From Sculpture to Culture

One of my fellow students in Virginia Tech’s Bachelor of Architecture program concentrated much of his professional career in Alaska – certainly one of the more remote locations to practice! Even so, he exercised his impressive brilliance and enviable talent to cross miles and climb mountains to reach others. Some years ago, Mike Mense, FAIA shared with me a presentation he had given to the Central Section of AIA Alaska, letting me know this was where our profession would head if he had his say / way. Who could have known, then, how true his statement would become.

I was particularly taken with the text on his slide titled, “From Monument to Instrument.” On it, Mike emphasized, “Monumentality has long ceased being our most important contribution. Architects will always inevitably write the palpable history of our culture. As important now, though, is the role our work plays in the day-to-day lives of our clients and communities. If we make environments and buildings that support human life and the specific goals of each project, and if we emphasize that as our primary goal, without downgrading in the least our aesthetic concerns, we will become much more important, and valued.”

Thankfully, this sensitive design ethos has become embedded into our DNA (for the most part), and I firmly believe the AIA’s impactful Framework for Design Excellence has crucially influenced this attitudinal and cultural transformation. The Framework’s ten principles wholly circle around this very topic of integrative design: integration, equitable communities, ecosystems, water, economy, energy, well-being, resources, change, and discovery.

Iconic buildings of yesteryear that were ‘plopped’ into the landscape had their place; it is true (sculpture). Our approach has evolved to recognize that likely more engaging and compelling are the structures of today that respond effectively to the client’s programmatic needs, respect the context of their surroundings, and contribute to the well-being of the greater community (culture).

Here is the added benefit. The unifying tenets embodied in the Framework for Design Excellence call for a shift in the way we as architects contemplate our designs, serve our clients, and regard our communities. All of these help us to be better understood, more appreciated, and well valued by the public we serve.

As we achieve the measure of our creation as contributors to our communities, society, and world … from monuments to instruments … from sculpture to culture … this is our calling as architects!

Image Credit: The American Institute of Architects (AIA)