What the Mayor said

There are two very old professions that are not respected, generally, by Australian society. One profession is often called the oldest, the other has changed and widened to make its practitioners experts in the increasingly complex and multi-faceted aspects of the entire environment.

Take a recent council meeting. A project by came up for consideration by an internationally famous award winning firm of architects, whose work is published widely. No less than the Mayor said to in front of the forum to the project architect, “I’m not an architect, but I’m sure you can do much better.” This mayor went on to make some general aspersions regarding architects, especially a comment that they didn't compromise. We were quite concerned as we had a project before this same Council.

I was so astounded the next day that I contacted the project architect. From them I learnt they had spent over a year compromising with client requirements, site issues, neighbour objections and they had managed to actually comply with council guidelines. In fact the Mayor had been present at one site meeting where they had come to an agreement in a compromise.

This statement by that Mayor in the context shows more than a lack of appreciation of the work that goes into excellent design in difficult urban sites, it shows a lack of respect. That this comment came from an attitude rather than the specifics of the case was evident, unless the Mayor had a faulty memory. These statements were made in a public arena, to the people by an elected representative of the people, regarding the work of an internationally acclaimed architect.

Our society may respect generally the personal integrity of architects, and surveys say they do, but it is clear it does not respect the skills they have. Why train the best young minds for over ten years to solve complex problems when their society thinks anyone can tell them how do their job?