Who wants an architect, anyway?
This rant brought to you by the absentmindedarchitect.blogspot.com. I would like to talk about how architects are viewed by clients and developers. A lot of times developers are the clients so we can just consider that to be one and the same for the purpose of this discussion.
The way I see it, is that architects are seen as tools, or drafters of the client, not as the visionary or expert. We are professionally trained and educated to be expert at design and planning. But, very often architects' opinions take a backseat, or no seat at all, to the clients wallet and personal aesthetics. As my good friend Debbie puts it, we ARE seen as experts, experts in knowing how to construct a building and not for our creative and inventive abilities. To which, i replied, "yeah, and that is bullshit!". Honestly. It is. I don't go around telling lawyers that I think they should pursue this defense instead of that one, because "I know LAW better than you do".
Design and creative industries always seem to be affected by opinions of everyone. I would really like to go back in time to the exact point where architects lost their control of everything, or almost everything. possibly it could be when architects veered away from being design and master builder. For instance, when building the pyramids in Egypt, the Architect, also was the Chief Contractor. (I use capital letters for emphasis) :) What I mean, is that the architect also was extremely knowledgeable in the construction techniques. Fast forward to today and architects have lost much of that knowledge, and many times are thought of by today's contractor as idiots, or those who just draw pretty pictures, or even worse.
I wonder if I had my own office, would I be able to make the shift away from status quo, or will I succumb to the fiscal pressures and sacrifice myself for a quick buck. I also wonder how many other offices say the same thing, and how many end up choosing the road less traveled.
I thank you all for listening, this has been a very cathartic experience.
The last paragraph reminds me of The Fountainhead. I think this is something all artists struggle with and need to come to grips with in one way or another. Unfortunately, being a slave to The Man (a large GC)I can see your argument about being used as a drafting tool more than a design expert.
ReplyDeletethe way i see it is that when the principal enters into a contract with a builder they know, or should know, that they are simply perceived as a means to get to a desired end...profit. For us, not you. And that does suck.
Just stick to your ideals and at some point you'll see the fruit of your labor.