Is making federal buildings neoclassical the right path for our future?
I received a letter from the AIA (American
Institute of Architects) last night regarding an executive order mandating
neoclassical architecture to be instituted as the official style for federal
projects over 50 million dollars (in the capital region). I am going to jump
straight to the chase here: this is absurd. Not only does it sound like a bad
idea, but it is a bad idea and I feel like writing about it is just
putting fuel to the fire. Nevertheless, here it goes.
Exactly what style and architecture are should
be common sense, but there is a lack of understanding about what projects
entail in general. So I want to talk a little about what styles are, how they
are meant to be used and what it means for an architect to follow a style for a
project. According to Wikipedia, "an architectural style is characterized by the features that make a building or
other structure notable or historically identifiable. It is a sub-class of
style in the visual arts generally, and most styles in
architecture-related closely to the wider contemporary artistic style. A style
may include such elements as form, method of construction, building materials,
and regional character." In other words, is an accepted series of elements
that visually define a building.
One thing to understand about
vintage modernism as a style is that it is also characterized by clean lines
and flat roofs. Today, modern and contemporary styles have adopted another
theoretical stream. With the birth of postmodernism, the clean lines of the
modernist era were broken leaving various schools of thinking of how to
properly design and put together buildings. I concur with the idea that styles
are a straightjacket to architects that confine all possibilities and
opportunities, as Bjarke Ingles (BIG architect Founder) stated.
As I have mentioned in the
past, thinking of modernism as a state of mind rather than a style gives us the
opportunity to move forward into our future. New construction requires having
new challenges like climate change, sustainability, ever-growing codes, and
advancement in materials and technologies. Architects should be designing new
buildings with all the arsenal of tools that we are presented, not confined by
an executive order to specify that buildings should all look like Roman and
Greek temples. These temples were built for gods and for emperors.
Designing neoclassical styles
and building them correctly can produce beautiful results. However, if the
federal government wants to mandate the public to enforce building neoclassical
designs for their projects, it cannot be done cheaply, as it would be wrong and
out of place. Designing a neoclassical building requires the right team of
architects as well as time and money. But among these, using “real”
materials and not substitutions is crucial, otherwise the buildings will look
not genuine. Architecture today should be placing new layers in history within
the fabric of our cities. Diversity in styles does not diminish the place
making within our communities; on the contrary, they enhance the experience.
Our federal buildings should reflect this future by building smarter projects
that reflect these values.
In conclusion, the worst
architecture a professional can possibly offer the public is design that is
fake. I think it is a mistake to build structures just for the sake of
repeating history. And that is why Habanero Architecture will join the effort
along with the AIA to write a letter to the White House in regards to this
Executive Order.
Quote from a recent AIA email
referring to this Executive Order:
"Architecture should be
designed for the specific communities that it serves, reflecting our rich
nation’s diverse places, thought, culture, and climates. Architects are
committed to honoring our past as well as reflecting our future progress,
protecting the freedom of thought and expression that are essential to
democracy."
Signed --- Sarah Dodge, AIA
Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Relationships.
Joe Lopez
Raleigh, NC
02.05.20
