Comments on: So, Brad Pitt wants to be an architect?

By: Anthony Matthews

Anthony Matthews — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:28:41 +0000

I would just like to make a point Tadao Ando never studied architecture he learned by travelling the world, he learned by him self, so if Brad Pitt not aloud to do architecture without studying it then why should Tadao Ando. my point here is he not designing the buildings he funding them and helping a lot of people and it something he interested in. if he wants to open an architectural studio then let him do it, as longs as their people their who have got degrees etc then they can support each other. he cant call himself and architect but he could call himself art director or something

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:17:08 +0000

“you say potato, i say potato, you say tomato, i say tomato” :)

By: pauldada

pauldada — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:41:18 +0000

And who knows what he might himself bring forth from that amateur’s passion and vastish wealth? We working professionals have a stake in having paid our dues, in schooling and internship and the abusive wage exploitation we practice on one another. But we need to keep in mind that sometimes lightning does strike, despite lack of training or life experience or apparent competence. Think of Maya Lin, a teenager in an undergraduate architecture studio, receiving a ‘Pass’ grade for her design for the Vietnam Vets’ Memorial.

By: pauldada

pauldada — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:15:49 +0000

Don’t we all like Tadao Ando? The guy was a boxer! (Must have driven Charlie Gwathmey nuts.)

I think Brad Pitt is a lot of fun, and as one of those award-deficient professionals derided above I can’t raise any rancor over his pulling the limelight away from the actual designers of the projects of which he’s been a patron. He may even believe he contributed immensely to the process; God knows most of my clients do. That ego gratification is part of what they’re paying for, so why not indulge a simpleminded pleasure?

In an actor’s case, no matter what his/her personal modesty about other artistic gifts might prefer, his PR apparat and the insistent deification practiced by the celebrity media have to overwhelm it: that’s their job. His ‘collaborators’ can only cultivate their good nature in the face of that fact. We all know as architects that the knack for tactical sublimation of our own ego is a necessary part of the toolkit, and anyway, the overall record of ‘starchitects’ from FLlW and LC forward suggests that fame does not become us.

I’ve had wellknown showbiz personalities among my clients, even Oscar winners, and they tend to be difficult people. Most of them had no interest to spare for any part of the design process. By that comparison Brad Pitt might be a delight to work with, delusions of competence and all.

By: Allison Kendrick, MD

Allison Kendrick, MD — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:05:44 +0000

Haven’t really read what other people are saying, but I assume most of it is castigation for Brad’s interest in architecture without formal education. First of all, most ingenious thinkers refute traditional means of eduction.

I’m not saying Brad is a genious. I’m saying he is a man who appreciates this art, so let him keep doing to in peace. Art is intimate. And the when it isn’t, because the person who is choosing to love a given piece and who also happens to be famous, who are you to stop him from continuing to enjoy something that you also love? Also, you can’t deny that he has taste and that he could only elevate public opinion. So quit bitching about him because he can lend social acceptance to your art. I live in Texas, and if I see one more orange stone box mansion with stars embedded in them I’ll vomit.

Allison

I live in Austin, Tx, and if I have to see one more garrish box home made out of disgusting brown-orange stone I will vomit.

Support this man! He has many talents, and some of them can work to your advantage!

Allison Kendrick

By: Lilie

Lilie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:26:33 +0000

I’m in schooling to be an architect, it really takes alot of work, it’s not something that anyone can do, but this whole brad pitt thing doesn’t persuade me to not become one anyway.

By: E

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:43:14 +0000

Being published and getting awards are bullshit. If you had actually been a part of the process or seen past winners it’s based on a massive marketing push, not architecture.

By the way, 12% of people feel that made up percentages are very helpful.

By: Mr St.

Mr St. — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:18:04 +0000

You all tell me. What percentage of graduated architects actually have done anything remotely decent? =1%?

What about the others?
1.- Mostly working for that 1% = 30%
2.- Criticizing others projects and working in a burger shop= 5%
3.- Unemployed for been so crap = 5%
4.- Working on their own and making cities look awful = 50%
5.- Government bureaucrats = 9%

And you still believe that going to university and having a silly diploma will make you a good architect or even understand architecture? C’mon, most “architects” as most anything are mediocre and just making a living by undertaking some extensions, refurbishments, or depressed for not having the chance to do something.

It doesn’t matter how you get there. It matters what you do when you are there. Lets judge what you do and not how yo do it.

By the way have anybody here have a published work or an award or even a second prize in a competition? Anything count really. If not can you please stop the bulls…t.

By: E

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:10:48 +0000

“1. Angry that Brad Pitt is bringing attention to architechture (and the type that we like to follow on this blog),

2. Defining an “Architech” as something other than what Merrian-Webster’s does which is: “A: a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction,
B : a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking and,

3. Not willing to take him seriously because he’s an actor or has not trained?

Brad is an artictech. You can debate whether he is good or bad, certified or not but the man is building things (a lot of which I really like).”

Ok, no replace the profession of Architect with Doctor and tell me how rediculous your argument is. People (Architects) are upset because architecture is seen by most people as a hobby (HGTV!). Having someone come in with no training and being hailed as an architect only cheapens the public perception of architecture further. Architecture is not making buildings you like. It has real effects on life on many levels that most people don’t realize and take for granted. Something you realize through a life long journey of education, training, and experience.

Ignorant know-it-alls should make you mad.

By: adamk

adamk — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:50:11 +0000

He always wanted to do architecture…. You know he started out in architecture school in Springfield MO, Dury College before he went on to acting, right? Lets give him some credit for bringing some attention and money to architecture (and social issues). Using his celebrity for common good. Kudos to Brad.

By: Tor

Tor — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:41:48 +0000

So let me get this straight. Some people are:

1. Angry that Brad Pitt is bringing attention to architechture (and the type that we like to follow on this blog),

3. Not willing to take him seriously because he’s an actor or has not trained?

Brad is an artictech. You can debate whether he is good or bad, certified or not but the man is building things (a lot of which I really like). He clearly has the passion and the bug that we all have. Hell, invite him to this forum! I bet he’d love it and may already be a subscriber.

He brings the field postive attention and is spending his own time and money trying to do good.

Thank you Brad.

By: freddy wolf

freddy wolf — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:21:05 +0000

Tomato,like engineering learning architecture is also a long life process.Especially the last few years (with globalization) it’s getting harder and harder due to more and more norms, prescriptions, certificates, … all inherent to the process of building. Actual time I spend in designing a 250m² house is 5%-10% of the total job. This is reality. This is the difference between a ‘real’ architect, who is in control of every aspect and a ‘starchitect’ who makes sketches and coordinate while employees do the rest. Rest of my time for a single project goes to the administration for the urban request (building permit), execution plans, the material and installation prescriptions, wharf reports, details, completions, on site interventions, negotiations with governments, coordination of specialists’ studies (HVAC, energy studies, safety study, …)and meetings with clients, contractors, representatives.

By: Tomato

Tomato — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:05:43 +0000

Just for humour i’ll tell this one, when i was 14 i wanted to become an architect. I had no reason as to why. It didnt happen as i was told my art wasn’t up to scratch. Over the last few years i have started looking in to returning to university to study architecture. With the climate in the auto industry the way it is it may be sooner than i planned. Who knows, maybe i’m a starchitect in the making, not.

By: Tomato

Tomato — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:58:40 +0000

In response to Frddy Wolf, i totally agree with you. The stars get all the praise, the big rewards and notoriety and the workers are underpaid & probably undervalued.
Who’s to say that the starchitects designs are actually their own, it may be somebody else in the team, and without the starchitects name across the design it may never be built.
I must state that i have nothing against architects, its only the starchitect culture that we live in. As an engineer i had to spend years training and am still learning at the tender age of 38.

I’m new to this commenting malarkey and i think its great. Arch Daily, keep it up. Thanks.

By: Abdul Al Hazred

Abdul Al Hazred — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:03:07 +0000

Wow Thanks Freddy Wolf, your text is refreshing. I am fed up with all these architollah being completely overwhelm by B.Pitt PR operation. There are so many “so called architects” that are just advertising building products, playing lego with them and pretending to be designers. You can read them all over the web complaining about starchitects, while they are filling the environment with their junk.

By: freddy wolf

freddy wolf — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:49:33 +0000

We ‘re wandering of here, but everybody seems to forget that starchitects have a gigantic team for them working behind the screens: architects, landscape designers, interior designers, cgi-specialists, modelmakers, project architects, and yes … even engineers … in their own office ! For instance Norman Foster has over a 1.000 employees ! So quit praising only engineers, all employees in those firms have their own indispensable function, from designing a construction detail to making up the specifications texts. And yes, their directors become the starchitects because it seams that they did all the work, forgetting all co-workers (who are also probably underpayed). Further more, it’s not the architects themselves that claim stardom, it ‘s the era with its economical possibilities. (which is slowing down with this crisis) So quit picking on starchitects, they make interesting projects based on interesting contemporary ideas. It’s absolutely normal that we architects are frustrated in not having the same means to develop such projects they do. And it ‘s very understandable to be even more frustrated when we see an actor claiming a professional’s work. It ‘s very cool that he ‘s working for a good cause and it ‘s always refreshing to hear another man’s ideas where a professional often tends to rust. It keeps us focused. News and gossip on famous people always tends to act as as a role model to others; try reading a beauty magazine. Hell, it’s so frustrating when clients try to do your job. But it’s our job to stand out, to act as a professional and to put things like this ‘news’ in perspective.

By: Boris

Boris — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:21:34 +0000

“Aston Martin DB9, glorious deisgn made workable by great engineers, like myself….”

Are all engineers so humble?

By: danielZ

danielZ — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:12:12 +0000

Hey you, esi ole’, i´ll say (making reference to Roger Waters) we are amusing ourselves to death!!!, so architecture might be an artistic GAME scientifically justified based on any kind of experience…..
Talking about Pitt, if he want to do sustainable buildings and also help New Orleans be my guest. There are many famous archs who doesn´t give a sh*t about any of those. I´m already waiting to see the final result of it….

By: E.K. (architect)

E.K. (architect) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:42:01 +0000

And on that reason I don’t believe in Brad Pitt. He maybe is skilled in marketing, has enough money for making private projects, maybe even has some taste in architecture, but this is still too few to be called an architect, education is anyway missing.

But you know, guys, we make him famous already by talking about him here :)) This is exactly what he (and others, who supports that project) wanted :)

By: E.K. (architect)

E.K. (architect) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:37:58 +0000

I partly agree with Tomato, and I already also mentioned in my comment to “Influence in architecture…”, that we all forget WHO helps the stars to become stars, and that none of them would have a chance, if not hundreds of brains, called engineers.
At the same time, Tomato, architect really needs that lasting education, because during it he studies HOW to communicate to engineers. And generally (I cannot say for the whole world, I am Russian and can judge just from own exprerience) a well educated architect is able to develop basic constructive solution for a building. Engineer just develops it further, in details, but general idea comes from architect. It is not that architect comes with a stupid abstract sketch and says to engineer “Now do it!”. He normally comes with exact constructive offer and an engineer either corrects it, or agrees and develops. (by the way, if architects were skilled to do it by themselves, engineers would lose their job, so engineers should be happy, that knowledge of architects has borders :))