Editorial

 There’s no “I” in Team

One can say that “knowledge” has been growing at an unprecedented pace since the first industrial revolution. As any other field of knowledge, architecture is no exception. Where architecture differs is in its assimilating character; architecture tends to integrate innovations from other fields, even whole new fields, into its processes. This has a direct influence on the depth and range of comprehension that is now requested from the architect.

Although we can still agree with the vitruvian view of the architect as a “generalist specialist”, the idea of architect as “master builder” is something we cannot conceive at this moment. When the role of the architect must be one of overview, how can she/he deepen all necessary aspects of the process to the point of mastering them, if they keep on multiplying at an exponential rate? For one person to call upon himself the responsibility for all the subparts of the process is not only egotistical but also reckless.

Architects should act as coordinators, should attain a position of overview by acknowledging the necessary work of other “players” at different phases of the process, not by proclaiming themselves as the sole responsible for the built environment. As we see it, the built environment is as much a consequence of the conceptual work of the architect as it is of the quality of the construction industry, of the engineer‘s ingenuity or of the nature of local laws.

With this issue, we want to pay homage to all the other entities that take an active part in the act of building by picturing these teammates from the perspective of the architect, our perspective, by discoursing on our reality and understanding how intertwined it is with the ones of those who build with us. To the rest of the team, our most honest thank you.