The following is an introduction to The Entrepreneur Architect Manifesto.
I am Mark R. LePage and I am an Entrepreneur Architect.
In architecture school, we each had a professor who told us that architecture should be practiced for the art and art alone. “If you want to make money”, they said, “quit now, take a walk across campus and enroll at the business school.”
Some took that advice, left the profession and today are earning a nice comfortable salary in corporate America. Others heeded the warning, believed it and carried on the long-standing tradition of starving artist.
I believe there is another way.
We can be true to our art and still be compensated well for what we do. In fact, we SHOULD be compensated well for what we do. We contribute to our society with passion, skill and intellect. We bring art to this world like no other profession and should be rewarded financially for doing so.
There is a new generation of architects; beacons of light emerging from the defeatist mentality of the last few decades; architects who want to “change the world” AND be profitable doing it.
We are Entrepreneur Architects.
Entrepreneur Architects are pushing the boundaries of traditional practice and taking it to new heights. Others are using technology to offer new or improved services, delivery methods and business models. Many more are supplementing their work as architects with personal passions such as writing, speaking or teaching. Architects, offering products such as equipment, lighting, plumbing, furniture or accessories, have launched successful retail ventures.
The architect is, once again, emerging as leader.
Master Builders (architect led design/build services) are recovering from near extinction and offering services to high-end, as well as mass market clients. Home plans are being designed by architects and offered as an alternative to the mass-produced “builder” market. Advocates for “good design” have built very profitable businesses around evangelism for their cause.
The renewed imperative for “green architecture” is creating an entirely new market ready to be lead by architects. Niche firms specializing in sustainable architecture and prefabricated homes have emerged to serve the new market demands.
Architect Developers have eliminated the client and have designed, funded and built their own projects; discovering a formula for financial success and more control over their art.
Society is looking to architects to solve global problems. We have an opportunity to use our problem-solving skills to alter the future of civilization AND make money doing it.
The world will benefit more as architects begin to think and act as entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneur Architects have a strong belief in the opportunities we pursue and are willing to take substantially high levels of personal, professional and financial risks to pursue that opportunity. With high risk, comes substantial reward for these architects, their employees and for society as a whole.
We are at a crossroad; a transition from the way it was to the way it will be. There is much work to do. The work has already begun.
To be continued…
Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. There is much more to come.
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I could expand on a range of Areas where architects are not emerging as leaders, but rather failing in a way that they have failed consistently for many many years, namely in production housing.
Should we save it for another post and time?
No. Please don’t save it. The intent of this manifesto is to create a dialogue and get architects to think beyond the drafting board.
How to say this shortl and sweet. Architects design only about 3% of the houses built in the US each year, and we constantly gripe about the poor quality of the residential built environment. Yet we’ve completely refused to meet the housing industry on their own terms. Its clear they don’t need us, they’ve built millions of houses without us, and the public is more or less numb from the output, at this point most can’t tell good from bad design. The results are that the standard of housing design is very low, not just on a aesthetic basis, but on a performance basis as well.
So WTF are we going to do about it?
Do you have any ideas on how to solve this problem? Interested in sharing your ideas as a guest post on the blog?
Some, but I’m more disturbed that most architects seem to accept this status quo, and are not looking for solutions.
Hi Mark,
I read your article. To answer your question. I’m hustling for survival. I live in a small city, where I’m not an insider working hard to break through, deal with (as we all are ) inept government, lack of money flow i.e. greedy banks where the only way to achieve success is to climb regionally and globally . The local network is a thing of the past. Be ready to tele-commute and travel . I have respect for the community I live and try to work in,
however survival mandates new approaches when demanded ,needed or required.
You have also describes the state of the issue here in Australia. It is like it is beneath an architect to venture into this realm even though the has been success in what is now the distant past.
I am a firm believer in that the change is coming and much needed. I enjoy reading the blog and suggest every one get with the movement or be left behind.
Amen.
I think this is a very inpiring outlook and would love to be a guest blogger on your postings if interested. I think you make some fundamentals points and this is exactly what my position is and the vision for our architect-led design build firm. Thank you for being a leader in our industry!
Thank you for the support and encouragement Francisca. I will keep you in mind for a possible guest post. Please stay active and in touch.
You are welcome…I think our industry needs more of you and less of “skeptics”…:)
Amen!
Very good read, I believe the value of Architects and Architecture is being seen more and more from the younger generations. The cookie cutter model is a thing of the past. Gen-Y wants to create, reduce consumption, and stand out among all the (crap). Architects have a real opportunity to fill the void in society by helping change the literal landscape.
Whew! Optimism is good. Living in a dream world, not so much… We are very far from that ideal future you describe, and we certainly won’t get there by resting on our laurels and waiting for it to come to us. The only way we will get there is by changing the ways we’ve worked in the past and nurturing a future where architects are relevant.
“Changing the ways” is exactly my mission Greg.
Wow! You can’t convince me you didn’t have my country, Nigeria, in mind when you came up with this. Very inspiring, thoughtful and motivational. Architecture here has been badly bastardized and decimated to the extent that architects are now looking for alternatives for their daily bread. It needs revamping and sharing of ideas as in Entrepreneur Architect is all we need to broaden our ideas. Thanks for your efforts.