Architects, Are You Proud?

Will Work for Love Campaign

There are many chances for me to re-think about the existence of being an architect today. Some people say it is a glamor job where your business is around developed technology and fancy life style, but some others say it is a miserable job which requires your 24 hours and wholehearted but never has slightest chance to increase your bank account. No more people say that architect's job is a master work of public needs, they believe only the rich could hire an architect. It is getting creepier when I saw a situation where owner architects met bureaucrats and they could change some policies in order to get what they called win-win solution, first party could maintain their money and second party could get extra money. Responsibility of people needs and place development has been replaced by interest of some certain parties. So let say the shallowest conclusion of those all is architecture is not for the savior. It could not save people's life nor his own life. Eat that, Andin!

I had almost lost my faith on this profession when I found some of my idealistic architect friends said that big project is not for real architect's job. It is pure business. They said when your creativity and vision of utopian future cannot be applied on your design just because you follow order from the owner yet you are no longer an architect, you are just a drafter. Creating open public space or developing traditional market is judged as the more responsible architectural work. Once again, it is not about the money but it is about working for love they affirmed. But what about self's welfare? How do you live your family? Does money always sound that bad?

For me money is not a life. It is only a tool, like internet or the smart phone in your hand. What they are doing is good for them and I have something good for me too. Being an architect who involves in commercial project could be an opportunity to influence investor parties with conceptual idea which could bring the best physical and environmental development. With convincing the owner to use some potteries from Pleret instead of import it from China, or revealing banana paper that produced in small industry from Singaraja Bali to be used in our resort projects, or "just" warning the owner to not against government rules. There are so many kind of ways to give advantage to the public. Then why should we judge some architects for how big or small project they chose? It is not about scale, judge them by what project they are in. Well then again I am still proud to call my self as an architect, even architecture cannot save the world; yes it still can set a good example.

"If you are good at something, never do it for free" - Joker

*And are you really sure that I never make an open public space outside my main job? :p