Cuff, Dana. Architecture: The story of practice. New York: Mit Press, 1992.
Summary
In Architecture: The story of practice, it is argued that “designers are driven by the aim to make the world a better place to live in by designing structures that factor the political and environmental issues”, the true aim of the designers is that they focus on designs that use the political and environmental issues for financial gain.
Responses
“It is argued that the design profession which constitutes urban planning and urban design is simply defined by a visionary charge and a utopian agenda, which is contrary to the standard requirements for a profession” (Cuff 1992, 23). The author affirms that designers are driven by personal gains contrary to the professional codes of conduct for designers.
The statement makes me doubt that designers comply with the professional requirements that are outlined by professional bodies. A practicing professional designer does not aim to make financial gains only but to provide high-quality services regardless of whether they gain or lose financially to balance professionalism with financial benefits.
The design profession “is simultaneously driven by financial profit and political conservatism”. The author asserts that both financial benefits and political gain are the main motivating factors that drive designers in their work.
I contend with the statement because designers should not be inclined to make finical expediency at the cost of professionalism. Depending on political processes to certify one’s professionally done piece of work for approvals contravenes the professional codes of conduct because the process lacks the guarantee for quality work.
“Designers are peculiar creatures within the realm of professionals….and their work engenders the complexities of politics, culture and environment blending artistes’ practices with technical expertise” (Cuff 1992, 23). The author views the designer as a professional who relies on other professions to make a complete piece of work because of the complexity of the working environment.
I agree that designers, despite working as independent professionals should factor cultural, political and environmental elements into their work to ensure the results of their work reflect the complex environment.
Fisher, Thomas. “Public-interest Architecture: A needed and inevitable change.” Expanding architecture: Design as activism 1, no.1 (2008): 8-13
Summary
Fisher views architecture as a profession that is driven by financial, economic, and political outcomes in the society, which in practice limits the architect from exploring human-centered approaches to ensure professional practices are observed in design.
Responses
“In architecture, this form of practice has led to the design and construction of many visually powerful and functionally successful buildings, but it also greatly limits the number and types of people served by the profession”. Financial endowments determine the ability to engage a designer to make an expensive design.
I agree with the argument that financial, political, and environmental limitations hinder the architect from exploring different design possibilities based on the human-centered elements which include individual wealth endowments in making universal designs that are appropriate for people with different income levels while fulfilling the unique needs of different people. It limits the views of architecture as a social agenda that factors contemporary issues that are experienced in the community today.
“…urgent calls to correct the causes will place community design and public-interest architecture at the very center of public concern and transform the profession, because right now, we assume that architects’ are responsible for public health, safety, and welfare of the designs they make”. Designers should take the responsibility of the outcomes of their work on the society.
I agree that the architect’s work is a process that leads to the transformation of the society, which is dictated by the political and economic outcomes that demand public interest in a design.
“We need a career path, and possibly even a profession, of public-interest architecture, parallel to public health and public defense, that has its own educational requirements, practice models, financial support, and client base”. The author affirms the need for upcoming professionals to follow a career path similar in other professions.
I agree that the human-centered approach to architectural design is a critical component of the design profession that is always modeled after the professional requirements defined in the professional code of conduct.
Bibliography
Cuff, Dana. Architecture: The story of practice. New York: Mit Press, 1992.
Fisher, Thomas. “Public-interest Architecture: A needed and inevitable change.” Expanding architecture: Design as activism 1, no.1 (2008): 8-13