Why The Abyss?

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1316 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2012 - 08:44 am:    120502 WHY THE ABYSS? by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Cincinnati, OH Because very few people have a family history of dealing with an architect, or realizing the benefits of doing so! Houses can be built using builders’ plans or those produced by a vocational school trained drafter in the lumber yard office [hence built for a family that is given what someone else thinks they need]. And no one realizes or understands how the safety and sanitary accommodations in their office, stores, churches and schools, etc., are ascertained and provided for-- much less how their own mood can be influenced by the physical environment they are in [i.e., the overall design features, the colors, the materials, the relationships, etc.]. Even though from the beginning of history somebody [master builder, etc.] has made decisions and created ideal arrangements for others—individuals, living places, work places, groups, etc. How did all that happen as evidenced by, let’s say, the coliseum in Rome? By decree, perhaps? Let’s link two things together-- laws requiring careful design and construction, and compliance with those laws by persons specifically educated and trained for such work. Simple building codes and architects [and engineers in some cases]. The first is a function of a civilized society which sees hazard in slip-shod construction, and determines, through laws, to require a certain level of construction which provides the minimum level of safety and sanitation [really protecting the community as a whole from any single non-compliant structure]. This has been distilled down so you now need a building permit [issued after a satisfactory plan review]. AND in many cases a registered professional is required to prepare the documents which show the construction required [“seal law”]. Next, to provide the personnel who are educated and trained to design buildings and other structures which meet the code requirements, the government has created a professional status [i.e., registered architect]. To become registered, one must have a college degree in architecture [or a similarly named program] and must successfully pass an examination to verify understanding and competence to work in the system [and those registered are required to work in a lawful manner]. From this configuration, it is easy to project architecture as a “learned profession” and worthy of specific and in-depth training in the post secondary format. Then, Why the Abyss? Why such disarray? Why incomplete/inadequate education and training? Why less and less college level instruction? Why no specific instruction listed and required in degree requirements [not specific course titles, but detailed instructional areas to ensure complete coverage of primary work required in offices]? Why no discussion? Who, what or what organization has definitive real-world control over the education and registration, in a realistic mode? Why such indifference to “supposed” professionals, registered even though poorly trained? Why an overwhelming disposition toward production machines and little if any toward production document content, quality and thoughtful/knowledgeable formulation? Why such “amour” with presentation and little with technology, construction, and actual display of how the project is to be built? Why, for a long time have so many, done so little [if anything] to correct a massive shortcoming in instruction/education, in favor of solely theory, glitz, misperceptions and unrealized projects? Why the acceptance of “visions” in lieu of hard facts, principles, methods, techniques and understanding of the process of “vision-realization”? Why the continuing abyss, not only being ignored, but being denied that it is need of resolution-- with hard core, fundamental instruction, and NOT another iteration of “bells and whistles” software. What gets the best of well-conceived design concepts built, occupied and used [as designed]? The abyss persists and continues-- ignored, not spoken of, and deemed irrelevant…………………..hmmmmm!