ignores environmental responsibility and, well, just takes up space. At best, a bad building is benign, nondescript and forgettable. At worst, a bad building can inflict damage; physical and intellectual damage. Let me be clear, most buildings are not examples of architecture. There are few structures qualified to be called architecture and the ratio gets more and more unbalanced with each passing year. The bad has consistently outweighed the good and this isn’t a new trend. Despite this history of architecture being outpaced by bad buildings, the influence of great architecture is undeniable. There are moments when we know our life has been enriched by the experience of a great building. It is not uncommon to feel an emotional response to a historic cathedral, a thoughtfully designed home or a new public art museum. Most cities will showcase their most admired cultural buildings regardless of an architectural era. Frank Lloyd Wright said,“The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.”

My favorite definition of architecture was made by the great 20th Century architect Louis Kahn, “Buildings shelter mankind. Architecture shelters the spirit of mankind.”

I still believe most architects aspire to achieve architecture. At least they start out that way.

A typical architect’s story begins before high school which, by definition, makes it a “calling” more than a profession. For me, I was six years old when I decided my life’s direction. Make it to college and we endure a five to six year education, broad ranging as it is exhausting. Additionally, each state requires those holding an architectural degree to apprentice in an actual practice for a predetermined number of years, usually two to three. Following internship, we take the state registration exams, equivalent to the bar exam for lawyers. Some years, only 1/3 of the students will pass the test. The test is grueling.

A passing grade allows the once young aspirant to finally call themselves an architect. Their average age is 32.

The educational gauntlet requires endurance, conviction, and commitment. Those who become architects do so because they are in love. They are inspired to make a better world. We remain forever youthful because each new day is an exercise in the complexity of engineering coupled with the self-fulfillment of creativity. Problem solving is our job. Most of the time—not all the time—but most of the time, solving those problems is a wonderful good time. I enjoy telling students I have not worked since I graduated from college.

That said, the commitment to genuinely honor a lifetime of passion requires the highest level of perseverance. Another esteemed architect, Glenn Murcutt, warns young architects “you want to end 2 your practice the same way you started it,” referring to initial high ethical standards and the relentless quest for design excellence.

Those who become architects do so because they are in love. They are inspired to make a better world.

The house is an architect’s playground and design lab. Expertise is honed, theories articulated and the consequences of one’s imposed design decisions are quickly felt.

design lab. Expertise is honed, theories articulated and the consequences of one’s imposed design decisions are quickly felt. Our clients’ limited budgets—they are ALWAYS limited—have to be taken seriously. It is this monetary respect and the highest of self-imposed standards which motivates us to pursue the most elusive and therefore, most valuable of all design skills… restraint. I have spent forty five years learning restraint. What to leave; what to leave out; when to insist; when to let go. These lessons are the result of longevity, experience and maturity.

You may find this surprising but I think being an old architect is a lot more fun than being a new architect. The accumulation of experience can, in itself, create opportunities to practice beyond one’s local community. Of course, any opportunity close to home allows the reexamination of familiar criteria and new interpretation. Home is the ultimate comfort zone, sufficient to inspire but also reason enough to leave.

It's not easy. One only has to understand the climactic differences between, say, Arizona and Michigan. The range of knowledge necessary to excel in different climate zones is hard earned and requires patience. Factoring in local history, culture, density, demographics, ethnicity and topography further complicates the challenge of designing in a wide variety of environments. But these factors are essential to make elevated design decisions. Each community, each client, each site deserves a specific architectural response. Those responses are as varied as the weather. We should expect architects to invent an architecture appropriate for each situation, relying on an integrity of materials, structure and an inherent sensitivity to nature.

Bad buildings often lead to intellectual and emotional silence. In contrast, architecture encourages discussion, imagination and wonder. Meeting the commonplace requirements is not enough. Architects do more. Design matters and desire is essential for a building team to be clearly aligned and soar beyond convention.

I have heard many people, including friends, express a desire to have a home representative of their values and individualism. They are often quite passionate and have incredible ideas for bringing their vision to life. However, they assume they can't afford it. I will ask, what is the basis of this assumption? Frequently, the answer is an impression only rich people hire architects. Certainly, wealthy home buyers have the resources to hire us. However, many, if not most, will bypass a good architect and, taking the advice of a realtor, go directly to a builder… not unlike lower-income buyers. The results: an assemblage of mediocrity and conformity distinguished only by scale.

Sound harsh? It is. I would like to believe it is not my nature to be negative especially when I’m writing about my favorite subject. But, do I have your attention? The longer I practice, and the more I teach, I realize good architects are a building project’s best investment. Why use an architect? Would you enjoy an inspired environment that changes with earth's orbit? In addition, houses are expensive. Considering the number of dollars, could your personal investment benefit from having an experienced advocate? Would you like to have an ally, committed to more than simple profit, independent of all the other required entities standing to profit?

More than once, I have informed potential home buyers their most appropriate design (some say style) has not yet been built. It is the family’s originality of lifestyle combined with budget, and their site’s determinants of solar orientation, views, access, privacy, topography and size that creates the architectural idea. Could your home investment be based on a clear IDEA larger than you? What are your priorities?

Architects are a community asset. We are in a unique position to influence public policy, shape history and promote health, safety, and magic. We want to make a better world through architecture.