Reply To: Alsop and Schwartz debate

[Melanie Reber, RLA]

“It is my opinion, however unpopular… that an architect has every right to create a building, irregardless of the ground plane. And, and LA has every right to create space that ignores existing buildings. That is part of the creative process… to include or to exclude depending on the design concept.”

“Do architects have a right to ignore the ground plane? Did you ever see the plaza around the World Trade Centers in new york? The wind was incredible…I think we learned in the sixties that design in general and urban buildings in particular do have a responsibilitiy to the public…So I disagree..”

I completely respect the right to your perspective, and you raise some valid objections. Let me try to expand my above statement from my perspective. Again… I am not speaking in all encompassing terms here… but am rather referring to individual projects.

Unless we rubber-stamp every project with the same outcome, we are designers. Both the professions of Arch and LArch include the design process. Now… when that process is taken to a higher level… it can become Art. The ‘superstars’ of both professions who have paid their dues and have taken their skills to this artistic level are sought after because they are recognized as being able to elevate a project to the highest potential, while still utilizing the skills needed for functionality of a space. They have mastered the ability to transform the norm. They have risen above the idea of Bland-scape to create atmosphere that is at once usable AND delightful. These are usually stand alone projects, right?

We NEED this, I need this. I crave visual and tactile non-conformity, carefully constructed places that speak to something other than every other place. Of course these truly unique works, be they inside or outside the confines of walls, building or ground, horizontal or vertical…become our iconic examples that reflect some new way of seeing or doing the generally accepted standard. These literally groundbreaking and innovative projects may or may not include other literal spaces surrounding them. To me… this is acceptable, because they ARE works of art and they stand alone as such.