Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-13
ARCHITECTURE AID .
FOR ALL IS URGED.
Bureaucratic Idea" Hit by
Institute, President Says
in Member Message.

iilStI uLlcIlb Ol tllc It'll, SudIico ~
Maginnis of Boston, president of the
American Institute Of Architects, de-
clared in q message to the institutes
members, organized in SO chapters
throughout the country. Mr.. Maginnis
called upon architects to give pro-
fecsional direction to the national
housing movement, and to bring good
architecture to the less favored popu-
lation groups.
The bureaucratic idea," he warned.
threatens to limit the usefulness of
the architectural profession in its
efforts to improve human habitation.
"A changing world is presenting
novel and critical problems which
demand the immediate study of the
architectural profession" Mr.. Maginnis
said. "In our modern society, archi-
lecture has had only limited bene-
hcence. The statement is familiar
that only tenth of our building is
intellectually literate. with the conse-
quence that our typical community
may claim some proud oasis of beauty,
but is preponderantly ugly and in
coherent so as to invite question
whether the measure of our culture
is the one condition or the other That
the profession is, to this degree, in
efiectual has always been deplored,
but 1t has been too easily accepted as
. condition beyond hope of intrinsic
remedy.
Promising Beginning Made.
"Must the architect be satisfied to
be considered an instrument of the
Sich? We know that in the past, and
under political systems less admirable
than ours, architecture was not es-
tranged from the humber life of
society. Obvious economic difficulties
have accounted in the past for the
detachment of the profession from
this neglected enterprise. But con-
siderations of social justice are now
moving us to more conscious feeling
for the less favored of society.
: Under the initiative of government,
. promising beginning has been made
in great program of small housing
under responsible architectural con-
troll. Other agencies are cooperating
which are notably less sensitive to the
need of professional direction. 1t is
OF vital Importance to our profession,
and at the same time an obligation of
enlightened patriotism, that our rela-
ton to this great developing interest
be securely and permanently estab-
lished. The institutes Committee on
Housing will study the means by which
the profession, under the guidance of
the institute, may adjust itself effec-
lively to service in this new and
extensive field.
LAS We seek to extend the boundaries
of our profession in this direction,
however, We are warned Of a con-
flicting movement which threatens
seriously to limit it. This is the
extension Of the bureaucratic idea.
So far We have confronted this issue
only In our relation to the Federal
Government. We must now prepare
ourselves to meet the aggravating
problem in our very midst.
Legislative Aim Combatt-d.
Legislation has been twice at
temped in New York State, and actu-
ally accomplished in Connecticut,
which embodies the principle that
architecture can serve the public
interest adequately through the in
corporation Of architects and draughts-
men in the general organization Of
public works. The implications of
this menace are so unmistakable and
90 clearly to be combated only by
local action that large responsibility
must be perceived to rest on all the
chapters of the institute.
Nor is this situation to be effec-
lively met by temporary political
expedients. 1t is to be hoped that
the validity of our position can be
supported by realistic and convincing
testimony of our superior claim upon
the community. The lines of such
opposition are so well indicated in the
admirable enterprise of the institutes
Committee on Public Works in relation
to Federal projects that all chapters
OF the institute are urged to seek its
counsel and acquaint themselves with
the results of its study and experience.
ut would be highly agreeable to the
SSAAoSA foeANC cPAiV Va Vic plOlCSSlO1l
II its social value needed no aid of
propaganda. But in these articulate
days so many interests Of no less
conservative habit are clamoring for
the public consciousness that, if we
are even to hold our present place, we
have need to make the world more
aware Of us.
More Vital Expression Urged.
Taking 1t for granted that, in spite
sof assault, architecture still retains
its ancient validities, we are occupied
only with the vital and realistic busi-
mess of the place which 1t is to have
In the new order, an interest which
should engage the earnest thought
sof every architect of America.
( "In the shifting conditions there is
visible the opportunity to enlist the
science of the architect to q new and
more vital social purpose. Architects
cannot hope that the significance Of
this opportunity will be more directly
indicated to us by our American public.
profession will largely depend upon the
1t must be clearly detected by our
selves. and the future position Of our
intelligence and address with which
wa y,,aAt AZ