representation - Arch style 01

what is it about how we present ourselves in what we do... I have had the opinion that many great architects were, shall we say, Jerks (to put it nicely)... the work they did and do inspires us... they create wonderful space and form... but they are many times pompious asses... It baffles me that a "professional" can be so incredibly talented in what he/she does but then treat poeple like they are stupid or worthless... or just act like a jackass in inoppurtune times... what bothers me most is how they act effects how people percieve me as well (as I find myself in the architectural profession)... & No thanks to hollywood and how they stereo-type architects too... I don't know what else to really say except it really bothers me that poeple of great talent and training fail to do the simple things... like treating people with a little respect... is it so hard? Sure we should be firm in our beliefs and make stands on quality and integrety... but does this cause reason for being a jerk? No... and it represents us all wrong...

anyhow, I am attempting to create this series of blogs about representation of architecture... from how we come across to non-trained people in our field (most clients) and to our peers and people we work with on a daily basis in the industry... then onto the actually visual way we communicate to ourselves as well as to the poeple we are selling our designs to. I don't have a direct aim or direction in this... just going to be my random thoughts (and I am far from a good writer, have never been very good at writing... so bare with me)...

my first blurb here is in responce to a discussion group posting I had with someone regarding Frank L. Wright... I mentioned that he was a great architect but a real bastard of a person... of course someone took offense to this and was curious to how I knew this (after all there was no way I could be old enought to of known him... :) )... anyhow, it reminded me of how I have observed and heard of many of the great architects of our time and how they were far from pleasant people... why is that? why is it that people of this stature are such asses? is there some crazy correlation to being an ass and being great? you have to beat people around you down in order to rise up to be great?