The Dichotomy of Architecture

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 1433 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2013 - 08:17 am:    131002 THE DICHOTOMY OF ARCHITECTURE By Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT Cincinnati, Ohio It is time for us to quite “footsying along” and consider the state of dichotomy that is the reality of the profession [and engineering as well]. Even the most widely accepted definition notes architecture as “the art and science of building buildings and other structures”. Right there is the glitch we’re still being confounded by, and which leads to both confusion and conception. Like it or not, but both elements exist in every project-- from the most simple and mundane project to the most extreme and bizarre. A radical design accompanied by poorly drafted specifications [or perhaps none at all] and other sources of miscommunication creates a project which may be substandard, illegal, and actually a hazard to factions of the community. To think and teach that architecture is merely the transformation of rendering to reality is grossly shortchanging both the public as users and the younger design professionals in the early stages of their professional lives. Balance, at least is required, indeed crucial to well-rounded success in the projects. We-- all of us active in the construction industry-- need to develop, present and make mandatory instruction, knowledge, and understanding of materials in their development into building elements. This is true in both architecture and engineering work as well in product development and presentation. As seen in the chart below, there is strong and adequate coverage of programming and design development [and includes product knowledge in the design sense]. 1 Project Programming 2 Schematic [Preliminary] Design ? 6 Construction of Project Work The problem area [long standing] is the void [see “?”] between design and construction. This void is the problem that needs to be eliminated by filling in documentation and detailing of the project parts. Granted types and levels of construction knowledge vary [between participants] but it still remains as a major and vital factor the successful completion of the project. Instruction within the many and varied factions in the construction industry is wide spread and widely different. Personnel are trained in the direction and mode of their particular interest-- and of course with good reason. We need some coming together to allow better understanding f each other and our individualized goals. CSI has taken the first step in developing a program, eventually open to all construction industry personnel [from design on] and other interested parties in an effort to both mitigate ad eliminate the dichotomy. Excellent move! Stay tuned for developments.