Are Architects Out of Touch?

At our most recent Architecture Forum discussion, I presented the topic “Are Architects Out of Touch?”

There is a common accusation that architects are out of touch with what the general public values in design. If we are honest with ourselves as architects, the primary influence on our design is often self-satisfaction and the desire for peer recognition, such as awards. We serve the needs of our direct clients, but give little thought to the needs of the general public, those who may occasionally visit our building or simply pass by.

To find out more about what the general public values, a survey was conducted that asked the following questions to 26 non-architects:

1. What is your favorite / least favorite building in Greater Boston and why?
2. How would you rate nine specific award winning buildings and landmarks in Greater Boston?
3. For a building you regularly spend time in (other than your home), what features do you find memorable, appreciate, dislike, and if you could design it yourself what three items would you pay most attention to?

See results of the survey and my presentation here.

In the discussion that followed, the question put forward was answered in three ways:

No, we are not out of touch: Interestingly, most of the qualities that the public found memorable in the survey were elements valued by architects, especially from the early Modernist movement: natural light, windows and views, colors, materials, simplicity, integration of the landscape and nature, to name a few. The non-architect today is undoubtedly getting better at understanding the architect’s intentions and appreciating a certain level of sophistication. Also, the highly regarded contemporary buildings in the survey actually show timeless principles of spatial and visual organization that are shared with historical styles.

Maybe we are out of touch: Spaces perceived by the public as “warm and inviting” may not necessarily be perceived by architects the same way and vice versa. While architects like to create generous and interestingly shaped spaces, or use unconventional materials and forms, the public sometimes views this as lacking in cost-efficiency and functionality. The public is divided on flamboyant design that calls a lot of attention to itself (such as the ICA, Stata, Simmons Hall) – some love it, others hate it.

Yes, we are out of touch: The data suggests that the public holds certain views that we as architects do not share, such as a widespread revulsion towards mid-century modernism, particularly any exposed concrete which is seen as “cold,” as well as a wariness of the industrial aesthetic, minimalism and overly pure geometric forms. They express a deep love and connection to historical architecture, especially in the Neoclassical style and find the juxtaposition of contemporary architecture with a historical context visually jarring.

One could argue that architects as a profession have gone wrong, have become too elitist in our language and self-congratulatory, and should start to pay more attention to the way ordinary people experience and perceive our design. On the other hand, so what if we are out of touch? We have the responsibility, as a trained body of professionals, to deliver to society buildings that elevate their standard of living, new ideas that transform their way of thinking and spaces that evoke emotions not too unlike a good work of art.

What do you think? After seeing my presentation, do you believe architects are really out of touch?