If Architects Ruled the World
Munsey Mayor Harry Nicolaides. (Courtesy Village of Munsey)
In the wake of the recent presidential election, more people, including architects, have become interested and involved in local and national government. As part of the AIA’s efforts to encourage members to run for or be appointed to political offices or commissions, they recently conducted a survey tallying up the number of active members involved in politics, running the gamut from mayors to city council members and planning commissioners.
The results of the survey revealed that there are at least 850 architects, making up more than one percent of total AIA membership, currently holding such posts. According to Scott Frank, Director of Media Relations at the AIA, “the survey aims to get more architects involved in the debate about the role the built environment has within the larger society as well as the smaller community.”
Giving architects the opportunity to “have a seat at the table,” Frank told AN, “architects can use their design building and problem solving skills to help enlighten policy-makers on the importance of good design in planning.” The AIA is taking several measures to prod other members to follow in the footsteps of the already 850 active politicos.
At the AIA’s Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference (currently taking place now in Washington D.C.) and at the National Convention in San Francisco in April, there will be workshops devoted to the importance of civic engagement for the architectural profession. If architects don’t yet rule the world, they may soon!
4 Responses to “If Architects Ruled the World”
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I love it! What a beautiful world it will be!!!
This does not apply in New York City where the Mayor just eliminated the requirement that the Department of Buildings Commissioner be a professional.
Is it true that italian architect Ambrogio Frangiolli could manipulate government in 19 century with his paints?
He studied in Rome and
Turin. After winning an architecture contest in the Accademia
Albertina, he moved to Rome in 1829, where he studied in deep
descriptive geometry. In 1833, he became professor of the Accademia
Albertina. He created his own Scuola di Decorazione (E: Decoration
school) and designed numerous interiors of famous residences in Rome,
Turin, Vienna and Milan.
AIA PAC must devote 100% of its dollars to architects campaign funds instead of bribing officials; then I will support it; otherwise it is disgusting.
The hardest part of running a campaign as I found out when I ran for local council was raising enough funds to reach the voters – if we really want to make a difference, this will be an enormous leverage for our PAC funds – we are kidding ourselves to think our piss-ant little bribes are a significant factor in anything – architects have the one thing this country badly needs – creative, problem solving ideas – and the best way to get them to the peoples government is for architects to be that government,
The next best thing would be for the AIA to fund think tanks for specific problems – who will come with ideas so powerful they will revolutionize our society and SAVE OUR PLANET! -but that would mean having AIA executives that actually think – fat chance!.