How good architecture is created. I remember the subject of Design Basics that we took at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow with Dr. Ryszard Michalski and Prof. Dr. Janusz Kuchejda.
The subject was a challenge for many students; our tasks were very specific yet ephemeral. They usually involved material-textural-spatial compositions.
Success depended on the ability to understand details, relationships between textures, the logic of certain solutions, and, of course, artistic sensibility.
However, mastering only one of these aspects did not guarantee success.
Herein lay the mystery; to successfully complete the task, proficiency in understanding all these relationships and conscious control was required. Accepting accidentally formed compositions was also a conscious process – taking responsibility.
Taking such responsibility is a good design process. Honest to oneself and the client. In architectural design, the boundary between responsibility and manipulation is very thin. Manipulation does not always have to be negative; it is often desirable for certain tasks. Buildings, architecture, should have a purpose. Unfortunately, in most cases, the architect’s self-love becomes the goal… That’s why, sadly, architects are often boring and predictable. Female architects are completely different, I assure you. Seriously though – it’s really not difficult to create a building that, theoretically, will be liked by the majority.
Professional Ethics.
Many firms operate on a “copy-paste” basis. The art is in creating a building tailored to needs, after a thorough analysis of functions, where the form, proportions, material, and final expression are simply beautiful.
In designed buildings, the personal and social culture of the creator is clearly visible.
There is also a thin line between courage and impudence; this line is defined by the idea represented by architecture, if there is any in some cases.
Good architecture must contain a certain enthusiasm for people. Humanism and love for them, allowing us to assume that they will notice all the subtleties and nuances, that the work we offer them is truly 100 percent of our knowledge and skills. It’s not always easy, we’re not always appreciated by the public, but professional integrity should be our guide.