architect, verb.: The New Language of Building

The  Hidden Rules of Architecture: how to build world-class, award winning,  creative, innovative, sustainable, liveable and beautiful spaces that  foster a sense of place and well being

Leading  architect Reinier de Graaf De Graaf punctures the myths behind the  debates on what contemporary architecture is, with wit and devastating  honesty. Architecture, it seems, has become too important to leave to  architects. No longer does it suffice to judge a building solely by its  appearance, it must be measured, and certified. When architects talk  about “Excellence,” “Sustainability,” “Well-being,” “Liveability,”  “Placemaking,” “Creativity,” “Beauty” and “Innovation” what do they  actually mean?

In architect, verb. De Graff dryly skewers the doublespeak and hot air of an industry in  search of an identity in the 21st century. Who determines how to measure  a “green building”? Why is Vancouver more “liveable” than Vienna? How  do developers get away with advertising their buildings as promoting  “well-being”? Why did Silicon Valley become so obsessed with devising  “creative” spaces or developing code that replaces architects? How much  revenue can be attributed to the design of public space? Who gets to  decide what these measurements should be, and what do they actually  mean? And what does it mean for the future of our homes, cities, planet?

 He also includes a biting, satirical dictionary of “profspeak”: the  corporate language of consultants, developers and planners from “Active  listening” to “Zoom Readiness.”