Topic: Changing the civic responsibilities of the Architect to better our environment.
AIA Code of Ethics
http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/bookmark_ethics_final.pdf
I’m not going to post the whole list of rules the AIA has written and finally revised 2004, but please follow the link and review the codes governing our profession. One item you might notice missing is our responsibility to maintain a consideration and promote the environment while creating these magnificent structures for our client, society, and advancing our profession. It is interesting that whatever we do, as long as people like it, is okay for the earth to be graced by its beauty. Only until recently did the environmental concern REALLY become universal in architecture and materials. My goal and persuasion for this paper is to identify some universal codes of ethics to include with the AIA set of rules and prove their validity to be included in the above document.
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5 comments:
Matt,
Question for you. Do you think we need to add the environment responsibilities to this document or should we create laws governing it? I ask this because the AIA document clearly states that the laws must be followed, etc. So I wonder if a separate environment law was created, either state or federal, that then we would be forced to consider the environment into our designs both by the law and ethically by the AIA document. Food for thought.
-Jaclyn
I would vote for adding the environment responsibilities to the AIA document. Architect’s should have done a better job with the ADA (civil rights legislation), because we weren’t doing a good job about following this document (and maybe because we weren’t paying attention), the building codes are now adopting this legislation thus codifying the ADA. I personally would like to see us all step up and address the environmental responsibilities in lieu of making more red tape and bureaucracy for ourselves.
ADD IT IN…IT’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
This ties in closely to all of the commentary about The Declaration of Boston. There will always be laws that govern every business relationship, and this is appropriate. But is there a way of thought and practice that can make codes irrelevant? The old AIA code has lots of stuff in there about not poaching other designers' clients. But an honorable person just wouldn't do that anyway, because they'd recognize themselves as being part of a community to be nurtured. So how do we educate and reinforce designers' ability to think of themselves as persons of honor, as persons who facilitate mutual benefit and community/global health?
Herb,
I agree with everything you are saying here. I see opportunity to better our profession by increasing our respect for one another and not needing a document to define this. I do believe we need an oath very similar to 'The Declaration of Boston' in the approach to make aware our responsibilities to the earth and the education of our client. I feel that if all we are exposed to is negativity, that reflects on us and the work we do. Being governed by a document that says more about what NOT to do than what is most important in our profession is backward thinking if you ask me.
Matt,
I can not avoid to ask the issue that Herb raised in my blog: what is the motivation for sustainable design? what should be the motivation for us to design sustainable?. I mention this early, because I agree with Herb about the BD and Scott’s final statement,……. but I just wonder why?
Great stuff I look forward to see more o it
Gus
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