The Architect’s Soapbox: 10 Controversial Quotes From the Profession in 2015

“98% of what gets built and designed today is pure shit.”

Frank Gehry took the award for the most remarkable quote of 2014, when his sharp-toothed retort to a Spanish journalist caused an entire profession to look itself in the proverbial mirror. Even the most outspoken architects would have a tough time rising to that level of controversy this year, but many came close. Here, we present a collection of the most memorable excerpts from interviews with renowned figures from the world of architecture throughout 2015. Make sure to hit the links provided for the full story behind each of these verbal fireworks …

Via Central Park Sydney

“The contempt shown over the past two years for architecture, for the profession of the architect and for me as the architect … prohibits me from being there on opening night and thereby expressing my approval of, and satisfaction with, an architectural structure that wavers between fakery and sabotage.”

Jean Nouvelon the acrimonious opening of his Philharmonie Concert Hall in Paris, March 2015, Architizer. Read the full story here.

Via CNN

“I’ll be honest, it’s very difficult explaining things to men. It’s virtually impossible. The older generation in my office thinks they know everything better than anyone. The younger generation are much more flexible and adaptable.”

Zaha Hadid on working with people in her office, March 2015, Architizer. Read the full story here.

“If you want an easy life, don’t be an architect. Ask anybody in my office. You have to work all the time. If you want a nine-to-five job and to go home and relax, just don’t do it.”

Zaha Hadid on the frustrations of practicing architecture, March 2015, Architizer. Read the full story here.

Via Gallery Hip

“These expos have become huge shows designed merely to attract millions of tourists … What a bore and a waste of money and resources!”

Jaques Herzog on the Milan Expo, March 2015, Uncube Magazine.

Via Experimental Architecture Biennial

“To criticize iconic buildings and the hype around star architects as superficial is an all-too-easy point-scoring, which usually misses the point … The denunciation of architectural icons and stars is itself superficial and ignorant.”

Patrik Schumacher on architectural critics, April 2015, Facebook.

“Contemporary architecture ceased to exist, the discipline’s guilt and bad conscience has sapped its vitality, driven it to self-annihilation, and architects have now en masse dedicated themselves to doing good via basic social work.”

Patrik Schumacher on the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial, October 2015, Facebook.

Via Dezeen

“I think most architects are in fact not architects, because most buildings are drawings which are filled in by engineers trying to achieve the drawing of the architect.”

Furniture designer Piet Hein Eek on architects and construction, November 2015, Dezeen.

Via Animal New York

“Architecture is a field of repression. You repress almost everything to produce a building. Everything is repressed because it has to fit into the context, it has to appeal to clients; it has to be normal.”

Daniel Libeskind on risk aversion within contemporary practice, November 2015, The Roca London Gallery.

Via YouTube

“This museum only costs two military bombers, air fighters … The problem in criticizing why this museum costs so much is that, [unlike] the air fighters, this museum cannot kill people.”

Wolf Prix on the Musée des Confluences, December 2015, Architizer. Read the full story here.

Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi; via Architizer

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

AIA Gold Medal winner Denise Scott-Brown on the challenge of architectural practice, December 2015, Architizer. Read the full story here.

Author: Paul Keskeys

Paul Keskeys is Editor in Chief at Architizer. An architect-trained editor, writer and content creator, Paul graduated from UCL and the University of Edinburgh, gaining an MArch in Architectural Design with distinction. Paul has spoken about the art of architecture and storytelling at many national industry events, including AIANY, NeoCon, KBIS, the Future NOW Symposium, the Young Architect Conference and NYCxDesign. As well as hundreds of editorial publications on Architizer, Paul has also had features published in Architectural Digest, PIN—UP Magazine, Archinect, Aesthetica Magazine and PUBLIC Journal.

The Architect’s Soapbox: 10 Controversial Quotes From the Profession in 2015

“I’ll be honest, it’s very difficult explaining things to men. It’s virtually impossible. The older generation in my office thinks they know everything better than anyone. The younger generation are much more flexible and adaptable.”

“If you want an easy life, don’t be an architect. Ask anybody in my office. You have to work all the time. If you want a nine-to-five job and to go home and relax, just don’t do it.”

“These expos have become huge shows designed merely to attract millions of tourists … What a bore and a waste of money and resources!”

“To criticize iconic buildings and the hype around star architects as superficial is an all-too-easy point-scoring, which usually misses the point … The denunciation of architectural icons and stars is itself superficial and ignorant.”

“Contemporary architecture ceased to exist, the discipline’s guilt and bad conscience has sapped its vitality, driven it to self-annihilation, and architects have now en masse dedicated themselves to doing good via basic social work.”

“I think most architects are in fact not architects, because most buildings are drawings which are filled in by engineers trying to achieve the drawing of the architect.”

“Architecture is a field of repression. You repress almost everything to produce a building. Everything is repressed because it has to fit into the context, it has to appeal to clients; it has to be normal.”

“This museum only costs two military bombers, air fighters … The problem in criticizing why this museum costs so much is that, [unlike] the air fighters, this museum cannot kill people.”

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

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“I’ll be honest, it’s very difficult explaining things to men. It’s virtually impossible. The older generation in my office thinks they know everything better than anyone. The younger generation are much more flexible and adaptable.”

“If you want an easy life, don’t be an architect. Ask anybody in my office. You have to work all the time. If you want a nine-to-five job and to go home and relax, just don’t do it.”

“These expos have become huge shows designed merely to attract millions of tourists … What a bore and a waste of money and resources!”

“To criticize iconic buildings and the hype around star architects as superficial is an all-too-easy point-scoring, which usually misses the point … The denunciation of architectural icons and stars is itself superficial and ignorant.”

“Contemporary architecture ceased to exist, the discipline’s guilt and bad conscience has sapped its vitality, driven it to self-annihilation, and architects have now en masse dedicated themselves to doing good via basic social work.”

“I think most architects are in fact not architects, because most buildings are drawings which are filled in by engineers trying to achieve the drawing of the architect.”

“Architecture is a field of repression. You repress almost everything to produce a building. Everything is repressed because it has to fit into the context, it has to appeal to clients; it has to be normal.”

“This museum only costs two military bombers, air fighters … The problem in criticizing why this museum costs so much is that, [unlike] the air fighters, this museum cannot kill people.”

“What would my advice to a new architect be? Think again! If you really have to do it, then give it everything you’ve got.”

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