recently saw a lecture stating the coutry would be better off if architects were more actively engaged in higher level politics. i don't subscribe to that viewpoint. however, i'm pretty sure when it comes to local issues, especially on the built environement, architects may be representin' more than most groups.
beyond jefferson, jack johnson and karl rove, what other architects have dabbled in politics?
in seattle, victor steinbrueck followed by his son, who supposedly IS in fact an architect.
i'm beginning. earned a concurrent degree in political science while getting my barch. in the 6 years it took to do this i met one other person who was doing the same and understood why.
it led to a position on one of the state boards for the AIA where i met a large number of architects who had been actively involved in politics for years. none of them had run for office, but they were in the background influencing policy at all levels.
check out the AIA's website. they also include in one of their newsletters that come out weekly architects that are running for public office and architects that are currently in public office.
we really need to get more involved. building is incredibly political.
Feb 4, 07 6:15 pm ·
·
Eutropia, Helena, and Constantine
They did a lot more than dabble; their architecture and urbanism shifted the whole paradigm of the Roman Empire.
That Karl Rove being an architect thing has to be some kind of tounge and cheek joke as how the media keeps refering to him as the architect. I had go wikipedia that to make sure he wasn't an arch student at one point, thanks for scaring the s*** out of me holz.
But on another note, Richard Rogers is quite political about Israel-Palestine, and he damn near lost an NYC comission because of it. Peter Eisenman is apparently a self-described uber-conservative and a supporter of the Republican Party as well, but he says he leaves his politics out of his architecture.
Who knew that Eisenman is a closeted Republican? Did Derrida know about this?
I remember an AIAS lecture a couple years back where an architect in NC was mayor. He might be what you consider, political.
I remember reading somewhere that Rem does not want to go into politics. But "Content" is one of the most highly political books (or magazine) that I have read.
"Who knew that Eisenman is a closeted Republican? Did Derrida know about this?
I remember an AIAS lecture a couple years back where an architect in NC was mayor. He might be what you consider, political."
I think that was Harvey Gantt-he was mayor of Charlotte, NC and he came close to winning the Senate race one year-if it wasnt for Jesse Helms playing dirty and airing a blatantly racist ad about affirmative action that scared white voters, Gantt (who is black) very well might have been the first black Southern US Senator since Reconstruction.
Maurice Cox is another black architect, I think he teaches @UVA and he was mayor of Charlottesville, VA for a while.
I wish more architects would run for office-it would be cool to have an architect in the Senate-God knows there are enough lawyers and it would be cool to have a voice at that level when there are discussions about infrastructure, transportation funding, arts funding, etc. Moynihan was good for that, but he's dead now.
As for Eisenman, I remember seeing him at a talk where he discussed the Arizona Cardinals stadium and he claimed that people in politically conservative areas like Phoenix seem to be more open to progressive design like his work, which caused a little anger among some of the people in the room. I had no idea that he was a Republican-he might just be saying that to rile people up though.
Maurice Cox came to mind, too. I would like to someday be involved in local politics, as well. I always wanted to get my masters in polysci rather than arch. but then i couldn't get hired to teach studios, so i'm still trying to figure that one out.
ha ha ha, not a bad idea... how about: "you already know you've got the best brain combo on earth, now put it to use and save the world already, dummy"
"i don't subscribe to that viewpoint"
Why not?! I believe architects have very broad perspectives due to the nature of the beast. Not many other professionals or politicians can wax poetic on philosophy, sociology, art, or business. Maybe I just have this utopian of architects, but I think we have our shit together.
I could see how "classic conservatives", i.e. "classical liberals/libertarians" may acutally be more open to design than people with more socialist leanings. In that sense of the word Ariziona, as home to Barry Goldwaterism, should be full of awesome architecture. Shame it ain't so, besides what the indians built into canyon walls and whatnot.
I do remeber going to this one discussion on the state of black architects and "black architecture"(like there's a different kind) in American Architectural Practice, and there was a board of about five black architects/critics, one of whom tought at Cooper Union and was extremely political and sometimes hopelessly/humorously misinformed. He made very passionate statements about certain political issues that imo, were hugely divergent from the truth, like how Atlanta is "the most racist city in the union", despite the fact that its leadership is practically all black, and has been that way since the late 60s, not to mention the fact that black people are in the majority in many parts of downtown and the immediate suburbs. He made some good points here and there, and the audience got riled up at/with alot of the things he said.
Architecture, to me, is an inherently politcial profession and it tends to attract all sorts of political visionaries.
In my experience it is more often the case in small town politics, where city building and community development are a huge percentage of the city politics, I often see the relationship and the impact someone could have on a small community. I have considered it but also feel I would be in a conflict at least once a month with our own office work.
Apurimac.... "Barry Goldwaterism"? Why can't I get away from Barry Goldwater references anywhere? He seems to come up everywhere these days. I'm going to blaim it on John McCain.
Anyway, I was listening to KCRW this morning, and it's pledge drive time, and this morning Thom Mayne was doubling pledges. Was a bit suprised at first but then thought, "Hey, why not?"
"Currently, some 115 architects hold either elected or
appointed public office, all at the state and local level.
Of these, 7 are mayors, 10 are council members, and 6
are state representatives or senators."
i remember seeing a list somewhere that had all of the architects that were currently in elected office... but i can't seem to find it... there are actually quite a few... as chaos said way up top, the aia newsletter keeps track of architects running for office at all levels...
in florida we recently had a state senator that was an architect... but he just got term-limited out... a few mayors ago, the mayor of st. petersburg was an architect...
Aug 1, 07 11:25 am ·
·
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political architects
recently saw a lecture stating the coutry would be better off if architects were more actively engaged in higher level politics. i don't subscribe to that viewpoint. however, i'm pretty sure when it comes to local issues, especially on the built environement, architects may be representin' more than most groups.
beyond jefferson, jack johnson and karl rove, what other architects have dabbled in politics?
in seattle, victor steinbrueck followed by his son, who supposedly IS in fact an architect.
i'm beginning. earned a concurrent degree in political science while getting my barch. in the 6 years it took to do this i met one other person who was doing the same and understood why.
it led to a position on one of the state boards for the AIA where i met a large number of architects who had been actively involved in politics for years. none of them had run for office, but they were in the background influencing policy at all levels.
check out the AIA's website. they also include in one of their newsletters that come out weekly architects that are running for public office and architects that are currently in public office.
we really need to get more involved. building is incredibly political.
Eutropia, Helena, and Constantine
They did a lot more than dabble; their architecture and urbanism shifted the whole paradigm of the Roman Empire.
That Karl Rove being an architect thing has to be some kind of tounge and cheek joke as how the media keeps refering to him as the architect. I had go wikipedia that to make sure he wasn't an arch student at one point, thanks for scaring the s*** out of me holz.
But on another note, Richard Rogers is quite political about Israel-Palestine, and he damn near lost an NYC comission because of it. Peter Eisenman is apparently a self-described uber-conservative and a supporter of the Republican Party as well, but he says he leaves his politics out of his architecture.
excuse me, tounge-in-cheek, before somebody calls me on it
I plan to take on the world, get prepared.
Who knew that Eisenman is a closeted Republican? Did Derrida know about this?
I remember an AIAS lecture a couple years back where an architect in NC was mayor. He might be what you consider, political.
I remember reading somewhere that Rem does not want to go into politics. But "Content" is one of the most highly political books (or magazine) that I have read.
every click of the mouse is political...
"Who knew that Eisenman is a closeted Republican? Did Derrida know about this?
I remember an AIAS lecture a couple years back where an architect in NC was mayor. He might be what you consider, political."
I think that was Harvey Gantt-he was mayor of Charlotte, NC and he came close to winning the Senate race one year-if it wasnt for Jesse Helms playing dirty and airing a blatantly racist ad about affirmative action that scared white voters, Gantt (who is black) very well might have been the first black Southern US Senator since Reconstruction.
Maurice Cox is another black architect, I think he teaches @UVA and he was mayor of Charlottesville, VA for a while.
I wish more architects would run for office-it would be cool to have an architect in the Senate-God knows there are enough lawyers and it would be cool to have a voice at that level when there are discussions about infrastructure, transportation funding, arts funding, etc. Moynihan was good for that, but he's dead now.
As for Eisenman, I remember seeing him at a talk where he discussed the Arizona Cardinals stadium and he claimed that people in politically conservative areas like Phoenix seem to be more open to progressive design like his work, which caused a little anger among some of the people in the room. I had no idea that he was a Republican-he might just be saying that to rile people up though.
that is the impression i got from his archinect interview (which i like)
same with koolhaas doing "mies"...just to position himself separate from the blob community...you know, swing the pendulum the opposite way.
Maurice Cox came to mind, too. I would like to someday be involved in local politics, as well. I always wanted to get my masters in polysci rather than arch. but then i couldn't get hired to teach studios, so i'm still trying to figure that one out.
myriam...you can teach a class called "architecture and politics: y'all know it's about power"
the thesis of the class can be "design is worthless without power to execute it"
ha ha ha, not a bad idea... how about: "you already know you've got the best brain combo on earth, now put it to use and save the world already, dummy"
you might alienate students by calling them dummies...remember you want to brainwash them and be the allies to your cause...hah
Maurice Cox was who I was trying to name drop.
"i don't subscribe to that viewpoint"
Why not?! I believe architects have very broad perspectives due to the nature of the beast. Not many other professionals or politicians can wax poetic on philosophy, sociology, art, or business. Maybe I just have this utopian of architects, but I think we have our shit together.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8057640610707158722&q=tvshow%3ACharlie_Rose+Thom+Mayne&hl=en
Check out the last ten minutes. Thom could be a politician but he would piss everyone off.
I could see how "classic conservatives", i.e. "classical liberals/libertarians" may acutally be more open to design than people with more socialist leanings. In that sense of the word Ariziona, as home to Barry Goldwaterism, should be full of awesome architecture. Shame it ain't so, besides what the indians built into canyon walls and whatnot.
I do remeber going to this one discussion on the state of black architects and "black architecture"(like there's a different kind) in American Architectural Practice, and there was a board of about five black architects/critics, one of whom tought at Cooper Union and was extremely political and sometimes hopelessly/humorously misinformed. He made very passionate statements about certain political issues that imo, were hugely divergent from the truth, like how Atlanta is "the most racist city in the union", despite the fact that its leadership is practically all black, and has been that way since the late 60s, not to mention the fact that black people are in the majority in many parts of downtown and the immediate suburbs. He made some good points here and there, and the audience got riled up at/with alot of the things he said.
Architecture, to me, is an inherently politcial profession and it tends to attract all sorts of political visionaries.
In my experience it is more often the case in small town politics, where city building and community development are a huge percentage of the city politics, I often see the relationship and the impact someone could have on a small community. I have considered it but also feel I would be in a conflict at least once a month with our own office work.
I think everyone should be actively engaged in higher level politics
Apurimac.... "Barry Goldwaterism"? Why can't I get away from Barry Goldwater references anywhere? He seems to come up everywhere these days. I'm going to blaim it on John McCain.
Anyway, I was listening to KCRW this morning, and it's pledge drive time, and this morning Thom Mayne was doubling pledges. Was a bit suprised at first but then thought, "Hey, why not?"
"Currently, some 115 architects hold either elected or
appointed public office, all at the state and local level.
Of these, 7 are mayors, 10 are council members, and 6
are state representatives or senators."
http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/Architects%20as%20Advocates.pdf
Sorry rationalist, olddirty opened the door about arizona politics and I had to just walk through it.
Richard Swett is an Architect, former ambassador, and former congressman.
Leadership by Design
DesignIntelligence articles
Indianastan may soon have an architect governor, if Jim Schellinger wins.
i remember seeing a list somewhere that had all of the architects that were currently in elected office... but i can't seem to find it... there are actually quite a few... as chaos said way up top, the aia newsletter keeps track of architects running for office at all levels...
in florida we recently had a state senator that was an architect... but he just got term-limited out... a few mayors ago, the mayor of st. petersburg was an architect...
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