Architects and other designers deserve a public advocate. For several years, architectural critics have touted a rise in popular appreciation for good design. Perhaps as a result of the events of September 11, 2001, for the first time in many years design seems to be on everyone’s lips, from professors to schoolchildren. Ordinary people as well as the erudite are looking for design to solve problems, but also for something more. Daniel Libeskind equates our search at Ground Zero with a spiritual quest.
At this critical juncture, architects need strong voices in government and in our communities. Our concerns extend beyond the immediate headlines of terrorism and war; we need leaders capable of articulating the everyday issues we face as a civilization: the spread of urban blight to the suburbs from the cities, the ennobling potential of housing, the beneficial role of design throughout the public realm, alternatives to the bunker mentality in an insecure world, the glories of open space. The need in government alone is staggering: the EPA, the GSA, HUD, and the Department of State control millions of square feet of buildings and can help determine future trends. Where can we find someone to describe the role of design in our culture, and then convince others of its worth?
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