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Michael Stepner, FAIA, FAICP,
FIUD
Professor, NewSchool of Architecture and Design, San
Diego
Cesar Pelli, a contemporary architect, has noted, "The city is more
important than the building." With those words, Pelli reinforces
the fact that architecture is a social art and the profession has a
responsibility to participate in the public building process. The
community—more than the client—should shape what we, as
architects, do.
The concept of "livable communities" has been a part of my
professional life as an architect, city planner, and advocate for
over thirty years. When I first came to San Diego to work at the
city's planning department, I was at the bottom of a bureaucratic
pyramid. It was not a very conducive place to be an advocate, and I
wasn't! However, I was a member of AIA San Diego. The component was
vocal about issues affecting our community, and I began to see it
as a powerful venue for contributing my concerns to the public
discussion. Inspired by the AIA component’s energetic
advocacy, I became an activist for livable communities.
The AIA, through its members and in collaboration with other
organizations, has played a central role in shaping San Diego into
the wonderful place that it is. Although much work remains to be
done, the AIA's activities range from commenting on proposed
initiatives to developing policy papers, holding community
workshops, and helping people rebuild their homes and neighborhoods
after recent devastating fires in southern California.
Quality of life is what our profession is about, and it must go
beyond our work in the office and for our clients. It must address
the entire community, the context within which our work takes
place. I strongly urge every architect to become involved in
advocating for a beautiful, healthy and safe built environment. The
amount of time you devote will depend on your circumstances, but
what you give will be beneficial to you and to the community.
My life has been immensely enhanced throughout the 30 years that I
have been an advocate. This kind of activism is fulfilling, both
professionally and personally, because I am helping to shape and
improve the community I live and work in, and I am doing it for my
family, my neighbors, and for those who will come after us.
In the words of the great architect and urban designer Daniel
Burnham: “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir
men's blood and probably will not be realized. Make big plans; aim
high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram,
once recorded, will never die but long after we are gone will be a
living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.
Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that
would stagger us."
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