Orchids & Onions

On Tuesday, August 19th, this year's O&O Co-Chairs Maxine Ward, AIA and David Preciado, ASLA were joined by last year's O&O Co-Commentator and Urban Planner Howard Blackson on the KPBS radio show These Days, hosted by Tom Fudge. Click here to have a listen.

This version of the Hippocratic oath for architects was created by Edward Lifson, host of Hello Beautiful, a weekly radio show on arts, architecture and culture on Chicago Public Radio. The oath was first published in 2006, but for those of you who haven't seen it before, give it a read.

 

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won gains of those great architects in whose steps I walk.
I will apply, for the benefit of all, all measures which are required, avoiding the traps of overbuilding and blocking too much sunlight and fresh air.

I will remember that there is art to architecture and cities, as well as profit,
and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh an extra story or two in a project.

I will insist on using quality materials and seek quality craftmanship, I build for the ages.

Most especially must I tread with care in matters of tall buildings, for these have great effect and are seen by all; and in civic buildings, for these are for all the people.

I will not be ashamed to say "I don't think we should build there," or "I don't think we should tear that down," or, "wouldn't that be better as a public square or a park?," nor will I fail to call my colleagues on the carpet when they accept a commission that shows disrespect to tradition or to the citizenry.

I will not fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a project.

If I've not clear ideas or strong talents, let me not obfuscate truth with "archi-speak." Those who do should only teach, and never build.

If it is given me to build a private residence for a wealthy person, all thanks, may I resist the urge to soak 'em. May I also resist the urge to involve my friends in the profits.

It may also be within my power to help the less fortunate. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those of pure mind and body as well as those with political connections.

Above all, I must not do like many in my profession - you've seen the Modernists? the Brutalists? Do not play at god!

May I resist temptation to design or put my name on, tea-kettles, bird houses, and pasta spoons.

I will remember that I do not build a single building, but that the landscape and the lighting and the space around the building, indeed the polis as a whole - is connected. My responsibility includes all related issues, such as transportation, and sustainability, if I am to care adequately for the population.

I will preserve and ennoble nature whenever I can, for I think that I shall never see a steel and glass skyscraper lovely as a tree.

May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of those in my buildings, even when they can't find parking nearby, or the elevators break, the plumbing leaks, property taxes or heating costs go up, or an esteemed colleague builds something next door and blocks their beautiful view.

May I have the right to not have to live in one of my own buildings.

Were I given good fortune to live to 98 years, may I know when to stop designing.

If I do not violate this oath, may I be respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I design my own tomb (if no one else will.)

Until then, may I enjoy life, art, dry martinis, designer eyeglasses and Italian shoes.

The financials for the two City Hall development proposals were released yesterday. Portland based Gerding Edlen's numbers came in lower than Hines.

Check out the UT story here with links to the city's slideshow explaining the financials. 

Before anyone had a chance to get their head around the numbers, today Hines withdrew their proposal. Hines stated that "While we remain confident in the strength of our proposal, it is clear that the initial analysis conducted in this process does not favor our approach."

See the UT story here with links to the Hines press release.

Also interesting was the CityBeat story this week about how San Diego seems to be destined to repeat mistakes of the ultra conservative past that gave us the original City Administration Building. So non-descript that they were not even willing to call it City Hall.  It features many quotes from SDAF board member Mike Stepner. In the early ’60s, he said, “we did not have the understanding then that we were building a civic center, a facility that represented who we are and what we aspire to be as a community. And good design doesn’t cost more!”    Let's hope this message gets through this time.

 Read the CityBeat story here.

 

The Irish, the San Diegans and the Scots have something in common.

We are all are able to register our approval of excellent new architecture.

Architecture Scotland are on a quest to find the best buildings in Scotland, as voted for by viewers of their website. Check it out here.

The results of the poll will be announced in October and will be included in the published annual Architecture Scotland 2008.

How do the nominated Scottish buildings compare with the San Diego nominations on our website?

 

The Port of San Diego has selected 3 design teams to make proposals for the illumination of the Coronado Bridge. They are the Bideau Company of Ballan-Mire, France; the Peter Fink team of London, UK; and the team of Ned Kahn/ Patrick McInerney Associates/ Jason Edling of California.

No images have been released yet. Full design proposals from each of the teams are due at the end of the year when public presentations will be scheduled.

For more information click here

For more information on the design teams, check out their websites:

Bideau Company

Peter Fink

Ned Kahn

Patrick McInerney

Jason Edling with Arup