Architects, the public, and the need to bridge the gap

I continue to try to understand why architects, architecture, and design seem so misunderstood. When I am with architects and designers, all are convinced that if their knowledge and energy were unleashed, great things would happen. However, when I am with friends and colleagues from other fields, all I get are blank looks at best or eyes rolling, which seem to say “come on” we get along just fine without them.

So I went back to an article from 2014 by Christopher Kelly entitled “Why the role of architects is on trial”. The role of the architect is on trial for several reasons, according to Kelly. These include: not giving equal weight to all the goals of a project; “the architect’s own willfulness” (Peter Rice's words) in the design process; getting caught up in the details; failing to engage with the public whom the profession; "for being ‘haute couture’, indulgent, bespoke and object-obsessed ... when what most of the population want is a good pair of denims and some adaptable accessories."

I totally agree with Christopher Kelly when he says that 'if architects want change, the profession itself needs to initiate this..." He puts forward five things architects can do to remind the public of the value of architecture.

Here are my own five ideas.

1. Listen to your clients and stakeholders, knowing that by understanding their concerns a better project can be created. You have common objectives and therefore, stakeholders should be a part of the solution in a real way, from the beginning.

2. Educate your clients and stakeholders about the work of the architect and collaborators. It takes times and is not easy to bring all the pieces together to creatively, functionally and beautifully solve problems. Open your office/firm to informal visits from time to time. This can be anything from hosting school groups or "take your child to work days" or a neighborhood drop-in day, to an open dialogue with public officials.

3. Don’t use jargon or "technospeak."

4. Measure your success by how well a building is cared for, its ability to adapt over time, or how energy efficient is it, etc, not how many times photos (without people) are published in professional journals and media.

5. Although you may be tackling a local challenge, your impact goes far beyond the envelope of the building. Don't lose sight of the big picture and the contribution of architecture to creating livable cities, sustainable environments and places of beauty.