ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHITECTS 2 THE ARCHITECT Answer these questions. a. Can you name famous architects from the past? b. Can you name at least three famous contemporary architects? c. What is the meaning of the term archistar ? awareness: coscienza bylaw: legge locale to deal with: avere a che fare flow: flusso to involve: coinvolgere keen: acuto neighbourhood: circondario on salary: stipendiato planning board: piano regolatore real estate developer: costruttore to set out: stabilire sewer: sistema fognario Architecture is the art, the science and the business of building. Architects create homes, offices, towers, skyscrapers, schools, etc. They are talented people with a natural ability for design, an awareness of social trends, keen business sense, solid engineering skills and an understanding of the law. Today s architect may practise alone or be part of a small, medium or large firm. Some are self-employed while others may be on salary, as employees of government, real estate developers or large corporations. The design or re-design of a home is one of the most fascinating and important things an architect can do. Architects use modern techniques and ideas to renew historic buildings that remind us of our links to the past satisfying public interest and economic pressure to re-use them. Inside buildings architects design chairs, tables and objects that offer comfort and pleasure to people s homes and work spaces. In big cities, the representatives of commerce, finance, business and government ask for important buildings, which can cause big problems, such as increased traffic flow. They also create a need for parking, water, sewer and access. Putting large buildings into a city involves balancing the technical, planning and aesthetic problems connected with their size so architects with special design skills are required to do that. Many architects serve on planning boards or help people who live in urban neighbourhoods to shape the city around them. Sometimes architects get involved in restoring parts of a city, developing housing projects or industrial parks or designing shopping centres. The work of architects starts with a commission (or contract) from a client. The commission may involve the design of a single building or a group of buildings and the spaces between them. The client may be an individual person, a group, a government department or a business. The architect leads a team of specialists including structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and must also understand and deal with building codes and bylaws set out by the local and central government. 196 Module 6 FOUNDATIONS