Notes On Architecture

ARCHINEERING?

This beautiful graphic illustration by Architect Doug Patt describes
a wealth of abilities and sensibilities that architects strive to master
throughout their careers.

Recently, I made the acquaintance of a German architect now residing in Trinidad. On his company website, he uses the term "archineering." It immediately caught my attention because it more fully describes in today's terms the role of an Architect. Historically, the architect's role has been described as "master builder."
Great architects continue to master a long list of skills in order to create cherished symphonies of building construction. The industrial revolution, beginning in the late 19th century led to mass production and specialization of skills that have altered the shape of our built environment to accommodate a larger and larger world population. While leading to greater heights of personal affluence, this has also led to greater chaos in the symphony.

In response to specialization our schools of architecture have gradually moved further and further from a balance of thought between the left and right hemispheres of  the brain to the right, (or aesthetic) side. As various disciplines of engineering have proliferated, architecture students have become more specialized in the aesthetic arena. Adding to the paradigm shift, The role of the Architect as conductor of the symphony has become relegated to a less efficient role, often perceived as superfluous expense.

Without a comprehensive ability to master engineering concepts including strength of materials, fluid dynamics, energy distribution, public safety, etc., Architects do not serve the public well. In fact, their aesthetic expertise is compromised. How can an Architect be effective if he can't determine the size of a beam of any material across a given span without first consulting with someone else. Still, today, in the interest of public safety, he is granted authority to make such decisions, often at even greater cost to his clients.

This occurs while engineers focus on narrow applications of their expertise. So who today conducts the symphony? Administrators? Masters of Business Administration? Politicians? General Contractors?

In my opinion, we desperately need to revisit the requirements and expectations of Architects, because we are drifting further and further from environmental efficiency.