Paul's back from Peru, just in time for our 25th episode! And thanks to Patrik Schumacher, it's mostly about criticism. We respond to a polemic/rant left by Schumacher on his Facebook page, "In Defense of Stars and Icons", and consider not simply his argument, but its presentation – how publishing these ideas on a personal Facebook page ultimately says more about celebrity and criticism than Schumacher's exorbitant word count can. In the end, we applaud Schumacher – not for his argument necessarily, but for his performative act of posting such. Now, more than ever in the saturated critical sphere of new media, the medium is the message.
We also finish up the interview Amelia did with Pritzker Prize winner Kevin Roche, and hear his thoughts on sprawl and the undeniable human instinct to gather. Roche is a quiet heavyweight in architecture, amassing an incredible extent of work across multiple eras of architectural history, all without paying any heed to "starchitecture", in any form. If you haven't heard part one of the interview, get caught up in Episode #24.
And special thanks to our podcast sponsor, BQE, and architect Ralph Fey for his thoughts on their service!
Listen to episode twenty-five of Archinect Sessions, "Clarity and Contradiction":
Shownotes:
Lugar de la Memoria, the museum Paul visited in Lima, Peru (more pics in the gallery):
nextdoor.com, the online community for neighborhoods
Barbara Bestor's wedding pics at Lautner's Silvertop House (check out our interview with Bestor about her landmark restoration of the historic home)
Always Poop at Work (doesn't that say it all?)
Driving in Lima:
Episode of The Twilight Zone that Ken mentions, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
Save Cooper Union: website and Facebook page
Chicago Biennial participants announced
Our Deans List with Syracuse Architecture dean, Michael Speaks
Traffic in Vietnam:
15 Comments
God I can't believe I actually said "Props to Archinect". So embarrassing, I'm such a white middleaged Midwestern mom, I really try not to say words like "props" out loud, even though I think them.
The museum in Peru looks AH-MAZ-ING!!!! So gorgeous. As is all the other concrete work. Refined Brutalism forever!
I caught-up today on my Archinect Podcast, both 24 & 25 so heard Kevin Roche straight through. He definitely is sharp, sounds like someone who even you did not agree with him, everything he says makes absolute sense.
and Props to Schumacher for using such a low-brow social media base like Facebook to deliver thought provoking texts. I don't know why more architect don't do this, especially those who have already 'made it'. The late Lebbeus Wood's blog was amazing.
Maybe he should publish a coffee book table weight of all his Facebook posts, that would be so Kool(haas) of him! (kidding)
I'm going to use my real name more when posting rambles!
Props Donna, Props.
Chris I just feel like such a poser when I say it! But you still live in Philly, right? So I think you can say it appropriately.
new jersey and same driving distance to Philly or NYC, but most my work is NYC although may start doing consistent work in Philly again (have to paperwork for PA license). i still say dude, which apparently is so 90's. brah seems to be the new one.
bruh is the neu one.
bruh is so Epigone!
it must be bra-h....although "Brother" like this man says it, is much more endearing.
Brother!
Schumacher has some WWF going on with his Facebook stuff.
Came in from a rainy Thursday
On the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV
And the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you
What has happened to it all?
Crazy, some are saying
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Passion or coincidence
Once prompted you to say
"Pride will tear us both apart"
Well now pride's gone out the window
Cross the rooftops
Run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
What is happening to me?
Crazy, some'd say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Papers in the roadside
Tell of suffering and greed
Here today, forgot tomorrow
Ooh, here besides the news
Of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
And I don't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Every one
Is my world, I will learn to survive
Any one
Is my world, I will learn to survive
Any one
Is my world
Every one
Is my world
fuck it
with that coat S Pats can post whatever the fuck he wants.
word boy!
this photo is supposed to go with the Duran Duran - Ordinary World lyrics, but apparently Newsdaily won't let it link....
it's almost like PS is singing to us in this photo.
btw, I like this guy, we need more architects like him.
I agree with you, alter ego, olaf.
Another nice show. I especially liked the interview with Kevin Roach and how many of his great insights where stylistically agnostic. Emilia has a nice way of coaxing interesting thoughts.
The question I have for Donna on the Schumacher is (predictably) on the role of a critic. I find the idea of an architect giving a critic a synopsis of a project's theoretical underpinnings to be a sad commentary on the state of architecture today. Not that it's bad to dig deeper for an author's intent, it's certainly interesting, but one should be able to give a fair assessment of a building's experience and design without being coached from the architect.
In Patrick's case, the coaching is essential since most people would have trouble understanding what he's saying, especially when you consider Emilia's statement..." Allow parametrics to run it's course" I think this means the computer program but who knows.
Thanks.
The synopsis is the pitch, and it's not aimed at the public but at the competition. You don't have to read too far between the lines to see that all the starchitects are competing with each other, not just with what they call philosophy but with their designs. Factor this into Schumacher calling out the critics.
Some people pretend to get it (the pitch) because they don't want to appear stupid. I think that it's largely self-contradictory and in the case of PS, defeatist (he's declared himself powerless).
He looks like a hood rat in that jacket.
I had worked at Zaha for a few years and heard a lot of stories about his upbringing. Do you know that his grandfather served as an officer for Dirlewanger Brigade between 1942 to 1943? That might give different perspective on the deranged and twisted mind of this man altogether.
What does his grandfather have to do with him? That's unfair.
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