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Originally Posted by LAM
Bunt, I feel your pain..., even though I didn't follow your logic in how you got to this conclusion from the previous conversation. Perhaps, still dragging some baggage there. 
I also don't always understand the high talk that some architects use - even though I should. I also don't understand artists, or lawyers, or my financial advisor - even though I should. That's why I hire people to help me with the things I don't understand. The point being, I think that the problem you describe is not unique to architects - especially the star ones who get all the glamorous commissions while the rest of us bear bunt's wrath. Whether architects, lawyers, artists, doctors, or anyone that is involved in a like minded group that has their own way of thinking and talking, it is often difficult for others outside of their world to relate or understand their processes.
Unfortunately, architects are often very poor at expressing themselves to anyone other than architects. Unlike lawyer's who have to distill their logic for layman (i.e. juries) to understand, architects, don't really don't do that and that's a shame. I heard a story about an artist that said he doesn't explain the meaning of his art. People either get it or they don't. I kind of wish we had that luxury.
While you won't believe me, I and most architect's I know take great pride in finding the most pragmatic solutions to a clients design request. We also try to be creative and design buildings that are not ugly. But, sometimes the most pragmatic solution can not be achieved because of external factors that we have no control over. |
A great explanation of part of "reality," sir.
Every profession has an academic reflection that must distort reality because professors (tend to) have tenure, and, are relatively immune from being responsible for intellectual actions. In city planning and architecture, professors can hone their intellectual positions without facing the requirements of having to make money off of these "ideas" (papers written do not have to make money, but receive accolades if the papers increase grants, endowments, student/faculty ratio, etc.).
Combine this with every profession having a distinct vocabulary, and, most architects and city planners use their vernacular to help limit the size of their group, raise the value of their knowledge, and, seek the role of being the intermediary between their knowledge base and those outside the group.
Having little job security changes this, of course. Those that have to work very hard with no tenure rapidly loose elitism and become more concerned with survival, which in turn, over time, becomes an ideology practiced by those who want to protect personal wealth.
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The "bottom line", to me, is how well 'things' work. If 'things' do not work, then why don't they work?
Take walk paths that people use: the best way to put in concrete pathways is to put them on the paths made by pedestrians. Plant a field with grass and watch the field for a year or two and see where people walk, then put the walkways there (and make them comfortable to walk on!)
This type of practicality is far more prevalent in those hired by private business, with the major caveat that "what works" is what keeps one employed, making the most money, and, not necessarily the best solution for public need or aesthetics.
An educated public theoretically can have the political will to steer wealth towards profit making opportunities that also help the public at large, through tax policy, regulation, and, statute.
In my experience, most small business people are rather 'socially responsible", while most in the upper management of large corporations, and, most of the very wealthy are not.
Ideally, the academic world, in addition to providing work related education, can help balance profit making opportunity with social responsibility as tenure can provide the freedom to speak without financial accountability. The reality? Most tenured professors gave up creative thought when they received tenure, and, and are more interested in internal politics than the risky world outside their institution.
While the worker bees deal with the real world.
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Nobody is saying he's wrong, I think we all agree with him. We just generally have no patience for folks -architects in particular - who go out of their way to try to sound smart and deep and sophisticated. It's part of the reason why the entire profession of architecture has become a bit of a joke - they try too hard. Even when being simple and pragmatic is in vogue, like it is these days, architect-types have to find the least pragmatic way to be pragmatic.
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