If We Create A Monster

The CaliforniaCouncil of Architects recently called for help in their bat­tle against state architectural bu­reaus. Mr. Dykes, an architect from Canton, Ohio, responded to the re­quest as follows:

Architects have had other oppor­tunities to forestall such hap­penings but have muffed them. I re­call not too long ago an urgent request for each of us to ask our congressmen to restore or add more funds to federal aid to hospi­tals. One of the American Institute of Architects conventions sup­ported public housing. Many architectural publications, including our A. I. A. Monthly Memo, while they have not openly urged appro­priations for this or that federal or state building program, have appeared to be very distressed when the funds were not made available. In some cases all sorts of gyrations have had to be per­formed to get a reasonable con­tract from government on build­ing programs which it undertakes. To sum up, the general feeling has been, “We don’t care who builds it or where the money comes from, just so they use private architects on terms suitable to us.” This is shortsightedness.

When we help to create a mon­ster, we should not be surprised when the monster tries to gobble us up. Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome of the issue in California, the monster will eventually get us. His appetite is insatiable. Our only out is to destroy the monster.

Now, lest I be misunderstood, there will always be some govern­ment requiring some government building. But a government limited in its functions to police action and little more would have precious little building to do — cer­tainly not enough to worry the pro­fession.

In the light of recent develop­ments, one can hardly assert that the trend indicates any such re­trenchment by the bureaucracy. And, of course, there will be none so long as the citizens demand the things which create the monster. In this, architects must play their part like all citizens. We must learn that these things are all cut from the same cloth. If we urge federal or state aid to hous­ing, hospitals, and schools we can expect, in the long run, that gov­ernment officials will take over architectural planning as well as these other fields we urge them to usurp.