Reading #5 - Architecture and Labor

The concept of architecture is under a misconception that creating architectural designs is effortless and that “Architects don't do work”. Many people outside of the profession think this way about the field, as well as aspiring architects. Peggy Dreamer brought up an example of how this is frequently perceived about architects when she talked about listening to a panelist say “Architecture is not a career, it is a calling”. This would be translated as we don’t do work, we are simply creative. But this idea needs to come to a halt. “Art is work”. From the outside, we may see a piece of architecture as an effortless architectural work, but in reality, a lot of effort was put into it. To execute a final architectural product needs plenty of attention and revision. Art takes effort. When coming up with the final execution of architectural work, it is under revision by the client(s), architect(s), and structural engineer(s). Underneath that final product was a handful of flaws and a handful of revisions. This is a concept that architects must come to terms with and accept.