{"id":13028,"date":"2017-05-11T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/arguments-about-architecture\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T08:33:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T12:33:30","slug":"arguments-about-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.arc.ht\/blog\/inspiration\/industry\/arguments-about-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Angry: Why You Should Start More Arguments About Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLet me tell you one thing. In the world we live in, 98 percent of what gets built and designed today is pure shit. There\u2019s no sense of design nor respect for humanity or anything. They\u2019re bad buildings and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Frank Gehry\u2019s acrimonious response to a journalist\u2019s question in Spain back in 2014 caused something of an uproar in the architecture community, thanks in large part to its tone \u2014 brilliantly harsh \u2014 and a memorable visual accompaniment, that now-infamous raised middle finger. Whether you agreed with the man or not, this much-discussed incident proved one, unequivocal thing: Outspoken opinions spark conversations about architecture like nothing else.<\/p>\n

The architectural profession has been graced with a long line of Gehry-esque figures \u2014 whether they are architects, journalists or theorists, those that shoot from the hip with their views are typically able to provoke impassioned discourse in the process. From Zaha Hadid and Peter Eisenman<\/a> to Jane Jacobs<\/a> and Michael Kimmelman<\/a>, speaking out against the status quo \u2014 or challenging the critics \u2014 has always been the premier catalyst for debate about the subject we care so deeply about.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Gehry\u2019s F-bomb; via a as architecture<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Aside from the usual critics, strong opinions can be put forward by anyone \u2014 see Audrey Murray\u2019s article featuring 15 different views on \u201cweird architecture\u201d<\/a> from the Chinese citizens who live with them. Arguments can also be made with generous helpings of humor, as illustrated by Conrad Newel, whose tirade against architecture media\u2019s \u201cworshipping\u201d of Peter Zumthor garnered multiple, lengthy responses both for and against his column.<\/p>\n

Whether through impromptu quotes or carefully crafted op-eds, each of these architects, writers and critics contributed value to the profession in the same way \u2014 they harnessed architecture\u2019s innate subjectivity to spark debate. Their assertions formed the beginning of a dialogue that inevitably resulted in a greater mutual understanding of architecture\u2019s polarized perspectives. Regardless of who comes out \u201cvictorious\u201d in such arguments, there is always one clear winner \u2014 architecture itself, which is broken out of the proverbial echo chamber and thrust into public consciousness.<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Conrad Newel\u2019s provocative cartoons are designed to spark debates; via Notes on Becoming a Famous Architect<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Of course, being outspoken has its downsides. Architects with loud mouths are often accused of pompous elitism, wielding esoteric language to alienate anyone that might rock the foundation of their argument. The stereotypical architect is conceited, defensive, dismissive of views that don\u2019t align with his or her theoretical standpoint. A certain Frank Lloyd Wright<\/a> did not exactly help quell this perception with some of his more memorable quips. \u201cEarly in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility,\u201d reflected Wright. \u201cI chose the former and have seen no reason to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Worse still, architecture\u2019s intrinsic links to complex sociopolitical issues means that a poorly worded statement or a controversial opinion can cause serious offense within the profession, or even public outrage. Patrik Schumacher experienced this firsthand, when he proposed that all social housing be abolished in favor of a free-market model. \u201cI have been painted as a fascist and we had demonstrations outside of our office,\u201d revealed Schumacher in a recent interview<\/a> with Architizer. \u201cI was literally chased down the road by demonstrators screaming, \u2018Stop the fascist.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n

Patrik Schumacher at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin; via World Architecture Community<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Schumacher freely admits that the \u201cprovocative, speculative\u201d choice of words in this scenario was somewhat regrettable. \u201cI have to learn to be more reflective about which context is going to absorb which level of uncensored frankness without too much upset,\u201d he reflected. Nevertheless, the incident got people talking once again about the housing crisis facing the U.K., with many stepping in to defend social housing with great ferocity. While it may not have been his intention, Schumacher\u2019s statement launched a counterargument that may not have been articulated otherwise.<\/p>\n

In every case cited above, each protagonist achieved what they set out to do \u2014 they stoked the fires of debate and got more people talking about buildings than ever before. While architects like Gehry can justifiably be labeled combative in their approach to discourse \u2014 belligerent, even \u2014 one thing they can never be accused of is apathy. They care deeply about making the world better through great architecture, and their opinions are therefore worth listening to and debating heartily.<\/p>\n

So, when the dust settles on your next architectural argument, just remember \u2014 everyone involved is likely a little wiser about different approaches to design as a result. That has to be a good thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Outspoken opinions spark conversations about architecture like nothing else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"architizer_featured_type":"","architizer_featured_image":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,3],"tags":[31],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[9338],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-13028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-industry","category-inspiration","tag-opinion","architizer_firm-world-architecture-community"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGet Angry: Why You Should Start More Arguments About Architecture - Architizer Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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