The world has become a global society with an ever-expanding population that is already testing our current lifestyles and their ability to exist in the future. A transformational shift is sorely needed, and has likely begun. As the profession emerges from the challenges of the recent past, as architects, we must work together to find the best solutions. We must ensure lessons from the past are provided to developing best practices of the future, creating a profession well equipped to address the needs of a rapidly changing world.
Peter Exley, FAIA, shared the following story, “There’s a great tale about John Cleese and Graham Chapman of Monty Python. Cleese had spent an entire week agonizing and crafting a sketch about a broken toaster. His partner, Chapman, was apparently goofing off. Cleese, anxious for input, challenged him to contribute. Chapman immediately sketched a scene involving a pet shop owner and a customer arguing over a dead parrot. Cleese’s broken toaster was abandoned and what resulted is one of Monty Python’s most famous sketches. Architects are the Monty Pythons of the building profession and the best ones are the Cleeses and Chapmans – the ones who percolate ideas, listen, calibrate, envision, lead nimbly, and ultimately create the iconic, appropriate, beautiful, witty, memorable, and thoroughly appropriate.” The session produced lively conversation and as the panelists shared their thoughts and insights to the questions presented by the moderator, rarely was their consensus, indicating the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. These differing viewpoints on the subjects discussed provided the attendees a unique perspective from current and future leaders of the profession while offering a glimpse of potential generational conflicts that could exist. Ultimately the challenges of our future will rely on our innovative and collaborative efforts that can help bridge these differing perceptions, facilitating a profession that will move forward together, present and future.
All images courtesy of AIA Illinois
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