Architecture, the most public of endeavours, is practised by people who inhabit a smugly hermetic milieu which is cultish. If this sounds far-fetched just consider the way initiates of this cult describe outsiders as the lay public, lay writers and so on: it's the language of the priesthood. And like all cults its primary interest is its own interests, that is to say its survival, and the triumph of its values – which means building. — guardian.co.uk
11 Comments
Old arguments that were stated much more eloquently decades ago: then with passion rather than presumption.
"Appointing architects to conceive places is like appointing foxes to advise on chicken security." Really?
I don't really understand how, in such a difficult time for writers and journalists, the editors at a respected newspaper like the guardian decided to hire someone with such unintelligent and unjournalistic arrogance.
And the bit about the beauty of decay. Ruin porn is really sexy in photos and really creepy in reality. Similar to a serial killers and ghosts being much more enjoyable on a screen that in a basement.
Besides, the writer is a white male. Doesn't he realize that he, like all other white males, is the one that's destroyed the entire world and enslaved everyone in it?
-said the white male architect.
Agree with you Save Western. The headline is simply link-bait. It's the only way for "journalism" to survive now days. It's "tweet this" journalism.
I couldn't agree more about the cultish nature of architectural academia, but rather than extracting the architect from the equation, I would flip what the Guardian writer said and call for the reforme of architectural schooling. This is a refreshing change of pace, especially from the British, which seemed locked in the perpetual swoon of the avant guard.
Bravo
So who should shape them? Writers? I like the wasteland aesthetic too. And garbage can be beautiful if you're in the right frame of mind. When he goes on trips, exits the plane, I wonder if he'd rather walk to his rental car through a garbage-filled, rat-infested wasteland or an airport terminal. Provocative though. Especially the title. I mean, who but an absolute, total genius can come up with such a provocative title?!
Oh London, you drama queen.
When I read articles like this from the British press criticising the British Architecture establishment for being pompous arses it only serves to reinforce the pompousness of the British press itself. Going one step further, the British architectural establishment / scene / cult of personalities and the British press present facades of importance to make up for the lack of relevance they themselves possess. It is the last gasp grasp at once was whilst denying what is. The British culture is stilted and stifling which explains why the best of British architecture is practised elsewhere in other countries or so thoroughly hidden behind 'Georgian' facades and garden walls as to give the feeling of being ashamed.
Adolfo Samudio, you said it well.
you know who's really bad?
rocket scientists.
They dont even use real words to communicate. Its practically greek, or like, math. Whatever it is, its foreign to me and Ill be damned if Im gonna spend any time learning about it.
And the solution to all their problems: more damn rockets.
space is only good for getting rid of our junk anyway. I hope there is life on mars so the rover can kick sand in its face.
fuckin hate mars.
Ne Obliviscamur
adolfo re: title, SEO, perhaps?
really? Architects are a cult??? its things like this, and people who say things like this, that just really piss me off, im sorry to say. but really, this guy doesn't know shit when its smashed at his face, excuse my vocabulary. its these arrogant people who don't see that what an Architect actually does, is far more than just simply put up old boring buildings. they are responsible for giving people a brighter way of living, a more organized way of being, and a greater sence of realization in who you actually are. if you were to step into a building that an architect had not designed and had not made sure everything was set up properly, then you would be going into a freinzed chaotic area, where there would probably be way too little lighting, which would set people off easier, there woud be no focused way to get around a building, which would piss people off more, and there would be no true organization, which is never fun. but, when you go into a place where there was JUST architects that designed the entire area, Just Architects that organized the walkways, and Just Architects that did everything besides build the buildings, then you would be on the Earth version of Heaven, with enough lighting where you wouldn't be blinded, enough natural bueaty around for you to take it in, and breathe healthily, a type of organized walkways where everyone would go smoothly whereever it was that they needed to go. point is: Architects are needed way more than you think. if you think an Architect is a part of a cult in orderr to make more money, think about an Architects salery, which is MIDDLE-CLASS. an Architect needs people to survive and to prosper. people need Architects in order to live the best way that the person can, in order to become the highest of their true potential. get your head out of your ass, and get it right. and truthfully, don't attack a field of study that you are not in. you just don't know enough about that field. you won't see me attacking a doctor, verbally (never am going to physically attack a doctor, thats just insane), because i don't know what they go through each day. think more about treating people ike PEOPLE, not like a machine.
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