Architecture and the Layman

Little in the history of the profession of architecture or in our current paradigm of architectural education teaches us to understand architecture from the standpoint of traditional social values. The ideology of modernism, which remains the foundation for the educational philosophy in most architectural schools, is too closely linked with the forces of positivism, idealism and rationalism to respond adequately to the traditional cultural patterns of society. Yet, it is generally felt that it is modernist ideology which pulls us into the future by setting new standards and destroying old icons. In a pluralist and democratic society students of architecture should be equipped with strategies for design which are informed by the ideologies of modernism and traditionalism and with the ability to make judgments as to their appropriate uses.