Q: What is an architect?

This is a fundamental question, but one worth asking if your exposure to architects has been limited.  Most people know of architects from fiction and fim.  Perhaps most famous of these is Ayn Rand’s Howard Roark – the architect as heroic figure in The Fountainhead.  Roark saw himself as a creator who had little interest in pandering to the whims of his client or the public.  It was his way or, “I’ll blow the whole thing up sky high if you don’t agree with me.”  Paul Newman played an architect in The Towering Inferno.  He was cast as a good guy who exposed engineering shortcomings, demonstrated his all-knowing grasp of building systems and through his mental wit and physical resolve rescued hundreds of trapped party-goer in a burning tower. And who can forget Charles Bronson’s role of the architect-vigilante in Death Wish I-V.

 
These examples, indelible plot devices in their own worlds, only serve to confuse the public’s image of the architect.  While Roark serves as tacit inspiration for many young, ideal-driven architects, his attitude has only stoked fear and anxiety in clients unsure about employing someone who may run roughshod over their vision.  On the real-life side of the profession, when Frank Gehry is not designing jewelry for The Tiffany Company, he is trying to squeeze one last twisted titanium teapot –shaped museum out of his studio before the public finally says they’ve had it with him and declare they are ready to move on to the next architect of the week. 

 

And here is where we try to answer the above question.  Every architect will meet with his clients, listen to their needs and help to realize their vision.  But from this point onward, architects tend to follow one of two paths.  On one path, for reasons of either ease, lack of time, or client’s expectations an architect will revamp a design that he drew before, functioned as intended, and will suffice for the current client’s needs.  If the client is not looking too closely nor is all that interested in the first place, this easier route will allow the architect to move on to other pursuits (bigger clients with bigger budgets, teaching at the local architecture college or fishing).

 

The other path is where things get challenging.  For here the architect decides to break ground fraught with difficulty and effort.  To create something new, something beautiful, something unique to the constraints of the assignment, the project will consume his every waking moment, force his brain to parse uncooperative components and bring about unity in the design.  These architects are the ones who strive to create masterpieces, the ones who become famous.

 

As the client you will need to determine which of these architects you prefer - for both types will accept a commission.  The ready-to-wear-type architect will gladly provide a kitchen renovation that may be seen in any mail-order catalog.  You may be happy with the results if that is what you hope to achieve.  However, if you want an architect who sees your vision, meets your expectations, and gives you a creation that excites, inspires, and makes you proud, choose an innovative architect.

 

In a city like Houston, Texas both kinds of architects exist.  As it turns out the ready-to-wear-type architect is generally more successful here due to the established architectural fabric which makes up the city, where builders tend to get their cues from historical precedent.  Greek Revival, Colonial, and Mediterranean claim the lion’s share of the housing stock especially when it comes to the myriad sub-divisions that have sprung up over the last fifty years.  Therefore the architect who specializes in the stylistic approach rides along on the coattails of what has come before and finds himself little scathed by the experience.  The innovative architect – like Gehry – will always find himself at odds with the status quo until the time comes when the public accepts his vision and he himself becomes yet another style – like Gehry.

 

What this all may mean to you is that you should choose your architect based on who you are as a person.  If you tend to relate more to what your neighbors have, then you will be happy with a ready-to-wear architect.  However if you want something more, something new, something inspiring, a joy to behold, look for an innovative architect. 

 

 R i c h   M u l l e r