Reconsidering Creative Work to Earn More Cultural Value & Relevance. Part 4: The Model

The Value of Form

For those in the architectural and sculpture professions, models are a fundamental component of the industry. To be able to visualize 3-dimensional aspects of a proposal or future structure is a critical aspect of marketing work and having others understand what we intend. It has been a hallmark of the profession since the beaux-arts era of European aesthetic production.

We even have public museums and private galleries that focus completely on professional models. With the era of “starchitects,” we’ve even seen collections solely dedicated to one practitioner’s legacy.

• Richard Meier stands in his museum collection

So if model-making is so essential to the practice, what is there to question? I’m glad you asked because Hither Yon never leaves any stone unturned!

Is Modeling Contradictory?

Here’s the thing, the way model-making has evolved with recent technology warrants some scrutiny. The design professions have truly blazed the way of using current tech for all kinds of creative purposes. But that progress comes at a cost-

1: Newer technology is environmentally unsound. Laser-cutting, 3D-printing, and other fabrication technologies are technically terrible for the environment. They all emit toxic fumes and/or are composed of non-biodegradable plastics and silicon.

2: Models are mostly trash. With the thousands of architects and architectural students around the world, model production is at a historical high. With the rapidity of production, most of which will never meet the public eye, almost all of models are destined to landfills where the high volume of plastics and synthetic materials will occupy parts of the earth for centuries to come.

3: Excess, excess, excess. Models typically have a shelf-life of a few days or weeks. The concepts of iteration - mass production for the sake of presentation and variation - are inherently wasteful and unncessary.

Unsustaining an Unsustainable Model

No matter the profession, we must practice what we preach. In my opinion, the architectural profession should be one of the world’s stalwarts for sustainable development. However at the most basic level, the bubbles of creativity often ignore the glaring contradictions of daily practice. To model solar panels with foam-core? To emulate green areas with plastic trees? To foresee future metropolises with plastic prints?

How can we command responsibility when our preach falters?

Again, much of the critique calls for a “back to basics” approach, reconsidering the accustomed practices of any profession. Small gestures accumulate into broad motions, long-term progress or recession. Can we tweak bits of our creative trajectories to produce more resounding pride, accountability, and value?

That’s all for today, let us know what you think below!

Authored by @hansikhouse (Michael of Hither Yon)

Steem on with @hitheryon !