Repositioning the Ghanaian architect, by Albert Ocran
These are interesting times to be an architect. More than ever before, there is a need for a strong body that mobilises architects and directs, strengthens and regulates the practice of your noble profession.
I call these interesting times because they present a seeming contradiction of major challenges, as well as massive opportunities.
The Challenge
The picture of a city is an important mirror, indicator or reflection of the state of its architectural practice. Now while I am convinced that this nation boasts of some of the most talented architects in the world, it is significant to note that the beauty of your work is in most cases appreciated within the wider framework of our building culture, regulatory mechanisms and enforcement. The relationship between the architect and a city is like that of a photographer and his or her picture frame or if I may add the art gallery where the pictures are displayed.
What do we see when we photograph or take a google earth picture of Accra or wherever we live?
• Congestion
• Slums and unauthorised structures
• Defective buildings
• Poor maintenance of infrastructure
• Mountains of filth
Every challenge also represents an opportunity. If we don't like what we see, our mandate is to change it. This represents an immeasurable opportunity for a certain kind of architect.
The word repositioning refers to relocating, redirecting or reassignment of something. It presupposes the existence of an old, original or probably undesirable position. It is, therefore, right to say that any change of position must of a necessity lead to some advantage or create new opportunities.
To give us a picture we can all relate to, I have taken the liberty to redefine or reposition the industry with 12 words that can be constituted into the word ARCHITECTURE.
Aspirational: A person's building is often the height of their achievement. It is often their greatest asset and in most cases their favourite artwork. Many people actually dream about their buildings for years before seeing it become a reality. Your ability to help the individual or organisation realise their aspirations is the reason why they come to you and pay for your services.
Relational: It is difficult to successfully create a design to satisfy a client you do not know and understand. I learnt from my architectural orientation a decade ago that before the design is initiated and the first block laid, the 21st Century architect is interested in the client's educational background, location, sleeping habits, eating or dietary preferences, family size and demographics, favourite colours and even their religious beliefs and practices. Corporate projects additionally factor in the mission statement, industry standards, history and even the projects of competitors in their design considerations. One can no longer "cut and paste" or blindly copy what we see on the internet or what someone else has done.
Challenging: One of the greatest challenges facing architects (and it is heartwarming to acknowledge the presence of planners, engineers and other industry stakeholders) is growing urbanisation. In 1980, there were 121 buildings over 8 storeys tall in Shangai China. 25 years later, by 2005 this number had astronomically grown to 10,045. Shanghai's population density then rose to a high of 26,000 people per km/square. Economic development and urbanisation will definitely lead to shortage of land and greater demand for vertical development. Our new class of architects must respond to this challenge with practical solutions that are also suitable for the Ghanaian context.
Holistic: Today's architect no longer has the luxury of remaining just that. Growing up, careers were linear and one would say you wanted to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer or architect. It was fashionable to chew and pour your lecture notes and restrict yourself to only the subjects of study.
Learning is even more acute now with a crop of students emerging whose major passion is what they call "punching." This is a practice that narrowly studies only likely exam questions with the sole focus of passing and if I may add forgetting their examinations. The repositioned architect must read about history, nutrition, transport, sociology, organisational behaviour, migratory patterns, population growth and several other areas that may have nothing to do with your traditional course outline. My most impactful achievements in life have been significantly informed by things I learnt when I had already graduated from school. Keep learning.
Innovation: We must passionately engage ourselves with the task of finding new ways of doing the things we do. Technologies have emerged that do the same things we do faster and more efficiently than we ever had in the past. Familiarize yourself with them, keep asking questions and have a culture of continuous improvement.
Trust: Business is built on trust. In his book "The Speed of Trust" Stephen M. R. Covey asserts, "The ability to establish, extend, and restore trust with all stakeholders – customers, business partners, investors and coworkers – is the key leadership competency of the new, global economy." Leaders are rediscovering trust as they see it with new eyes. Looking beyond the common view of trust as a soft, social virtue, they're learning to see it as a critical, highly relevant, performance multiplier. The more people trust you the lower will be your cost of doing business.
Evolving: In my first year in Economics class at the University of Ghana, as we happily read about Adam Smith and his famous book, The Wealth of Nations, written in 1920, it emerged that one of our lecturers was using the same notes he used to teach another of our lecturers when he was a student. The notes were obviously quite obsolete. I recently found out that China is planning to outdoor the tallest building in the world next year and the entire project estimated at $1 billion is expected to be completed in 90 days.
Character: Architecture is a reflection of a people's culture and identity. There is Egyptian, Japanese and Chinese architecture. Is there a Ghanaian architectural identity or style? If we have not defined a path or unique identity for our work it is a challenge the graduating class can take up. Character also connotes the integrity of the work. In the long run, skills without ethics or morality will be short-lived. I had the privilege of observing architects who were honest and uncompromising in their work. While they were hated by artisans and suppliers who tried to cut corners, the quality of their work has stood the test of time.
Timing: Projects are about timely delivery, and a culture of punctuality is an important key to building a personal brand, career success and wealth creation.
Understanding: Understand in this context refers to having a deep comprehension of the secrets or principles governing an industry or area of endeavour. No matter what you have learnt from school you will find the need to obtain information that you otherwise would not easily get access to. This makes it imperative for each of our newly qualified architects to find a mentor, an experienced senior in the industry who can coach or guide you on your journey.
Relevance: What we call modern today will be obsolete tomorrow. One research article I read suggested that the life cycle of the entire body of knowledge you have today is two years. Without adding on, sharpening yourself and getting better at what you do in the next few years you will find yourself on the fringes of your field as you struggle to keep pace with younger architects who have graduated with newer technologies, ideas and concepts that are currently unfamiliar to you.
Excellence: Excellence has been defined in the dictionary as "a quality that is unusually good and thus surpasses ordinary standards." I tend to find this definition quite restrictive for several reasons. I, therefore, opted to redefine the word excellence as "going beyond where every one else stops." This definition was influenced by an experience in my secondary school days where our javelin champion who was nicknamed "more tape" consistently out threw every other competitor by a wide mile. The challenge for all of us is to go beyond where everyone else's stops.
I trust that our conversation around these thoughts has thrown up a big enough challenge to our newly qualified architects as they all aspire to become the repositioned Ghanaian architect.
Rev. Albert Ocran is a corporate trainer, author, pastor and is the Lead Consultant of Legacy & Legacy. These were excerpts of his speech at the 14th Induction Ceremony of the Architects Registration Council on Friday 22nd August, 2014.