A4560 Professional Practice
Methods/Practice RequirementPaul Segal
INTRODUCTION
PS; How these courses are usually viewed; Based on NYC/AIA Intern Architect Course; Turning ideas into reality: differences = trouble and disappointment; Knowledge to protect your design through the process.
WHAT IS A PROFESSION?
- Flexner s 6 attributes:
1. Store of knowledge more than ordinarily complex; 2. An intellectual enterprise; 3. Applies theoretical and complex knowledge to the practical solution of human and social problems; 4. Strives to add to and improve stock of knowledge; 5. Must pass knowle dge to novice generations, usually thorough Universities.
- Tend to organize into peer formations that establish criteria for admission, practice and conduct
- Also: must be imbued with altruistic spirit. Ruled by quest for service rather than profit. profession is antonym of commercial.
- Purpose of licensing: to protect public health and safety by verifying who meets minimum standards of service, by education, experience and testing.
OUR PROFESSION
- Limits of Fountainhead model.
- Starts with our education, which can be used in constructive and satisfying ways: working as client (government, corporations), developers, design builders; working for contractors, regulation agencies; educating; writing.
ARCHITECTURE AS ART, SERVICE, BUISNESS
Design
Full range of planning for best utilization of all resources: client's land, money, labor, time; and society's and professional's resources. The full range makes rich design: all factors contribute. Enrich rather than diminish visual aspects.
Service
Independence gives credibility to advice. Usefulness to clients. Reliability: time and money these are the items clients become unhappy about.
Business
Only by combining Design and Service can one have a functioning business.
- Multiple roles: Servicing clients; Training young; Challenging and satisfying; Making a fair profit
- Must have good business to provide good design: sufficient stability to train and keep staff, sufficient and well-maintained office, sufficient fees to explore all design alternatives, hone design, document in detail, administer contract fully.
- Business/Service/Design are all complimentary: provide stability, time, proper compensation.
PLUSES AND MINUSES OF PRACTICE
Pluses
- Creating works that people enjoy and use and which improve their lives and environment; - Creating works that last Beyond the act of service, something tangible to go back to; - Creating the most permanent and pervasive record of a culture and society; - Record of respect and integrity; - Joy of anonymity
Minuses
- The value we add is not understood and therefore not properly rewarded; relative to other endeavors which are equally key to their segments of the economy; - Selling an invisible commodity visually literate society stop being trained to look in second grade hard to sell better when people can't judge good from bad; - Separation of those who provide services and those who use them; unlike doctors; - Intermediaries: governments, developers, corporations; - Most people don t know what we do, and therefore can't appreciate it.
GOALS OF AN ARCHITECT
Quality product; Service to public & client; Enjoyable workplace; Making a decent living.
QUESTIONS
What do you like to do, and what are you good at?
What size is best for what kinds of people and services?
Growth vs. Stability; Specialization vs. Mixed practices; Geographic area(s) of service.