Let me preface this rant with the knowledge that FLW had at least three bankruptcies in his long practice.
What?! You didn't get that bit of info in your course outline or history lessons?
What bailed him out of the depression was his clever idea (his wife's) of having 'students' pay to 'learn' at his fabulous Taliesin.
He or his friends begged money from previous clients in other cases.
FLW gave me the big head. I read his autobiography back to back with Ayn Rand's 'The Fountainhead'.
I really needed that dose of arrogance, romance about architecture, idealism, and confidence to endure the last 25 years, most of which were spent struggling to get noticed.
Otto Wagner fumed that one would have to turn 50 to get notoriety.
Well, that's about right. Unless you went straight out of school and worked for corporate architects who had long established practices, etc.
That did not work for me and for various reasons, I ended up designing high end houses for the rich.
I had to spend several years designing houses for the middle class and entry level poor as well.
I like what I have done, am proud of it, and I bet that most of you have done well or were planning to 'hit it' finally.
Well, our dreams have turned into a nightmare and it is not going away.
It is not turning to daylight fast enough. At ground zero we are three years into this mess with no light at the end of the tunnel. Those in the overbuilt states are hurting the worst.
It is not a national issue however. No no.
When have you read about the plight of those in the 'construction industry'?
It is usually about Realtors or contractors and about foreclosures. Not about architects, surveyors, estimators, engineers, roofers, plumbers, trim carpenters, concrete subs, electricians, etc.
WE are the ones in that are NOT being figured into the 9.8% unemployment numbers because most of us work for ourselves. We are in Sub S or sole proprietorships which are not in that 9.8 number.
Because our businesses are nearly wiped out that means we cannot buy other products and services in related industries and businesses. THOSE are the 9.8.
If we are included in this national unemployment number and others like us then this is probably up to 20% nationally I estimate and up to 40% in ground zero states.
I am on a financial blog which covers all economic sectors. There are many who post that our industry is finished and not needed until the inventory is taken care of. We can't wait that long. There is no sympathy at all it seems for us. There is disdain in fact.
I'm not going to preach to the choir any more.
Over a year ago I got particularly wary about this miasma continuing unabated.
If the AIA and other like organizations continue to do nothing to represent our interests to those in 'power', which now figure as economic viability -- critical base survival as the most pressing issue -- then something else must be done.....
I would like to open this blog to see what we can do.
I hope an officer in the top AIA echelon can join in.
I think relaxing the qualification standards at least for the top 10% who are being turned away right now is a first step. This industry did not chug along for the last 40 years on 30% down and 800 scores. It is impossible for those wanting to build or move into an existing house to qualify.
Yet the banks have their hands folded and smiling... announce that they have all the money to lend right now and that rates are at all time lows. It is a faux play.
We could start another organization that takes our interests seriously.
What else?
Extolling an architect's value in a dead economy is not going to help at all. You are wasting time on that count.
If nothing is done soon, we are going to fade away. There is an extinction coming. A potential lost generation. We will lose everything. We are slowly losing our skills for one thing. Why are the architectural colleges accepting students into this field?
Something must be done now. I see desperation for the first time in the eyes of my colleagues. I hear it in their voices and tone.
One year ago, I proposed the following to a few friends.
Everyone related to construction goes on a national list, computerized.
Every week one name is selected to go to Washington and carry a sign in front of the White House and Congress.
After four days on Friday, they set themselves on fire or shoot themselves.
That's it.
Because we are as close to Soylent Green as it gets right now.
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John Henry AIA
John Henry Design International
Orlando FL
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