"we don't need architects"

I've been hearing much about the aparent slow death of architecture (Tafuri's forecast). people have also told me straight in the face there's no need for architects anymore so "why don't(didn't) you do something else" - much like deyi's friend did.

here's a piece of my mind. there is a reason why deyi and i, and everyone we know from school or work, are still in this profession. to me, architecture is not only about now, its not only about a single unit of land or country. it is not about engineering nor is it about politics. architecture is about all of these and more. it is about aesthetics, about planning, about theory, about change, about social needs - all in all it is about spaces, new spaces, existing spaces, solids and voids - the treatment of these spaces in view of all of the above.

"but no architect wants to practice as an engineer. I think the secret of this situation lies in the fact that engineering tends to focus more on specialization while architecture has always aimed at multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches." a.k.a engineering is ... boring?

everyone who has experienced this profession in any way would tell u a different story - the story titled 'what is architecture?'. no matter whose account, a common voice - it is not dying. it will never die. it may be the cause of death though.

i've read in some forum somebody said, "architecture is not going to die, it is just in some weird twighlight zone" - and in a way, i kinda agree. this 'weird twilight zone' i would refer to as, simply, 'post modernism'. if i were living in the late 15th century i would never have thought that the Renaissance would be a transitional stage between the middle ages and the modern age. to put it simply, change does not equate to death unless you're talking about death of the past.

it is not about what your degree can get you after you get it. it is about what you can do with the education you got. an engineering degree can allow you to, in some cases, sign for an architect, but with one you would never be able to do what an architect can do.

so,

next time someone wants to say to an architect, 'you don't need an architecture degree to design buildings', please think twice, thanks.


on another note:

aaron and kelly: see u in melbourne!!!!

yaoks (who is flying off tomorrow): don't forget to turn on the main switch before the 1st feb!! and more importantly - DO NOT forget to come pick me up at the airport!!!!!!!!!!