This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Regional and Urban Design Committee and Committee on Design .
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Architecture is a building, or collection of buildings, separated by space that determines the level of intensity introduced; but architects appear to be searching for a definition that distinguishes architecture from buildings. The definition of architecture as a building designed by an architect, or architectural team, also seems to meet with opposition; since many architects consider the work of others to be inferior. The essays I've read distinguish architecture by appearance, but this is not a consistent measurement system. It relies on personal response that ranges from rapture to indifference and revulsion over the same object.
Political polls represent the best measurement of personal response devised to date, but they are relatively new phenomena that have not completely replaced dictatorship, religious decree and architectural juries.
Measuring fine art with opinion polls is certainly feasible, but an assault on the creative freedom to invent new direction. To me, this is a distinguishing feature of anything called an art, and it will always be judged but never measured. This strength is also a weakness because judgment produces its own brand of conformity. It requires constant examination and periodic challenge.
The desire to impose opinion is older than time, but progress is a function of ideas that are examined with an accurate measurement system. From this perspective, inspiration is art, knowledge is acquired and opinion is hypothesis that remains to be proven.
The appearance of architecture can only be judged, but the context and intensity created by the relationship of building mass and pavement to project open space can be measured. These relationships combine with a city's land use allocation, movement, open space and life support systems to determine its physical, social, psychological and economic quality of life. In other words, the architecture of land use allocation provides shelter, intensity and public benefit that is served by a city's movement, open space and life support systems. Its appearance represents the culture, talent and knowledge that led to the measurement decisions adopted, and some will always be more admired than others.
In my opinion, knowledge is gained from examination, measurement and evaluation. Inspiration is not knowledge. Some call it talent, but this personalizes a creative gift from a power beyond comprehension. It cannot be measured nor earned, which may be why some worship the greatest examples as a divine gift. Architecture is no different. The gift cannot be measured, but the context and intensity created by the relationship of building mass and pavement to project open space can, and these relationships are a block in the foundation of public benefit and symbiotic survival. Appearance will remain a gift that will be randomly appreciated outside the religion.
Context results combine with the space allocated to movement, open space and life support systems to produce urban pattern and the shape of urban form. The quality of this effort, and current cultural norms, currently threatens the planet; and inspiration must again marshal talent and assemble knowledge that can use a gift to protect a gift. It is an awesome challenge, but success will again be met with wonder as future ages stare at the work created.
To me, therefore, excellence in architecture has two fundamental criteria: (1) artistic success judged by jury opinion subjected to peer review, and (2) context success judged by the measurement and evaluation of a building's physical, social, psychological and economic contribution to public benefit. This can only be measured against parameters defined by the city design of urban form for symbiotic survival. We are not even close to the knowledge required to evaluate architectural projects against the second criteria, but this combination represents the future excellence needed -- in my opinion.
Architecture is too important to be judged solely as an object of fine art, but too powerless to impose context in the face of a speculative desire for maximum development capacity. It has done the best it can under the circumstances, but it needs advanced knowledge and public authority to alter the course of overdevelopment and sprawl that must be contained for public benefit and survival. Criteria (1) awards with a more convincing definition of "excellence" will get limited public recognition in my opinion, but criteria (2) is a monumental challenge to our current professional capabilities, cultural priorities and correlating leadership ability.
Architecture is an applied science but will remain a fine art with the public influence this implies as long as it emphasizes criteria (1) and ignores criteria (2). When architecture can define context success, it will progress from fine art and engineering achievement at random locations to a steward of the environment. It is an essential goal that inspiration and talent alone cannot achieve, but a goal that will distinguish architecture from centuries of previous building effort.
Art is built from inspiration. Philosophy is built from logic. Knowledge is built from measurement, evaluation and memorization. The three have combined to stimulate increasing awareness and are again needed to enter The Symbiotic Period of survival. Architecture has a long history of combining art, philosophy and knowledge, and this gives it a choice of context. It can either choose to lead with research, or follow with the lack of coordination this implies.
AUTHOR NOTE: I have provided a research and forecasting system in my book, Land Development Calculations, ed.2, and attached software entitled, Development Capacity Evaluation, ver.2, published by The McGraw-Hill Companies and available on Amazon.com.
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Walter Hosack
Author
Walter M. Hosack
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