A seemingly never-ending debate exists regarding the authority of architects to dictate design decisions to the wider public. Given that it is those people who will ultimately inhabit and live with the structures we create, what right do we have to tell them what\u2019s good for them? Is our lengthy architectural education enough to negate their lay perspective, assuming they will trust in our professional judgment, specialist knowledge, and theoretical standpoints? Do we really know best?<\/p>\n
Of course, the optimists among us will be confident that our thorough education and subsequent years of professional experience puts architects in the best position possible to shape the built environment for the benefit of society. However, simply producing great designs is not enough. The clear communication of these concepts is critical to winning the support of our clients, local residents, city councils, and the public at large.<\/p>\n
Zaha Hadid<\/a>\u2019s loss of the 2020 Olympic Stadium commission in Tokyo was a notable example of what can happen if we fail to convince each and every one of these influential parties. On the flip side, the collaborative effort undertaken by James Corner Field Operations<\/a> and Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/a> to realize the High Line<\/a> goes to show how popular a project can become with the help of ongoing dialogue and input from the local community.<\/p>\n So, what can architects do to enhance their powers of persuasion? Here are five firms that utilize different mediums to communicate their ideas, sometimes to individual clients \u2014 and occasionally to a much larger audience.<\/p>\n BIG\u2019s diagrams for West 57th, the Meatpacking District, New York City<\/i><\/p>\n Bjarke Ingels has developed a sterling reputation as an architectural storyteller, and his firm is particularly well-known for its diagrams, which aim to promote clarity and remove pretension<\/b> from the design process. A great example is the graphic sequence used to explain the pyramidal shape of the West 57th apartment building<\/a> in Manhattan.<\/p>\n By now, you will no doubt have seen at least one of the studio\u2019s step-by-step model manipulations. The simple, Sketchup-style<\/a> renderings are easy to understand, giving clients and the wider public a clear idea of BIG\u2019s project development. While they can sometimes appear formulaic, the diagrams have caught on as an accessible communication device, and dozens of firms have adopted the medium.<\/p>\n Richard Meier Model Museum, courtesy Richard Meier and Partners<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n We recently reported on the power of models<\/a> to bring design concepts to life, as Allied Works Architecture<\/a> prepare to display theirs for all to see in a major new exhibition in Denver. Another firm to harness three dimensions more than most is Richard Meier and Partners, which now has an entire museum dedicated to models of some of its most famous creations, including detailed renditions of the iconic Neugebauer Residence<\/a> and Smith House<\/a>.<\/p>\n By allowing people to get up close and personal<\/b> to these finely crafted works of timber veneer, Meier gives everyone a chance to get under the proverbial skin of each project, and it is safe to say that the clients are much more swiftly convinced of an architect\u2019s intentions when they lay their eyes on these miniature masterpieces.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
1. Diagrams by BIG<\/a><\/h2>\n
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2. Models by Richard Meier and Partners<\/a><\/h2>\n