Though this posting was a response to the idea that the AIA should do more to influence 'economic growth', it furthers the idea that the only way the industry thrives is by building more and more buildings. That is contrary to the whole definition of the role of an architect, who is paid to think well and organize well, and to produce value and function, not to produce mass quantities of stuff. We will thrive by producing BETTER buildings and getting paid accordingly for it. The 10 percent who create 'stuff' are not the ones who create value. In fact, the reason our industry is in such trouble now is that the AIA and/or architects themselves have allowed the building industry to get away with building so many garbage buildings that have little value relative to the resources and space they use up.
As resources and space become more valuable, more effort should be spent on the thinking and planning part of making
the built environment than on simply generating stuff. For this to happen, there needs to be more respect for the value that architects offer in creating better (ie more valuable, longer lasting, cheaper to operate, more inspiring) buildings for less expense and resources. The current stock of garbage buildings out there will fail soon enough, either by being too expensive to operate, too depressing to rent or sell, or of too poor quality to stand up to time. As that happens, I hope the AIA can help to influence a positive image and enforce a more positive and larger role for architects in the industry; a role that comes with more benefits befitting the responsibilities.
I also hope architects can take responsibility for our roles as designers of and stewards of our living environment and take that responsibility seriously. Architects are mentors and managers of the process of creating the built environment. That means we need to bring more engagement and respect for the roles and concerns of all the players in the process; it means learning how to bring them together as a well oiled machine, and not act l'enfant terrible, focusing too much on our own egotistical vision. That is an image that is all too common for archtiects, and is no one's fault but our own. Who is it that said "these days everyone seems to have rights but no one seems to have responsibilities"? Mentorship is a huge responsibility with no guarantee of glory.
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R David Scheer AIA
San Francisco CA
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