AIArchitect

by Allan M. Bilka
International Code Council Staff Architect

Green is the mantra of the day and might be for many years to come.
Could it be that we are witnessing the
beginning of a new era in which humans truly recognize their environmental impact and actually take responsibility?

Green evaluation systems, codes, and standards are being created to implement environmental stewardship. But is the architectural community content to sit on the sidelines and watch as others prepare criteria that instruct them on how to make their buildings green? Consider this: Architects may well have the most training and ability of anyone to address green concerns in the built environment.

Fantasy architecture seemed like a good idea for mid-summer reading when we first considered the idea of a theme issue toward the end of spring. Then we got these two letters to the editor. (Incidentally, we don’t typically get letters that say: “Swell job, keep it up!” But these were particularly pugnacious.)

"I wonder why space should be given in your magazine for 'fantasy architecture' when there is so much real architecture out there that does not get published. I love to look at graphic art, such as the drawing shown in AIArchitect, as much as the next person. However, don't we oversimplify the highest form of art when we ignore the complexity of combining aesthetics, science, politics, and finance required to create Architecture—'art to live in'? My personal opinion is that an unbuilt project may be a great piece of art, but does not deserve to be called Architecture."
—Boyd McAllister, AIA, partner
VCBO Architecture, Salt Lake City

"What a stupid waste of my membership money and your time. We are not in college any more!"
—George Dove, FAIA, managing principal
WDG Architecture, Washington, D.C.

Okay, but I remember once asking a firm principal years ago about his exemplary record of volunteering to sit on university crit juries: “Do you bring real-world issues into your criticism, such as buildability and universal accessibility?”

“Of course not,” he said. “Those are things I deal with every day. I do the crits because I want to have fun.”

Well, after having worked on this issue, the entire AIArchitect team agreed, this was fun. And, more than that, it was interesting, informative, and also practical because it does open up trains of thought that very possibly could have real application.

What do you think?