Architecture, How it Used to be Taught

By Andrew Wyne

Over the past few weeks working in Studio with some of my class mates, we have started to talk about how Architecture, the education of it, has changed a lot over the years. Now I’m not just talking how in the past ten years computers are being used and are possibly inhibiting design. I’m talking way back, before America was even a country. I’m talking about when there would be a Master architect and he would have an apprentice and the apprentice would spend years learning about how to be an architect.

I have recently been reading this article, found here: (http://www.archsoc.com/kcas/Historyed.html)

It talks about a few major countries; Britain, Germany, and France; how they have different types of study. Britain being very much an apprenticeship system and is still very much using that system. While France is using a system that is government based and how well you do as an architect is based on whether the government recognizes you as an architect. Germany is very much researched based and their universities run most of the system of architects.

What is interesting is America’s system it is somewhat of a combination of Britain and Germany. We don’t have a lot of the historical background of doing things a certain way for hundreds of years. I’m talking way back into the medieval times. But at the same time we are looking to improve much of the way things are being done. Now whether you feel things are improving or not that is most likely dependent on the perspective you take.

There does seem to be a loss in respect for what an architect does, also the amount of money that an architect can receive for a project. But there also is a variety of reasons for all of those reactions. There are more architects then there used to be. Also designing a building is a bit more complicated than it used to be. But one thing I think architects have lost that they probably shouldn’t have is the ability to not only design buildings but just be an artist. Whether its painting, sculpture, or music; there are certain things that should always be pursued and continued to be developed. What kind of designing are we doing if we cannot also create art?