No_6_June_1968 — Page 15

EDUCATING THE ARCHITECT

The first three years

TH

HE courses in architecture offered

by schools all round the world dif- fer today more than at any time in his- tory. The differences are due to local philosophies as to the nature of archi- tecture, to different prognostications about the future role of the architect in society and to differences in back- ground and aptitude of students.

The various papers which make up this collection, cover generally the thinking of individuals on architecture and on the role of the architect in Hong Kong, but to appreciate the content of the first three years of the course, the character of the student himself first needs to be looked at.

He is selected, not only on acade- mic performance, but on an assess- ment of his aptitude for architecture, made on the basis of admission tests and on interview. The interview counts for much, since for the majority the idea of architecture as a career is new, and it is not until the sub- ject is discussed and the potential stu- dent becomes aware for the first time of the import of what he is com- mitting himself to, does he reveal him- self both to the school and to him- self.

There is of course nothing wrong with the intellectual qualities of the Hong Kong student, but coming into architecture he is handicapped by the narrowness of his secondary educa- tion. which has concentrated on providing him with facts in either an exclusively Arts or an exclusively Science environment. It has failed to stimulate his imagination, fire him with an interest in life and in the world around him, and awaken his social conscience, all attributes essen- tial to the architect.

Busman's teahouse-design and construction-end of first term of first year

He has not learned to do practical things with his hands, of which in fact he is most capable (as witness the long tradition of fine craftsman- ship of the Chinese people) and he has not learned to apply the vast vol- ume of learning which he has ac- quired so painstakingly.

He has had very little contact with art or design, or painting and draw-

Fisherman's hut-a design in natural materials done at the beginning of the first year

Far East BUILDER, June 1968.

ing except perhaps in the specialized field of Chinese painting.

Fortunately, the Hong Kong stu- dent is equipped with determination, a high sense of application and an ability to respond to good teaching.

The result is that he makes a slow start, and rather more time has to be spent initially on the technicalities of drawing, the use of scales, and so on than would normally be the case. But once he has understood what it is all about his innate sense of craftsman- ship takes over, and he becomes the finest draughtsman in the world.

The barriers between the narrow- ness of the past and the broadness of the future are slow in breaking down on all fronts. However by the end of the Third Year, he has caught up with himself and reveals his potential.

The School keeps all this well in mind, and pursuing a policy of "dropping him in at the deep end"- the two weeks before the first term starts is spent on a building site, where the new student is encouraged to get himself dirty "messing about" with concreting, bricklaying and similar activities. It is not thought that in this very short time he becomes at all proficient at any building trade but he at least gets the "feel" of some basic building materials and processes.

The first few months in the studio are devoted to acquiring the basic techniques of communication. These are applied to simple programmes in

19

Page 15Page 16