A New Perspective on Architecture?

These two posters went up around Microsoft's Redmond campus a few months ago. I was part of the team that designed the (then-new) Architecture portal (http://www.microsoft.com/architecture) but - even with that "perspective" - I think these posters can be difficult to grok. I like the mountain image, but if I understand the symbolism here - is a physical architecture that is literally "carved in stone" a good thing?

 

3 Comments

  • What *is* a good thing is that the architect's result is still "alive" after 2500 years. How many architectures (regardless of discipline) can claim that?

  • I like to think of Architecture, not as the defining of permanence, but rather the DISCOVERY of permanence, and the molding of a solution that works with thoes permanent features; the IF's ('Immutable Facts').



    As Architects, we are not commissioned to create 'a' solution, we are called on to craft 'the' solution for this use, and all such projects start by identifying thoes things that can not be changed. (In the brick and mortar world, the location, resourses etc).



    So while we should not look at what we create as permanent, we need to look at what we build on as permanent.



    My $.02



    Tom Vande Stouwe

    MCSD, MCAD, MCT

    Enterprise Architect.

  • Well, as the person that had these posters created (and "sanctioned" the images used) I am glad to see that the pictures create dialog.



    They are not meant to convey any explicit or implicit message about architecture. They are meant to cause someone to stop, look, and think.



    Reading too much into marketing imagery can be a dangerous trap (did anyone see the subliminal ".NET is good" message in the posters?).



    Enjoy the images, and remember that the pictures are protected by copyright, so if you want the posters drop me a line.

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