This essay examines the role of the architect in contemporary society, aiming to be critical and, even more so, combative. Grounded in a deep understanding of the profession's history, the author seeks lessons from the past to illuminate paths for the architect of the future. It addresses not only the individual but also the collective, operating on the belief that opportunities for professional corporatism still remain.
The reasons for many of today's adversities are traced back to the still-prevalent Vitruvian legacy, to shifts in direction that occurred under totalitarian regimes, or to the persistence of Enlightenment-era practices from when the ancient craft evolved into a modern profession. Furthermore, however painful it may be, the author warns against common ideas currently taking root in schools—paradigms sought as lifelines that, in their view, are nothing more than almost invariably pernicious siren songs.
