Kal

With all due to respects to the contemporary Architects...

This topic is the result of my research topic presentation which happened a few days back in my university.

I had been researching about transition of Architects into virtual media i.e Architects moving into designing digital sets, Game design and in Multimedia and web designing virtual environments. So I had even posted a lot of stuff in the forums for gaining information. You can find my topics in this forum.

At the mid of the topic I had to present my research status and I presented it. I referred to Eric Hanson and a few others who had made such a transition.

In all what I commented is Architects are making a prominent transition into these industries and this could possible be a new identity of the Architect. I also commented possibly Architecture would find these transitions as specializations in Architecture and broaden its range.

At the end of my presentation one of my Cohorts who had been an practising Architect himself for 10 years commented about my presentation.

All he wanted to say...
What did I mean about an Architect?
Was I referring to Architectural students or Practising Architects?
He asked me to define an Architect?
He said if Architects are moving out into other fields it is maybe because they dont like Architecture any more.Or maybe they were not left with enough money earning prospects in Architectural field.

On the whole he said if I am not interested in Architecture why am I still doing a masters program in Architecture Visualization. He said my interest in transiting into movie industry or game industry or a few people's interests cannot be considered to comment about an Architects transition.

I could see he was altogether offended or possibly trying to offend me for the reason I do not know.

All my intention was to research on this. Is transition of Architects into virtual media such a bad thing to offend all the practising Architects.

I felt and still feel that if these fields have scope to the extent where an ARchitect could offer his service and show his skills isnt this a positive happening to broaden the range where Architecture is used.

If anyone has a feeling, opinion or an emotion towards this please comment. I am starting to realise I am altogether handling a very delicate topic as it did not seem to me initially.

This is an issue posted to every Architect around. What do u say about this.

Comments Please
Kal

saturnfive

I don't see why he should feel offended. Perhaps he feels threatened by the idea?

As to the question of architects moving into other fields, I think it's definitely a valid inquiry. I also don't believe in great distinctions between 'real' and 'virtual' architecture. All architecture is virtual until it progresses into the construction phase, whether it's 2d plans, a physical or computer model, or interactive like an FPS game (quake etc.)

There are many reasons why an architect might move away from the tradidional field. Yes, salary is one of them, but I think it's more to do with design: either to explore a different style, or to do more designing. Speaking from personal experience most architects get to do very little design at all, and when they do they are constrained by a myriad of rules and regulations.

[ November 02, 2002, 04:44 AM: Message edited by: saturnfive ]

STRAT

glad im not an architect

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kid

For this guy to say that a transition from architecture to another design field is due to a lack in interest for architecture is very narrow minded. I speculate this person's view of what an "architect" is very narrow as a result. Even the modern day masters, who's work gets rammed down our throats, like Mies, Corb, Reitveld, did stuff outside of architecture like painting, drawing, sculpture, furniture, etc, and applied their architectural mindset to these endeavours. Did they stop being architects when they weren't working with bricks and mortar? NO OF COURSE NOT - So how is this different to an architect today moving into digital realms of games design and multi-media? It's no different, apart from the fact that computer arts hold a stigma of 'the computer does it all for you'. There are a number of architects I have read about who have gone into game design and applied their architectural minset to it - do they stop being architects if they stop doing cookie cutter houses to pay the bills - OF COURSE NOT. If they are still thinking and creating with that architectural mindset then they are still architects, whether it be a building they are designing for quake or a page layout for an interactive CD.

If we think of the many game/film concept artists who studied as Industrial Designers, like Feng Zhu, if they are designing a vehicle or robot for a game - aren't they still Industrial Designers even though their end product is for a virtual environment, OF COURSE THEY ARE.

But then again, this person might not have been offended at all, but was just trying to challenge your argument to see if it would fall in a heap

Anyway, if I totally missed the point, that's because I'm drunk sorry

[ November 02, 2002, 07:42 AM: Message edited by: kid ]

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Chris_A

Was the research intended to study Architecture (big 'A' meaning the general practice) or what individual architects (the people) are doing?

The industry or practice of a specific discipline is much broader than that the individuals who practice it. If everyone working in Architecture started to work for commercial fisheries they would be fishermen. The discipline of Architecture would still exist because of it's identity seperate from the people who do it.

The research question may have been more related to the discipline as a whole. The professors query about pursuing your degree may have been an effort to get you to think more about what you were really interested in. There may be programs better equipped to give you what you want than one focused on Architecture.

Good luck!

--Chris_A

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Chris_A

nisus

Hi,

I can only raise more questions because I don't know what you are talking about, but I feel lot's of assumptions:

What was the purpose of your mentors critics?
Do you want your mentor to share your opinion?
Is your topic about opinions or facts?
Why bother? (Can't we just all do what we want to, without these discussions about taste?
Are you disappointed by the fact that your mentor shares another vision? If so, Why?
Do you think people should care?

rgds

nisus

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www.ams.be / www.nisusarts.com

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=nisusCGA&p=r

Kal

Hey guys

Just to clarify Chris and Nisus. It was not the mentor who criticised. It was one of my cohorts.

Chris you mentioned " The industry or practice of a specific discipline is much broader than that the individuals who practice it. If everyone working in Architecture started to work for commercial fisheries they would be fishermen. The discipline of Architecture would still exist because of it's identity seperate from the people who do it."

Well Chris if what an Architect does is not goin to affect the identity of Architecture it is a bad news. Arts existed in past through paintings, sculpture, music etc. But see now art is in game industry, movie sets, multimedia and web design. It was as a result of what the art people started doing the art started defining its identity in a more broad way.

That is what my point is. As the previous example for art see architects they are still just doing buildings from ancient periods. Why is not Architecture shaping and broadening its own identity like art.

I dont know if Im right. You know im still a learining kid . Well anyways we'll discuss this on thursday when we meet .

Thanks
Kal

juko101

Kal,
I noticed that you posted "MSU" as your location. Are you at Mississippi State? If so, I would like to get your advice about some things.

I know that there are probably 20 different universities known as "MSU" in the U.S.

Kal

Hi Jake

Yes I study in Mississippi state university. Well I had mentioned that in my first post to this forum. One more thing this is just my 4th month in US and Mississippi.

Well I wud do my best to help you in anythin u need. Just lemme know abt what u want.

Thanks
Kal

John Dollus

I can see your instructor's point of view.
Licensed architects are considered professionals.
Set designers are considered trade personnel with no professional certification or education required.
In America, the AIA (American Institute of Architects) defines an architect as one who has obtained a license from a certified board required to produce construction documents. Anyone else is a drafter.
Designing an environment is actually a rather small portion of the architecture field. Code reviews, detailed specifications, mediating contractor disputes and filing permits can makeup a significant portion of an architect's time and career.

John Dollus