At what age should we 'learn' architecture? [ - or at least be exposed to it.]
Hi All,
So some of you probably have an idea of how I'm intrigued and concerned with the American public's writ large engagement with architecture as a profession and as a set of ideas. It almost goes without saying that there is a huge disconnect between what architecture is and what it can achieve and what the public perceives it is and can offer to society.
So, I'm a young guy and I need to complete NCARB's charity mandate for IDP, but that's a very small part of this: I don't want to hand out flier's at an AIA event, nor do I feel it's appropriate to engage in a small way with 'Habitat' just to get the hours out of the way. I would like to do something both interesting to me and also worthwhile. I don't feel that if that thing is mutually beneficial that it some how lessons the value of a charity involvement, to my mind it can only enhance it.
What I want to do is make architecture more visible to the public as an example of how much worth a generalist, working in an ocean of specialists, can truly have [Hi, Steve Jobs!]. I feel that as our society moves towards more specialized modes of production and consumption that the generalist who can fluidly move across modes of thought or disciplines in order to push an agenda, or thought, or movement through is actually more and more important.
So I plan on giving 3 talks in one, but three times, to both educators and 2 types of late high school students, prospective engineers and prospective artists [because architecture is not taught at the high school level].
The talks would possibly consist of:
1) an explanation of architectural representation ['flat', 'constructed', and ' carved' space] and how they all help architect's and client's understand their goals.
2) 'small' architecture - The story of how complex a very small glass pavilion can be, and how architect's can mediate the process and achieve for the client, what the client could not achieve alone.
3) 'BIG architecture' And I mean BIG. +2.5 mill sq ft. I would show a gigantic project and how it relates to all strata and disciplines of society from landscape to law to mech/electical/plumbing/structure/ civil engineering, to perhaps even graphic design. This is to show how complex architecture truly can be and would tie into the previous two topics.
Encompassing a holistic 45 minute talk, given for three audiences, that would also allow for 3 very different 45 minute 'round tables'.
So what I'm interested in from you, archinect community, is:
Ideas, thoughts, provocations, questions, and suggestions.
Am I doing the right thing? and going about it the right way?
What am I doing wrong, or doing right? or what could be done better?
I kept this purposefully short, so if there are any questions, please ask either in comments or PM me and I will respond ASAP.
I would tell them that architecture is like everything in our world. Money, most importantly, and politics are what make things happen.
In your comparison of sizes, you might also mention the costs (complexity is kinda boring, telling someone that a glass pavilion cost $1000/sf and a mega complex costs $50/sf kinda puts it in perspective for a 'real' person).
For me, I never really had a grasp of costs/complexities while is school. That's ridiculous, imho, and is one of the most blatantly negligible parts of education. Fancy buildings don't happen without money and, larger ones, without some sort of political support.
better to team up with a teacher or an after school program for an actual hands-on project where you can cover these topics. just giving a talk is the least effective way of reaching both educators and students.
and you don't need to limit yourself to older HS kids - with kids as young as 5 or 6 you can get into programming concepts, basic space planning, and materials - with older kids you can start getting into things like building systems, social issues, and budgets. but the most effective way to do what you are proposing is a real project that you do over a few weeks, otherwise the students (and the teachers) won't get much out of it.
some local AIA chapters and arch schools have outreach programs (and curriculum materials) in place - so you could work with them - but you can also contact a local school and get in touch with art and/or science faculty and see if any of them are interested in working with you. Many middle schools have engineering as part of the science curricula, so if you don't mind working with 12 and 13 year olds, that could be a good place to start as well. teachers will be more willing to work with you if they can fit what you're selling into their curriculum.
finally - you really need to work with an experienced educator on anything you do in primary and secondary ed - they know what works and what doesn't, and they'll help you figure out how to best teach the skills and concepts you think are important to get across.
I think it's great you want to reach out to kids - just remember that there are people who know WAY more about education than you do.
What would you say to an aspiring young person?
At what age should we 'learn' architecture? [ - or at least be exposed to it.]
Hi All,
So some of you probably have an idea of how I'm intrigued and concerned with the American public's writ large engagement with architecture as a profession and as a set of ideas. It almost goes without saying that there is a huge disconnect between what architecture is and what it can achieve and what the public perceives it is and can offer to society.
So, I'm a young guy and I need to complete NCARB's charity mandate for IDP, but that's a very small part of this: I don't want to hand out flier's at an AIA event, nor do I feel it's appropriate to engage in a small way with 'Habitat' just to get the hours out of the way. I would like to do something both interesting to me and also worthwhile. I don't feel that if that thing is mutually beneficial that it some how lessons the value of a charity involvement, to my mind it can only enhance it.
What I want to do is make architecture more visible to the public as an example of how much worth a generalist, working in an ocean of specialists, can truly have [Hi, Steve Jobs!]. I feel that as our society moves towards more specialized modes of production and consumption that the generalist who can fluidly move across modes of thought or disciplines in order to push an agenda, or thought, or movement through is actually more and more important.
So I plan on giving 3 talks in one, but three times, to both educators and 2 types of late high school students, prospective engineers and prospective artists [because architecture is not taught at the high school level].
The talks would possibly consist of:
1) an explanation of architectural representation ['flat', 'constructed', and ' carved' space] and how they all help architect's and client's understand their goals.
2) 'small' architecture - The story of how complex a very small glass pavilion can be, and how architect's can mediate the process and achieve for the client, what the client could not achieve alone.
3) 'BIG architecture' And I mean BIG. +2.5 mill sq ft. I would show a gigantic project and how it relates to all strata and disciplines of society from landscape to law to mech/electical/plumbing/structure/ civil engineering, to perhaps even graphic design. This is to show how complex architecture truly can be and would tie into the previous two topics.
Encompassing a holistic 45 minute talk, given for three audiences, that would also allow for 3 very different 45 minute 'round tables'.
So what I'm interested in from you, archinect community, is:
Ideas, thoughts, provocations, questions, and suggestions.
Am I doing the right thing? and going about it the right way?
What am I doing wrong, or doing right? or what could be done better?
I kept this purposefully short, so if there are any questions, please ask either in comments or PM me and I will respond ASAP.
Regards!
I would tell them that architecture is like everything in our world. Money, most importantly, and politics are what make things happen.
In your comparison of sizes, you might also mention the costs (complexity is kinda boring, telling someone that a glass pavilion cost $1000/sf and a mega complex costs $50/sf kinda puts it in perspective for a 'real' person).
For me, I never really had a grasp of costs/complexities while is school. That's ridiculous, imho, and is one of the most blatantly negligible parts of education. Fancy buildings don't happen without money and, larger ones, without some sort of political support.
better to team up with a teacher or an after school program for an actual hands-on project where you can cover these topics. just giving a talk is the least effective way of reaching both educators and students.
and you don't need to limit yourself to older HS kids - with kids as young as 5 or 6 you can get into programming concepts, basic space planning, and materials - with older kids you can start getting into things like building systems, social issues, and budgets. but the most effective way to do what you are proposing is a real project that you do over a few weeks, otherwise the students (and the teachers) won't get much out of it.
some local AIA chapters and arch schools have outreach programs (and curriculum materials) in place - so you could work with them - but you can also contact a local school and get in touch with art and/or science faculty and see if any of them are interested in working with you. Many middle schools have engineering as part of the science curricula, so if you don't mind working with 12 and 13 year olds, that could be a good place to start as well. teachers will be more willing to work with you if they can fit what you're selling into their curriculum.
finally - you really need to work with an experienced educator on anything you do in primary and secondary ed - they know what works and what doesn't, and they'll help you figure out how to best teach the skills and concepts you think are important to get across.
I think it's great you want to reach out to kids - just remember that there are people who know WAY more about education than you do.
Does your City have a ACE Mentoring program ? Look into it, might be a good fit for some of your goals.
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