Review1. Client types & relationships

2. Education experience

3. Patrons

4. Office development & growth

5. Failures & controversy

6. Architecture and its relationship with society

7. Architecture and its relationship with art

Introduction

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been in the business of building.

Over time Technology & Construction Methods continually evolve:

From the Egyptian post & lintel system The Greek pediment The Roman arch The Gothic cathedral & Byzantine basilica The Renaissance perspective The Bahaus and international school steel & concrete Modernism, post modernism and beyond

Introduction

Over time many aspects of the architect’s life change

Societies change: Can you name a few periods in history that have changed the way architects work or the types of building designed during that time? War/Peace Prosperity/Depression Social change-Urban Decay/Sub-urban sprawl

Clients change: the state, church, wealthy individuals, corporations , regular folks

The legal environment changes: building laws, codes, zoning, environmental

The architect’s tools change

Introduction

But the excitement & energy inherent in the building process does not change; the building process begins with 2 elements; IDEA & CLIENT with the CLIENT & IDEA comes the building concept Drawings develop the vocabulary for the physical

construction of the concept Finally a builder and labor force turns the concept into

reality Architectural Practice is concerned with the

management of this process Lets start with a …

Brief History of ProfessionBrief History of Profession

Throughout centuries only a fraction of the built environment has ever been effected by the architectural profession

EGYPT: Imhotep (scribe astronomer, magician & healer)He devised the step pyramid for his patron King Zozer by stacking several mastabas (burial platform) into a monumental tower 195 feet high

The pyramid and the entire complex around it, were of cut stone. The change from an architecture of brick and wood to stone was nothing less than a construction revolution

The cunning involved with the introduction of this technology (inc. the cutting and movement of stone) is still honored

GREEKGREEK Dedalus (legendry 1st architect of the Greek world Dedalus (legendry 1st architect of the Greek world

– inventor of form & contraptions)– inventor of form & contraptions) The Labyrinth of Crete (perhaps the first palace of The Labyrinth of Crete (perhaps the first palace of

Knossos)Knossos) Statuary from EgyptStatuary from Egypt His dance floor is mention by Homer in the IlliadHis dance floor is mention by Homer in the Illiad When things got bad he made wings and flew (with When things got bad he made wings and flew (with

his son Icarus, who didn’t get too far) to Sicily his son Icarus, who didn’t get too far) to Sicily where he please the King with an underground where he please the King with an underground steam bath and a reservoirsteam bath and a reservoir

““Dedalus” now means “the cunning one” or Dedalus” now means “the cunning one” or “skilled worker” “skilled worker”

Even though the excellence of Greek Even though the excellence of Greek draftsmanship is blazoned on thousands of vases draftsmanship is blazoned on thousands of vases not a single architectural drawing has come down not a single architectural drawing has come down to our day. to our day.

It is theorized that the Greek architect functioned It is theorized that the Greek architect functioned like a master carpenter, giving detailed verbal like a master carpenter, giving detailed verbal descriptions to the stone masondescriptions to the stone mason

AncientsAncients In the ancient world, there was one category In the ancient world, there was one category

of work that brought “architects” extravagant of work that brought “architects” extravagant praise or cast them into complete obscurity praise or cast them into complete obscurity This was the urge to provide homes for This was the urge to provide homes for deities; especially true during the phase from deities; especially true during the phase from nomadic life style to a more settled one nomadic life style to a more settled one – ““Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens

cannot contain thee; how much less this house cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded”that I have builded”

– King Solomon at the Temple of Jerusalem 1Kings King Solomon at the Temple of Jerusalem 1Kings 8:278:27

How could a mortal presume to know the How could a mortal presume to know the kind of built environment that would please kind of built environment that would please the gods? the gods?

To many cultures the answer is simple, the form of the temple must be God given and the recipient was usually the King. The divine overlord, client and architect at once, used the king as his builder.

God the Architect??

In reality the client was the king and an architect prepared the plans within the established norms of religious architecture.

However because of the high sanctity of the commission the architect’s identity was preempted by the king’s, who would also assume credit for all other major buildings of his reign.

This held true, except in Egypt where plans and other information were preserved in archives and architects had access to this, thereby elevating their status and notoriety. Some of these drawing still survive today

Roman

Much of what we know about the Roman architect comes from Vitruvius (25 BC). Vitruvius wrote from a conservative view point conceived within a particular theoretically frame work and he wrote before most of Rome’s most important buildings were created.

We know the following: Architects probably came from the lower social

strata; there is evidence that liberated slaves attained professional standing.

Rome like Greece did not celebrate their architects and there is little information has to who the architects were and their training.

The 3 main avenues towards becoming an architect was training in the liberal arts and service with an established master (private

career) training in the army with engineering, construction and by steps to a

senior engineer/architect post (with or without practice) or accent through the graded levels of civil imperial service

The career of Vitruvius is really the only one we know anything about; he came up through the ranks of civil service working as a military engineer.

He wrote his exposition of architecture in an organized and methodically manner. He had clear opinions of what an architect should know

His influence on future architects of the renaissance is immeasurable.

During the late Empire (3rd & 4th Century AD) the profession flourished with a shortage of architects during the time of Constantine the Great (AD 306-37) probably due to the design of the new capital Constantinople.

The most interesting architect of this time was Anthemius. He’s best know for Hagia Sophia, what many consider the grandest and yet most subtle of architectural creations and in great part a triumphant end-product of centuries of Roman architecture.

Middle Ages There is a lot of writing about architects during this period mostly known as the Gothic period. All of the architects work was dedicated to the church.

Middle AgesMiddle Ages

There still was not a There still was not a “profession”“profession” of of architecture and anyone who called architecture and anyone who called himself architect was an artisan, himself architect was an artisan, usually a stone mason.usually a stone mason.

This started to change in early 15th This started to change in early 15th century Italy.century Italy.

St. Gall

Renaissance

In 1415 the Florentine scholar, Poggio Bracciolini, found in the library of the monastery of St. Gall in nearby Switzerland a manuscript of Vitruvius’ treatise of architecture, the only surviving ancient text of its kind. During this time when artist, scientist, inventors & scholars were re-think their place, this text was greatly received and studied. Both Alberti & Brunelleschi make references to this work.

One particular event was of special significance:

• Leon Battista Alberti – a wealthy family of cloth merchants and bankers, an academic writer-sees architecture as a civic activity was able to gain interest of patron Medici’s

• Alberti wrote several treatises regarding architecture and his view of humanism (using all knowledge in the public interest) architecture was a vocation (not a profession) for a gentleman with a liberal education and special knowledge of math & geometry

• Filippo Brunelleschi - goldsmith and student of Roman architecture; sees architecture as a higher form of craftsmanship; a master builder coming up from a trade perspective

Development of Specialized RoleDevelopment of Specialized Role

100 years later 100 years later Philibert DelormePhilibert Delorme (1510-1570), (1510-1570), like Alberti, a distinguished writer saw like Alberti, a distinguished writer saw architecture as a self-governing profession of architecture as a self-governing profession of specialists with accepted standards of training specialists with accepted standards of training and clearly defined responsibilities and privileges. and clearly defined responsibilities and privileges.

He wrote about the architect, patron, and the He wrote about the architect, patron, and the workman and set-up guidelines for their working workman and set-up guidelines for their working relation relation

Philbert made a social distinction between the Philbert made a social distinction between the tradesman and the architect as someone that tradesman and the architect as someone that possesses the practical experience of the master possesses the practical experience of the master mason with the knowledge of the amatueur man mason with the knowledge of the amatueur man (schooled in books and experience)(schooled in books and experience)

Rise of the Professional Architect: Need Rise of the Professional Architect: Need for Professional Standardsfor Professional Standards

The formation of the architectural profession in The formation of the architectural profession in England is bound up with 2 major intellectual and England is bound up with 2 major intellectual and social changes over the past 4 centuriessocial changes over the past 4 centuries

– – the transition from medieval to modern processes the transition from medieval to modern processes of thoughtof thought

– – the shift from an agrarian to capitalism-based the shift from an agrarian to capitalism-based society via the Industrial Revolution.society via the Industrial Revolution.

The first move towards professional solidarity came The first move towards professional solidarity came in 1866 with the creation of the Institute of British in 1866 with the creation of the Institute of British Architects, later the designation “Royal” was Architects, later the designation “Royal” was conferred.conferred.

A population explosion between A population explosion between 1800 & 1830 increased from 9 1800 & 1830 increased from 9 million to 14 million the million to 14 million the population of England, which population of England, which led to a great need for housing.led to a great need for housing.

The general contractor evolved The general contractor evolved from this need as a from this need as a businessman with a financial businessman with a financial relationship to design who relationship to design who affected the historic tripartite affected the historic tripartite relationship between client, relationship between client, designer and craftsman.designer and craftsman.

Sir John Soane recognized the dangers to professional integrity inherent in the activities of the architect- contractor. Membership in the RIBA continued to regulate the conduct of the architectural profession

• The Ecole attracted many Americans who wanted to improve the practice of architecture through better education and it represented what Americans wanted, rational design theory, well organized curriculum and government patronage (Ecole students did not pay).

• Students advanced from entry level 2nd class to 1st class by wining competitions and acquiring points along the way. For diploma, they were required to win more competitions, complete a thesis and gain a year’s work experience. Culmination of the process for a few was the annual Grand Prix de Rome competition; were winners were sent to the French Acadmey in Rome for 4 years of study and guaranteed an official government position upon return.

• Patrons (working architects) led each atelier, visiting the group usually in eves. Students attained atelier when they wanted with each atelier led by the hierarchy of the upper classmen.

Ecole des Beaux-Arts

Established under Louis XIV 1648 closed 1968 the oldest school of art & architecture north of the alps, survived political revolutions and changes in style.

• Few American born persons before the 1890’s had the benefit of systematic foreign training and among those who had were the leaders of the profession.

• Richard Morris Hunt was the first to attend Ecole in 1845-1853.

• He was followed by Henry Hobson Richardson, Charles McKim, Louis Sullivan, Thomas Hastings & Bernard Maybeck among others.

The average 19th century American The average 19th century American architect hardly fit the definition of a architect hardly fit the definition of a professional. Before the 20th century any professional. Before the 20th century any one who so chose to call themselves one who so chose to call themselves architect and could engage in professional architect and could engage in professional activities with what ever level of activities with what ever level of involvement they saw fit.involvement they saw fit.

This was soon to change with the This was soon to change with the establishment of the 1st architectural establishment of the 1st architectural school in the US at MIT 1868 by William school in the US at MIT 1868 by William Ware (a student of Hunt’s). Cornell (1871) Ware (a student of Hunt’s). Cornell (1871) Univ. of Illinois (1873) The 1st state Univ. of Illinois (1873) The 1st state requiring registration was Illinois in 1897requiring registration was Illinois in 1897

MIT along with other US schools, U.Penn & MIT along with other US schools, U.Penn & Harvard, hired French Ecole graduates as Harvard, hired French Ecole graduates as instructors. instructors.

Some US architects rejected the Some US architects rejected the Ecole’s teachings as elitist, artificial Ecole’s teachings as elitist, artificial and not suited to Americans needs. and not suited to Americans needs. This group included Louis Sullivan This group included Louis Sullivan (who studied at Ecole) and Frank (who studied at Ecole) and Frank Lloyd Wright, how turned down Lloyd Wright, how turned down Burnham’s offer of 4 sponsored years Burnham’s offer of 4 sponsored years in Paris.in Paris.

AmericaAmericaOffice experience was the training groundOffice experience was the training groundHH RichardsonHH Richardson studied at Ecole, started first atelier in US in studied at Ecole, started first atelier in US in NY.NY.CF McKim and Stanford WhiteCF McKim and Stanford White worked for him and started worked for him and started what was to become one of the largest firms in 1909 at what was to become one of the largest firms in 1909 at McKim’s death the firm had 89 people and exceeded 100 McKim’s death the firm had 89 people and exceeded 100 including non-professionalsincluding non-professionalsWalter GropiusWalter Gropius started a revolution in design in the 1920’s started a revolution in design in the 1920’s with his with his BauhausBauhaus. Gropius approached all design problems as . Gropius approached all design problems as basically similar and thus considered it necessary for all basically similar and thus considered it necessary for all designers to have the same basic education.designers to have the same basic education.GropiusGropius went on to Harvard in 1937 and others Bauhaus went on to Harvard in 1937 and others Bauhaus trained architects followedtrained architects followedBy 1950 the Beaux Art tradition had died in the US and the By 1950 the Beaux Art tradition had died in the US and the Gropius Harvard School became the best and most admired Gropius Harvard School became the best and most admired school in not only in the US but around the world.school in not only in the US but around the world.

State Board & IDPState Board & IDP