architecture has a huge problem that no one talks about...
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- let's talk about the prevalent issue of big egos in the architecture industry, examining its negative impact on collaboration, client satisfaction, and project outcomes. What are some of the root causes and consequences of ego-driven behavior?? I haven't seen this problem addressed but hope we can strive for a future where humility and creativity prevail in architectural practice.
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QOTD: did you ever experience in work or in school someone w a large ego? Was it a studio professor? Was it a boss? Let me know about your experiences!
Yes I’ve reflected on the ego problem in architecture, and how it can be fostered in the education. However I think that ego can create the delusion that you are making a good design that is not, just because you think to yourself how great you are, and so while it may seem to be rewarded, it can also lead to bad designs. Ive caught myself doing this and I meditate to keep myself in check. I can also be a difference between ego and genuine confidence. I’m not sure western ideology at large understands what ego even is.
I work with architects quite a bit and I've honestly never picked up on any ego, same with structural engineers. Maybe I just haven't ran into the wrong ones, but the ones I deal with are some of the nicest people. Great video ❤
that's awesome that you never have encountered! Speaking from experience, at some firms I do see it a LOOTT and other firms not so much! I definitely saw so many profs too in grad school with such inflated egos.
BUT!! hopefully you keep working with the "nice" and "right" ones - there are so many good ones out there(: And let's hope we can all make that the basic standard too - cheers!
I just finished watching your video, and I gotta say, it's refreshing to see someone tackling the ego issue in architecture head-on.
Those star architects like Gehry and Hadid - their confidence and bold visions were kind of a product of their times. It wasn't just ego. The whole cultural and technological context back then played a huge part in shaping their work. It's complex and maybe not just about personal egos.
And the thing about architectural education being super competitive - I get where you're coming from, but isn't some level of competition good? It pushes for better ideas and innovation. The trick is finding the right balance between competing and working together. Overall, great video, and it's a super important discussion.
I've stumbled upon your video and it sparks an important conversation that should be discussed more. There are good points about the architect's ego and architecture school environment that definitely have room for improvement. However, the architect's ego affects the work environment and the project is surprisingly only a handful compared to how many people are working in the architectural design field. Not that it is not important or we shouldn't talk about ego in the field but the nuance of generalization of egotistic architects is a bit scary. I think if we talk generally, some more architects and designers work collaboratively and harmoniously to achieve clients' and communities' goals.
Not all but many young architects and designers learn the skills and design techniques while they work under someone/master and that could be one of the reasons why some starchitects with a horrible office environment survive, which leads to the rumors and facts roaming through students and peers. Additionally, usually, negative rumors and facts travel more often and further between people. How many times have you heard from other designers and architects telling how wonderful their office or firm is.
The competitive school environment also is more provoked due to the fear and worry that students compare themselves with their peers rather than the ego of the professors. The ego of the professor could affect more on each student's ability to learn and think of their own design development. Maybe some professors could ultimately encourage their students to compete with each other in the end but the final people who create that environment is the student body themselves. This is not an easy thing to change but like your video when people start to talk more about the studio culture and the architecture field, I guess it is the start.
There is no right answer to this "problem" because our experiences are so vastly different. I come from a school where people were yes very competitive yet collaborative with one another. You might be coming from a school where your peers were more competitive than the other years. That is why your video is a good starting point to share and talk about the different experiences and create a collaborative think tank to improve the field overall. Thank you! I've enjoyed the video and keep up the good work!
It is exactly what I am suffering from at work . Even when I see unrealistic and illogical design proposals for projects that dont align with the client vision and needs i cannot say anything because of this « ego » problem…
Thank you for this video .
Nat is back! LETS GO
HI ERIC!!!!!!!
your video essays are always so intresting, thought-provoking, unique. I like that you bring the attention of your audience in topics that are not discussed enough
thank you! I try to! Let me know if there's a topic you'd like to be covered on the channel.
the school which i study architecture in, there's only one person of my ethnicity other than me and he's my senior..
and tell you what, he ignores me like i'm some kind of an outsider..
if a person of my own ethnicity can do that in this field.. then you can guess the rest.
A few thoughts:
Isn't architecture inherently amplifying egotism or how this is experienced? Architects have, by definition, a LOT of power. They are granted the power to define the physical space we live in. That means that the citizens both depend and rely on them which is a cause for a lot of distrust. It goes without saying that the architect's state of mind is influenced by that judgement. It often leads to that egotism is being projected on the architect by the citizens and the architect responding to it in a toxic way. So it's a two-way street.
I sense that we get to deal with that also in architecture school but it's not often referred to as such. We basically learn how to convince clients and politicians without meaning to inflate our egos but may do so as an unintended side effect. Other professions have similar issues but they are less impactful because they don't take place in the public realm. It should also be considered that the design process is not one-dimensional. It's a complicated operation and delicate power struggle between a diverse company of clients, politicians and consultants, each with their own agenda. In that process, the architect is just one aspect.
In reality, I sense that most architects are quite humble. They obediently do what the client wants without any ego getting in the way. But, hey, we are experts and for that reason you hired us, so don't ignore our good intended advice. Expect a bit of pushback. And once in a while, expect of us to do something out of the blue to shake up your dull lives, right?
And then there is the gap between 'normal' architects and the 1% 'starchitects'. I think that of the latter, it's basically expected to show more ego. Creating great projects requires great minds. I do sense that great architects, just like great authors and painters, have bigger egos but because of the mechanism mentioned above, this often spills out into the public realm. A book is often only read by a few. A painting is often only seen by a few and both remain quiet in the privacy of the home, the library or a gallery/museum. But a building is out there for everyone to see, dominating the city and reshaping its face, that, apparently, virtually 'belongs' to all of the city's citizens. It is public by nature (at least from the outside). These projects are supposed to be masterpieces, no matter how flawed they are functionally or otherwise (the totally useless 'Vessel' in New York comes to mind). So is it fair to blame the starchitect to actually do what he was requested to do? It goes without saying that the architect's state of mind is influenced by that judgement.
Couldn't agree more with this. The Royal Ontario Museum "Crystal" addition by Liebiskind is another example of an ego driven, "signature" style project that was completely impractical and ignored the needs of the museum. It was also ugly and turned out to look like all of his other "signature" designs.
Now, just 17 years after its completion a 150 million dollar redo by a local design firm is underway. It was obvious from the beginning that the Crystal was a bad design but the lead donor wanted something fancy looking.
Hope you get more views on this video!
I am joining architecture school soon in 2025 and watched your 5 videos back to back. It boggled my mind
Oh man! Hope things were not discouraging for you I know this video is a bit raw. It is a cool major and a good time. But I do truly believe in being transparent online! So just wanted to share my take on the ego!
as an architect , my "peers" are insufferable and incompetent at designing something that is pretty or functional
Great points! I think the two most vital conversations addressed here is competition among students, and unprofessional behavior by faculty and architects.
1. I think the conversation about competition among students is tough to have because students play a part in propagating this competitive environment. I found that students are afraid to look inferior to their classmates so they feel a pressure to work hard. Some professors encourage competition but I don't think its as common as students trying to not look bad compared to their classmates. Architecture has a unique problem where you have to present your work publicly. I think this makes students feel pressure to meet the standard of top students in the class. It is difficult to see a solution to this besides helping students become more confident in their own work so they don't compare their own work with others. As a student, you must learn to not compare your work with the work of your classmates even if that is difficult. It will save you a lot of stress. Of course professors can help by not grading on a curve. Profs should clearly outline what it takes to get various grades so this dumb competitive shit isn't made worse.
2. My opinion about ego is that it needs to stay out of the workplace. It seems that many professors forget that university is their workplace which means it comes with professional standards. They can be so casual and rude sometimes. The reason why professors and architects often engage in such behavior is due to the concentration of power that they poses. As you and I have seen, there is virtually no recourse for inappropriate behavior by professors unless it gets REALLY egregious. We need administrators who are actually willing to support students over professors but in many programs, this doesn't exist.
Hey David(-:
Regarding the competitiveness among students, you're right. It's such a complex dynamic where both external pressures and internal insecurities contribute. The fear of appearing inferior and the constant comparison with peers indeed fosters a stressful environment. (I know I am guilty of this myself.) I agree that fostering confidence in one's own work is crucial to mitigating this issue! But I also believe that sometimes extra encouragement from professors (who sometimes create habits of keeping students down) really helps. I do believe by setting clear grading criteria can help alleviate this unnecessary sense of competition and promote a more collaborative atmosphere - which is needed! It's essential for professors to recognize their role in shaping this environment and to actively work towards creating a supportive and inclusive studio culture.
And to your second about ego and unprofessional behavior among faculty and architects: The power dynamics at play often exacerbate this issue, leaving students feeling powerless to address inappropriate conduct. (I think we've shared conversations about this in the past!) Administrators play a crucial role in upholding professional standards and ensuring accountability, and you don't always see this at universities. It's incredibly disheartening when students feel unsupported in such situations, highlighting the need for systemic changes within academic institutions to prioritize the well-being and professional development of students. I think Phil in pro prac did a great job having these conversations talking about systemic changes to be had in school, but at the same time, there seemed to be limited action.
By having open communication and really ADVOCATING for a culture of respect and accountability are PARAMOUNT. Otherwise this cycle will just continue indefinitely. Thank you for your comment
The most thing I hate about architecture are the long hours, it is so bad that I can’t even begin to explain , it’s so normal that they think you are lazy or crazy if you mention that you want to leave on time
i just left work on time yesterday and my boss texted me later stating that my work "hasn't broken me in yet." and that "she's on structural engineering hours... but not for long" like??!?
I liked your video overall, but I think the problem with the architects' inflated egos is mostly a starchitect phenomenon that is a common thing in the profession. Keep up with the great work
Unfortunately, there are also students who will perpetuate that dynamic. I have experienced multiple peers that fit that exact category, and they tend to be the most exhausting people to cooperate with. They either load others with undue work or do all the work themselves, leaving others with little experience of their own.
Touching Revit makes everyone feel like a god 😇
Hi, if you could go back, would you continue with architecture?
Hi, if you could go back, would you continue with architecture?
Wow amazing content
Worldwide problem 😅
Am an architect and unfortunately that’s a fact.
can you talk about islamic architecture :)