reener

My dad is a goldsmith, and when my cousin came to him when he was getting married with the request for rings for him and his future wife, my dad listened to their story and send them away… with homework.
To first let the client get its thoughts in one line and do some research on what they really want instead of rushing into something the architect likes and they kind of too, but afterwards have second thoughts about (as you suggested with the VIZualisation of designs to clients). Why not let THEM look around them as well! And let them come back a little while later. Explain to them what a design is about: light, TASTE, materials, open and/or enclosed spaces within or outside the building…
while they go out and look for what kind of stuff they want to fill their brief with and have suggestions for the design itself: because the design will BE FOR THEMSELVES!! And not just an illustration of skill of the architect. For WHY does an architect design? Because clients WANT them to. Clients often don’t have the skill, means, and knowledge to put their ideas onto paper, or visual computerised models or write it down in words (speaking about what kind of emotions the building has to produce, what kind of atmosphere they want to have inside).

The standard 2D drawings are very nice for the contractor, for the architect, for his colleagues to praise him about and for the client to be amazed about. NOT knowing how he should see the drawings in context to the real thing. I know some architects who take the clients brick-and carpet-shopping. This form takes it a bit far, but you cant say it doesn’t create a cosy atmosphere in which the client has appreciation of what that funny man actually does. He/she sees it being created while they go along. And he doesn’t want to take the architect off the project because through the process, the client knows the architect is a vital piece of in the puzzle out of which his project is going to be realised to his wishes. The architect leads, supervises, steers and controls the whole process from inception to completion.
-just a reflection of what stages all this goes through-
… inception, outline proposals, scheme design, detail design/building regulations/product information, production information, tender action, project planning, operations on-site and completion …
years of ‘hassle’, joy in your profession, long hours, creative inspiration through what you do and self-improvement.

“Designers are peculiar creatures within the realm of professionals. While ideally concerned with making the world a better place, the actions of design practitioners are tied to immense, costly, and spatially bound products. Their work engenders the complexities of politics, culture, and environment, blending artistic practises with technical expertise. Together, these characteristics distinguish the design professions from other professions, creating the special conditions that confront design practitioners.”
– A quote from Dana Duff out of “Design Professionals and the Built Environment” –
The world of architecture is really broad, covering many sides: politics, culture, environmental aspects, artistic ideas and technical expertise for example have to be part of any design anyway, or at least, they should be part of it. Matters that define a scheme, and matters, which are necessary to come to those definitions. “Why” is a very important part in the latter.

I study architecture at the HAN-university in Arnhem, and also every Friday and Saturday on the academy of architecture…
We get classes in construction (to design something that is at least possible…), working experience on-site, to be able to stand in the contractors feet… and classes in concepts/presentation/expression from actors (who teach you to work with words, to simply explain something to someone in shapes, emotions, colours etc…), painters which let you express emotion, get a feeling for colours. and architects: who let you design and let you present your design, after which it is discussed: WHY. And architecture in a way to discuss buildings of this and other times to see why, how, relations to other architects, different styles, methods of work etc…
The whole idea is that your way of thinking is questioned: WHY! That’s the eternal question in architecture: why did you draw it up like you did, why this line there and not there, why brick, why follow what they did, why copy him, and not him, why why why…
A self reflection on ‘why’ is very important if you want to design, even to question your own motives: why you are going in the way you are. Why did you choose to follow the international style, or go for the organic way of designing a building. Why NOT interact with clients, or am I doing it too much… every one of us has to do this all the time before we mess up. Where did the time go??? What did I do I am still proud of, still remember. Why didn’t I do it differently. Why am I not going to change right now? Or you like the way in which you are heading: keep going in that particularly chosen way: WHY NOT?

This is what I wrote in the introduction of a report during my working experience with Scott Tallon Walker architect in my time in Dublin.
-Who are architects really? People think architects make loads of money, draw a lot, drink lots of coffee, should be innovative & otherwise creative, but many of them are not.
But above all: they are looked at with awe: 7-11 years of intensive training (in Holland), late studying and many times exhausted, these are some of the typical stories you hear about architects. It is only now I’m beginning to understand what it is all about; for participation in the creation of something never done before, (which is actually going to be built), is a new experience in itself for most students.-
And it IS.
“Don’t try to reinvent the wheel: look around you: you’re not the first person in this world to think of a building… look at what your neighbour did, and the guy across the road. If you think you’re innovative and new and original you’re pretty ignorant or just not that well familiar with the world of architecture around you. Look and you will find.” Was something an experienced architect mentioned to me…

A better enthusiastic comment to young architects is one by Donald P. Grant:
“There has never been a better time to be a young and aspiring beginner in the design professions. You will hear many discouraging words and expressions of despair about the limited power of architects and planners, the inappropriately low income of architects, and the degree of inference that architects and planners suffer in trying to realise their visions. But you should not be discouraged, and you should not despair. These are problems to be overcome, and you must work to overcome them, just as creators and innovators have always faced problems that they have had to overcome in order to realise their visions. The great thing to remember is that the opportunities that you will have to make, make human life better by design and planning are probably greater than they have ever been, and that is why you as students are preparing for a life’s work in what can be a great and golden age of design and planning. The biggest problems that you will face will not be negative problems, life frustration, rejection, interference, or inadequate income. They will be the greatest and most positive of problems: can you generate, refine and fight for visions appropriate to the greatness of the opportunities that the future will offer? Of course you can. Now work hard, think deeply and imagine greatly as you prepare yourselves, and then go out into the world and do it.”

Those were his closing words and also mine right now…