What Questions Do We Ask Ourselves?

Architecture, as both art and activity, raises various questions for us as project authors. What does it take for an architectural project to become a piece of art? Why do we say that architecture is not just creativity but a specific type of activity?

Architects often look to global design experience. Naturally, everyone has their preferences. Some are inspired by Zaha Hadid’s projects, while others are captivated by Daniel Libeskind’s crystalline buildings. The question is: how do we transform this experience for ourselves? Do we strive to replicate what has already been done, or do we approach the experiences of our contemporaries and predecessors more profoundly, impacting not just our emotions but the very process of creating architectural projects?

Zaha Hadid, as we know, had a solid foundation in mathematics, which she acquired at the American University of Beirut. She utilized this knowledge because the structures of many of her buildings cannot be calculated using standard physical formulas. Numerous factors had to be considered, where her mathematical background clearly helped. Daniel Libeskind is an excellent engineer who can independently calculate his building’s structure.

Question: Were the possibilities of technology primary for them, or did they set the tasks for the engineers themselves? We see that their design approach also allowed technology to develop. Norman Foster, in one of his projects, conceptualized a transparent floor that wouldn’t have been realized without a correctly formulated task. Who else would have thought of that?

We live in a fascinating time when fundamental shifts are occurring in almost all life spheres, and architects need to consider this. Family relationships are not what they were fifty years ago, attitudes toward education have changed, and the number of long-distance trips per capita has increased significantly. Yet, we still design cottages like those fifty years ago. Why? Because we don’t ask ourselves: what tasks should we, as architects, set? The client’s wishes must undoubtedly be considered, but it’s important to remember that the philosophy of the work is our privilege, and we must never abandon it, especially if we aim to create something extraordinary, something that can be called a work of art.

The multifaceted nature of our profession sometimes surprises those unfamiliar with it. But this is the specificity and uniqueness of architecture as an activity. Besides creating a project, we need to see it through to logical completion, that is, to a finished building. What questions arise for the architect in this process? Oh, there are many! Not only does each country have laws and regulations governing this type of activity, but sometimes regions (and even individual cities) do as well. Therefore, honor and glory to those architects who can influence these sometimes outdated and even ridiculous rules that often bind us “hand and foot.” Hence the question we must ask ourselves: is everything right in our “kingdom,” or does something need to change drastically? And what can I do about it?

This is a battle with the system; there is no art here at all, but it greatly depends on the relationship between the creative individual and the governmental apparatus—the most unwieldy and corrupt beast, functioning in old ways, forgetting that it should serve its citizens, not hinder their realization. What can we do about this? The easiest thing to say is “nothing.” But that’s not true. If we participate in public discussions, conferences that somehow shape shifts in public consciousness, write articles and books, and most importantly, try to realize our ideas—this will undoubtedly bring everyone closer to understanding what comes first: the State or the Individual? Ultimately, the resolution of this question (first for each individual) determines one’s personal stance, attitude towards creativity, and the path to self-realization.