Mercedes- Benz?”, while they often do not
collaboration’ is a term that is often thrown
I believe, is the meaning of connecting
comprehend the story behind it.’ A Frank
around by critics and professionals as the
knowledge from different disciplines.’
Gehry quote comes to mind: ‘I don’t know
putative solution. This proves at least one
why people hire architects and then tell
thing: architecture as a discipline is still in
In an age in which digital methods make
them what to do . . .’
search of new ways of collaboration within
it easier to gather and amass knowledge,
its own discipline, and with others.
many fields – including architecture – have
So perhaps we should think about promoting
splintered into subfields as expertise has
the architect’s process of designing a
Business Attitudes
building, instead of the building itself. For
The
cross-disciplinary
the discipline of architecture is facing,
now, there are only very few documentaries
collaborations touches upon the way we
however, have not narrowed accordingly.
– for example The Competition (2013) –
currently organize our business models
Van Berkel does advocate for this trend
about the actual challenges we meet during
within the discipline. The consequence
within the architectural field. ‘As a young
a design process, whereas there is – for
in collaborations that involve multiple
architect, you should simply concentrate on
example – an abundance of movies about
parties in an equal manner – without a
one thing you find interesting. Something
lawyers that makes people understand their
clear hierarchy – is the fact that it might
with which you can truly achieve something
struggle. The fact that architects now mainly
result in a ‘democratized’ architecture in
in the built environment.’ As an example, van
promote their built achievements instead,
which everyone has a say, where there is no
Berkel recalls a variety of clients struggling
causes clients to judge and select a firm
‘singular hand’ that leads the process. This
with both the possibilities and impossibilities
accordingly, as if they were flipping through
reminds Van Berkel about Dior and I (2014),
of their empty, unused and decaying former
a catalogue. Other firms, such as Mecanoo,
a documentary wherein Raf Simons is
office buildings. As liberating as this need
OMA and West 8, seem to have escaped
filmed designing his first Dior haute couture
for architects may sound, it does irrevocably
this faith, as did MVRDV until recently.
collection. ‘Raf Simons, together with his
stress the necessity to rethink the traditional
When the PR of MVRDV puts words like
advisors, explores three or four themes and
– hierarchical- methods in architecture
the ‘Markthal effect’ in the mouth of the
then looks for knowledge and references
towards cross-disciplinary collaborations, a
news writers, people in Dubai already get
that suit them. He asks his designers to
change which would impose a completely
in line to get ‘something like the Markthal’
design four or five options regarding a
renewed dynamic within the architectural
(Architectenweb, 2015). Apparently, the
certain theme. Then he navigates.’ When
field. Not only would it mean that for the
problem Van Berkel mentioned earlier goes
watching the documentary one can see the
twenty-first century architect an active
for others too.
resemblance to architecture practices with
attitude is rather a necessity than an
fast-paced and tense moments. Van Berkel:
option, it would also result – as van Berkel
Successful firms have become victims of
‘So, others can design too while there is one
stresses again, in a significant difference
their success, limiting their own ability
man supervising the whole. This does not
in generations of architects;
to innovate. While struggling with this
mean that a compromised design is being
help,’ van Berkel explains, ‘is to have a clear
seemingly negative spiral, ‘cross-disciplinary
produced, but a more intelligent one. That,
vision of what challenges you focus on. If
theme
narrowed (Edmondso, 2012). The problems of
‘What could
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