Edinburgh Scotland, photo by Sean McGadden, circa 2017
I am probably thinking about things that are "above my pay grade" I am at odds, at every turn with the paradox and hypocrisy of what it means to be a student of architecture. I love architecture with all my heart and I don't know how to express my version of what I think it means to be a good architect. The things I value are not valued at school. I struggle emotionally and mentally, aside from the physical toll that being an architecture student takes on my sleep and overall well being. I want so much from this degree and I know intensely I want for nothing but to become an architect. The ethical, political, economical, social, spiritual, artistic, practical and moral aspects of architecture that we seem to uncover as we progress through the B.Arch degree confounds me at every turn. I struggle with execution of solutions to problems that seem to condemn themselves simply through the very inherent qualities that were formed to create the problem in the first place. I struggle with how to ask for help with these things for fear of being ridiculed or passed with things like "just have fun with it. It's architecture school", "be crazy you're in school", “you’ll do practical things in practice” and conversely the reality that we are training to build physical structures. I feel utterly unprepared for what are necessary skills to be leaders of thought, leaders of building, ethical landmarks across a field riddled with moral questionability and I want to be good at this, I want to get better and learn more and refine my craft and become a more well rounded individual.
A studio project is designed in many ways to engage with new ideas in a setting that is worthy of inquiry. However this project extends only so far as it is expressive and specific toward the ideals pursued in the project. A project at school is a mere illusion of reality then how, in good conscience can it expect a problem founded on technical ideals, that wants to be practical, and based on the ideation of practical necessity, to be taken seriously when the basic viability of the project is non-existent? How can we establish a thinking about architecture that finds its inception, discovers an innocence within a state of delusion? What kinds of architects do we breed when we emerge from the ivory tower conflicted by what is real and what is not? What do architects look like when we consider that they must accept the realities of their trades? Architecture can be many things, some even believe it is not even building but simply the creation of a drawing, if this is the case then how do a shifting language of representation affect how qualified an architect is? There are two real routes, academia and practice. This is not a question of fairness but a question of choice. How can a field so entrenched in inclusion, creativity of thought, quality of craft and artistic expression be so blind to the reality that its exceptionally long bachelor degree requirements do no such thing besides a naive facade, that drawing on paper or a computer screen will produce the kinds of architects that will lead their industries as builders, developers, planners, and most importantly the creators of our physical environment. The idealism that we all hold on to, and that many academics cannot relinquish in their lifelong pursuits of knowledge, can be harnessed. But we fail to combine practice and academia. There are no avenues for students to synthesize their theories with their practical dreams. There is an overbearing division that exists in architecture that is deeply felt at this school to the extent that I know exceptional architects fall through the cracks for fear of not conforming. The qualities that professors and practitioners preach about that make architects so exceptional are just gilding upon the horror of what it truly means to practice architecture in the United States. It goes without saying the Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture produces some of the most technically proficient graduates in the world rivaled only by some of the most rigorous institutions in the world. Despite this, are we not positioned in the most viable space to produce the leaders of tomorrow in our field. Why could we not produce the first architect who can not only be a builder, but be a politician and businessperson and poet and lover and planner? Are we not, as one of the most prestigious universities on this planet given such privilege as seekers of knowledge and practitioners of progress, beauty and inclusion, required to pursue something higher than technical ability? Will we emerge from this school, flaunting the prestige of our paper sheathed in glass as mere tools for others to benefit from? Do the limits of the School of Architecture find themselves nestled on the shoulders of the system we hope to change? This is not how change comes about. How can at one turn you ask me to be asking the most depth
We all are aware that we live in a society of known bounds and established rules. Despite this, were there not moments, even for a single second, where we all, as architects, recognized the magnificence of the power we might wield in this society as pillars of light among violence and depravity. There exists throughout the field of construction a widespread cynicism of architects. This exists for a reason, there is no real connection between the two, besides the transferring of a paper. The architect knows little of nearly every aspect of the things he draws and this cannot be acceptable. It is deeper than learning to align bricks, fastening beams or laying pipes. Imagine the President of our country, he does not shoot the guns that are ordered to fire, nor does he write the orders he signs to law. The president leads a people with qualities that are ineffable, the qualities that make a great leader are not learned, they are earned. Respect, admiration, willingness to follow, eagerness to learn, these qualities are found in the most ardent supporters of any kind of following. Architects exist in another realm entirely. Our existence climbs to meet and serve others at every turn. We collaborate with others we do not direct. There must be a vision, but that vision is shared at every question and every solution. The mason and the plumber will decide how the brick is offset and which way the pipe turns. The true nature of the architect lies in his abilities to realize these. The things we make are not for ourselves as they are for everyone who will stumble across, through, under and over the work we have so diligently iterated upon.
As architecture practitioners and educators, where do you feel there are the largest gaps in architectural education for improvement?
How do architecture students improve on catalyzing the dreams they carry in school to practice and make it reality?
Where do you feel education lacks? You are not experts on this, what does a buildingless architecture look like that can improve architecture?
I want to design flexible and adaptable Architecture. What motivates me to design is the promise of technology to bolster our ability to live in the highest states of leisure and comfort. The opportunity to engage directly with machines that benefit people on a daily basis fuels me to learn about as many things as I can; building systems, potential technology that can be implemented in buildings as well as the idealistic possibilities of living in space. Living in space implies an entirely new architectural framework which will be consumed by machine parts and functional elements to promote our interplanetary survival. While this may be something far from the reality that occupies the profession at present, it fuels my idealistic tendencies to dream of something greater. This dream is not too far-fetched I feel. We will see habitation on the moon or mars in our lifetime.
I am fascinated by the direct relationship that is formed between client and architect in the development of a project. My most realistic dream following licensure is one where I can meet families of all backgrounds and contexts and design them the most perfect homes to build generations of children. I want to help people find their perfect paradise at home, the place they will spend the most time.
I am interested in all scales. Something so fascinating occurs at the smallest scales where details and surfaces derive meaning on a daily basis. In contrast, the big picture ideals that are pursued in the razing and development of cities is a promising and exciting endeavor that yields waves of progress to follow it. Although we have seen the ways that reckless design can be ridden with both assets and liabilities to various people, I feel it is an important part about being alive; making a difference in some small or large way. I am not so concerned with being remembered as I am with a personal desire to make positive and idealistic changes to people's lives in the pursuit of something truly divine.
We as a society have incessantly progressed beyond ways we can even fathom at present. I think it is fascinating how we come in contact with new and performative technologies on a daily basis. There has been no other era in history where the common person has such vast knowledge and connectivity available to them. To me this presents so many interesting problems and solutions to Architecture. Whether these questions are practical or ideal, the solutions have the opportunity to be just as practical or ideal. No longer are we relegated as a society to singular motives or vast sweeping homogenous ideologies or pedagogies. The very quality of diversity that seems ever present, without a doubt, impacts all fields in their ability to conceive of new ideas. Architecture is no different. It is an exciting time to be involved in a creative profession that should embrace innovation.
I would enjoy working in a foreign country if possible. I have learned so much about architectural history with respect to the wide ranging cultures and geographic contexts that Architecture has been molded around. Although I am American, I know I will find myself back in the United States to practice, but I still want to broaden my horizons by seeing and developing architectural projects around the world.
I feel I would fit in nicely in a firm in Paris, southern France, french Switzerland, or Belgium. Mostly because I am a native french speaker and I have considered myself a francophile for some time. I enjoy the culture and the way of life. I view the architectural pursuits in Europe to be more geared toward social and environmental attitudes about collective good and carbon neutral construction. This is something I agree with and feel is necessary in the inevitable metamorphosis of architecture toward its most ideal form.
I’d like to work at a firm that is moderately sized. I want to be able to collaborate on large scale projects, but I also want to have the intimacy in a firm that allows for deep connections and mentorship among my colleagues. I think the inter-office relationships will result in much stronger architecture. If there is discord, too much hierarchy or misunderstanding at every turn due to a large firm or a firm that is too small, all the work exiting the firm will have these negative feelings imbued in them.
Once I become a “journeyman architect” I hope to start my own firm. I need to establish myself to a point where I can direct work on a large scale. I would only be able to do this after years of collaboration and refinement of my craft. I feed off the energy and knowledge of others, working on my own might limit my ability to create truly beneficial and innovative architecture.
I feel there is a deep discord within the various construction fields. From developer, to architect to contractor to worker. I think there is a lot of opportunity to mediate these distinctions and to find more equitable, profitable, seamless and collaborative workflows and business practices. At the end of the day, I have a strong faith in the power of innovation and education.
The Architecture I want to create embodies the life of our age. It is hectic, chaotic, contradictory, but overall, I believe in the good of people and therefore I believe in the good of architecture to represent this goodness. Although it may be true Architecture cannot solve every problem, maybe the Architecture I create can serve as a single beacon among many light filled beacons about the promise of the world and the optimism I feel deep in my soul toward the future.
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