Architecture and Labor

 


Architecture and Labor: a collage response to the TEDx Talk by Peggy Deamer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joD3ksS3FjQ

    The above collage compares conventional architectural practices from the 20th century to the progressed practices of the 21st century. "Design isn't work"(Peggy Deamer). The 20th century setup looks at the traditional building method, where the owner has a separate contractual relationship with both the architect and the contractor. The architect spends most of his time researching and designing to meet the requirements of the project while staying within budget. However, most of that work will remain visible to the owner and contractor, and as a product of basic services, the architect will provide a set of drawings(manuals) of the building to the owner. The owner then distributes those documents to the contractor to use as the guide for construction. In this scenario, almost all the design is done by the architects, which is undervalued because of the invisible components that guided the design process all the way through. Besides, the 2D drawings are not easy to understand for the general public. 

    The progression of the 21st century, mostly due to computerization and software development, is challenging and reconstructing the conventional ways of construction. Through parametric design and or Building Information modeling (BIM), architects can share design responsibilities with the owner and contractor from the early stages of design. The main idea is to have a 3D model shared amongst the owner, trades, and disciplines that can have their access and input for the building design while being able to visualize the overall project for better understanding and filtering errors that may occur during the actual construction. This method has the potential to increase the value of architecture, simply because of the clarity of visualization that may highlight aspects of design that may have been invisible to the owner before. Therefore, BIM, parametric and algorithmic design can shift the money towards the designer, because of the savings achieved through efficiency, safety, and time schedule. 


Questions:

  • What is architectural work?
    Architectural work is to provide services such as drafting and model making for clients who can use the product as a manual for the construction of a building. To produce the product, however, the architect spends most of his time researching and conceptualizing to meet the client's needs.

  • How has building information modeling (BIM) transformed architectural practice?
    BIM transformed architectural practice by revolutionizing the conventional client-architect & client-contractor relationship. It helps to keep a visual track of development and allows trades to use their expertise to increase the efficiency of the final product(the building).

  • What is “work-aphasia” according to Dean Deamer?
    She refers to the failure of conceptualizing architects' work as work. 


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