Archiculture: a documentary film that explores the architectural studio (full 25 min film)

Archiculture takes a thoughtful, yet critical look at the architectural studio. The 25-minute film offers a unique glimpse into the world of studio-based, design education through the eyes of a group of students finishing their final design projects. Interviews with leading professionals, historians and educators help create crucial dialog around the key issues faced by this unique teaching methodology and the built environment these future architects will create.
Starring:
Mollie Claypool
Alanna Jaworski
Dionysios Neofitidis
Mike Toste
Giancarlo Tramontozzi
Including Interviews with:
Shigeru Ban - Shigeru Ban Architects
Matthew Berman - Workshop APD
Phil Bernstein - VP Autodesk
Joe Brown - CIO AECOM
David Byrne - Musician/Artist
Annie Choi - Author/Critic
Maurice Cox - Professor/NEA
Ken Frampton - Historian/Professor
Terry Heinlein - TGH Architect
Ted Landsmark - President BAC
Thom Mayne - Morphosis
Mary Woods - Historian/Professor
Credits:
Co-Producer/Director - David Krantz & Ian Harris
Editor - Jesse Garrison
Sound Editor and Re-Recording Mixer - Yoni Slotwiner
Composer - Glenn Forsythe
Colorist - Frederick Trevino
Titles and Graphics - Matthew Posorske
Story Development - Eric Krantz
Assistant Editors - Bill Scurry, Randy Astle, Eric Joseph, Aaron Lim, Marco Monti & Justin Strawhand
Production/Editing Assistants - Pierce Cook, Emily Wettstein & Emily Ahn Levy
Production Assistant - Michael Selwa
Pre-Production Assistant - Lisa Zigenis
Grant Writer/Editor - Jacob Richardson
Marketing - Sam Danner
Outreach - Emily Goligoski & Barbie Steffen
Public Relations - Whitney Sterling & Julie Fallin
Website Consultant - Doug Havens
Legal Services - George M. Rush
Executive Producer - AECOM
Fiscal Sponsor - Independent Film Project (IFP)
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to see a new Architecture Extras Interview each week!
Produced, shot and edited by Arbuckle Industries - www.arbuckle-industries.com.

[@QuesoQt]

As a 4th year architecture student (so very much at the start of my career) I just have to say that many take this profession way too seriously and childishly make it black and white, unpassionate and obsessed. Architecture is a very big part of my life I couldn’t run from, even if I wanted to, but life is not that serious. It is NOT normal to cry in critiques, stamping on students’ confidence is NOT helping them. You can be a great architect and have a life around it, intertwined with it. It’s masochist and counterintuitive to even think otherwise. Improving is about healthy critique and motivation to grow. Not about thinking that no matter what you do, you will always be subpar, trying to crawl up nonetheless and putting others further down on the way. If great architects are something grand and above everyone, how are they supposed to be creating amazing designs for the masses when they have never even experienced life outside their career? To me, architecture is a meltingpot of universal knowledge, curiosity, creativity and life experience.

[@aquilasanchez2352]

I agree, I don't understand why the curriculum in our school (or others) is so strict. It makes me wanna quit. But still, I really wanna graduate and get that degree😞

[@senik64]

2nd year was hell because that is exactly what my professors did. it has averted me from the profession forever i'm afraid

[@LeonSKennedy7777]

It’s the Pareto Principle at work. It applies to virtually all professions. Hierarchy is the [unfortunate] reality of this entire game. The top 20% of people create 80% of the best products or services (and the top 20% of that 20% creates 80% of that subset’s output, etc etc). There will always be an elite class who earn the vast majority of income, project bids, praise, & legacy.

[@nombredetango]

I agree it gets all very intense, but I think is a way to mimic what profesional life will demand on architects. To work for so many unpaid hours one has to be slightly obsessed with the profession, If your working mates stay long hours and you don’t…one comes across as indifferent, and very likely the wont want you in that practice. Good luck with your career. Is one of the best ones one can get!

[@eveakerlund7878]

well said

[@ap3008]

The "design high"..oh, yes. When you want to sleep because you want to wake up with a fresh mind to work on your project, but have hours of insomnia because you can't stop thinking about the project.

[@carl_anderson9315]

Once me a couple of friends took a day off the day of the presentation to be able to finish it. We arrived at one of our friends house at 4 pm and left the day after at 10 am. We only slept 30 minutes each.

[@theodoreroosevelt7471]

Carlos Arias that’s bs.

[@OurZeroFuture]

From experience, the "design high" was more likely from inhaling too much model making glue and not enough sleep. Architecture really needs to catch up to the realities of human physiology and creatvity, you need rest and you need a good environment to perform optimally and more importantly, avoid mistakes which could hurt people.

[@arpee1686]

@@OurZeroFuture True.. I wonder how they can clearly have good ideas when their so stressed and exhausted. I work in design as well and I can honestly say one can't have a clear and good perspective if you are overworked. - talking from experience for 10yrs.

[@drutalero2962]

@@jamesmccaul2945 sounds like cocaine to me.

[@StillUp2Date]

This video motivated me... until i looked at my project again... it's still shitty.

[@michaeljones8258]

+StillUp2Date its not shitty... ;)

[@blazethej]

+StillUp2Date Don't give up

[@Zv3uu]

What is shitty about it? If you know fix it... if it is already done then you know next time! Life is only going to get harder.

[@StillUp2Date]

Update: I got 1,0 (A+) on that project. I was really surprised.

[@vishnupapers]

+StillUp2Date congrats ,I want to c ur model...wats ur fb name?

[@dplus7344]

Sorry guys I am an architect myself, but there are certain things that I do not agree here. This sense of 'struggling'' to design, as an example. Great designs is not about struggling it should flow, this idea of being proud to be 'busy', working 'hard', sleeping anywhere among the mess mostly unable even to have a shower, c'mon this is horrible! This selfish approach to make architecture an intense discipline. In the end your well being, who you are reflects in the architecture you design, and eventually the city environment itself. Sorry....

[@1SUPERELLIE1]

I could not agree further! The flow state is absolutely key to grounding creativity into reality.

[@imperialsecuritybureau6037]

Maybe the problem is that they’re trying to create something beautiful through an ugly lens: Modern architecture. Maybe if they spent less time trying to create something “vogue” and _unearthly_ and instead spent more time channeling their humanity and intuitive sense of beauty, rather than this “dude weed lmao” ‘Architecture’ which is more an exploration of metaphysics than an actual building, then they’d have an easier time channeling their talents into designing structures.

[@exchupaganpis3111]

Dou amigo Ndeaaaaaa de nascar de rucula, abre Nefastovich

[@theodoreroosevelt7471]

D Plus I could not agree further

[@ed9910]

Yes!

[@uratwat5298]

Me: *just a high school student looking for an inspirational tale of people experiencing my dream* Administrators/etc. : *referring to students as lambs to slaughter* Me: *silent tears*

[@averymarch5350]

I love how the head of the Architecture program was complaining about how inadequate the program is when it comes to preparing the student for the real world. Imagine shelling out 50k+ a year to get an education, only to hear the head of your program say you not being taught adequately.

[@koi4128]

Another thing I’d like to point out in critiques is that sometimes professors can clash and disagree with each other. I’m a 3rd year arc student and we’ve had whole shitshows where the professors just literally fight on zoom over their own opinions, and we as students are just sitting there confused @-@

[@ericwilliams7374]

I'm not an architect, but I have been in construction for the majority of my life ( I'm 45 years old). The biggest suggestion that I could probably make to these students, or anyone aspiring to become an architect ( because it use to be a dream of mine, and why I'm here) is to get a job with a construction company. Actually get out and "build" buildings, and or houses between semesters. This may help give you a better understanding of materials used, and how the whole process works "from the other end". Getting a job in construction might not be everyone's forte, but it definitely couldn't hurt.

[@callmeishmael7452]

As an architect who came from a ‘ construction family’ of generations I can say it gives you immense confidence once working in an office. You are 10 years ahead and know ‘how things get done’ on site. Didn’t help in arch school whatsoever though. The years of poor sleep eventually force all the wafflers to become decision makers. The pay is absolutely terrible , there are ten times as many archs as needed in the marketplace.

[@SquidCena]

How would I go find a construction job between semesters?

[@haffa0905]

@@callmeishmael7452 what are some alternatives that make good money. Architecture is what i want to do but i feel like I would be chasing a dream that could be a nightmare in disguise

[@callmeishmael7452]

@@haffa0905 it depends what type of person you are. Architecture requires intelligence, a person highly articulate with words and graphics, a real understanding of materials and construction and much else including leadership and management. Pay is less than engineer of equal years however schooling is double. Building is a great career. I have immense respect for a good tradesman who knows his/her craft like a master.

[@mammalianmolasses4724]

I did exactly this last summer. Learned way more in three months than my entire first year in studio. When this school year ends I’ll be interning for another summer. It’s unbelievable that we’re taught to design buildings without being taught how to make them.

[@nashjobsen8280]

I'm a struggling architecture student. this documentary somehow gave me motivations. thank you

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Mohammad Nasiruddin Happy to hear! What part or moment in the film did this occur?

[@nashjobsen8280]

when the curly hair guy said "if you don't like something, do something about it"

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Mohammad Nasiruddin Yes, we thought that was the perfect quote to end the film on.

[@nelsonblessinguwada9022]

@@thetributist7905 the studies is a lifelong exercise, we can't finish architecture Hamza, though we are making steady progress.

[@francomartin8275]

Right now I am a struggling architect student as well. I'm losing motivation and its just my freshman year. My classmates are so good with it and I don't feel like I belong. Not that I dont like architecture but maybe I just have a problem with manual, im too lazy for manual sketches in short. Any tips on how I can fight this manual laziness lol. I want to make my parents proud of me too someday like my siblings did.

[@offline2588]

This video makes me a little sad and overwhelmed but also relieved. There is so much to learn and plenty of things that could be unlearned. The notion of "star architect" and design competitions take away from helping students advance and become better designers. The desire to gain recognition and validation gets in the way of "thinking clearly". I liked how one student described what a good critique is. I couldn't agree more. The stereotype and acceptance of that architects are masochists is pretty depressing. I don't know about all of you but my dream is not to spend most of my days locked away in an office (goofing off or not). How can you think clearly if you're not taking care of your health? Justifying it under the guise of passion seems a little bit deceiving. I find the quote "If you don't like something, do something about it" in this video, ironic. The conflict lies in "don't give up on your dreams" vs. "your dream is about your client". The reality is that it's not just about you. The notion of the star architect is not about being a good designer; but about fame and appealing to the crowd. The other reality is as one student pointed out, you miss out a lot of things working on your own. People - you can't live with them but you definitely can't live without them. It's a balancing act in all cases.

[@drullaa]

That's true: Five years of "Do something about it"

[@Mark_James_Hill]

who cares if they like it? if its a right fit and works its good regardless of whether some people like it or not. youll always get people who just want you to be wrong and them to be write or say something profound. this is true everywhere in life. its called pride and it poisons most good ideas. but what can be learned is how to deal with these attitudes and still do what you do.

[@Bol3D_Comics]

and get money for it like when your bike design wins the tour but it is not about the bike!!!!!

[@bananaboat3542]

They say you should treat teachers as if they were clients.

[@GarciaJustinBArchPE]

Hand sketching is SO underdeveloped in architecture graduates and even in licensed architects... Can't tell you how many arch interns come looking for a job and can't hand sketch just a chair. How embarrassing it must be for architectural professionals who can't sit across from their clients and quickly sketch ideas... I have seen this time and time again. Looking back to my studio days I remember just about every student trying to design their vision on CAD which is totally non efficient and unproductive. Hand sketching is usually an elective in architecture curriculums but it should be the most emphasized fundamental skill for an architect..

[@wasdnty]

Hey there! You might want to check out my new series WHAT ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL DOES NOT TEACH YOU @whatarchschooldoesnotteachyou here on KZbin, Instagram and Twitter! It's my Architecture journey of stories and lessons (un)learnt through which I aim to empower architects, architecture students and creatives to seek their truth! We are moving towards a new Architectural consciousness which means it is crucial to raise (self)awareness within the industry! Come join the community and subscribe, there is so much I have to share with you!

[@milesborg9812]

It's because architectural education is fundamentally terrible.

[@KUBE.archvis]

Because you can sketch the same chair faster and more accurately on a computer.

[@yme3267]

@@KUBE.archvis Or download one just as quickly

[@Chrisymcmb]

But you can't download your imagination online. Sketching your imagination is faster than drawing it out on CAD

[@rr7firefly]

Having gone through this discipline (30 juried critiques in 5 years) I would say that a good critique depends largely on the panel of instructors or visiting architects who review one's work. Some provide valuable insight; others waste your time with their bombast and posturing as they use your jury to show you how smart they are. I also would like to add that there is still a place in architecture for those with idealism and a benevolent sense of applied aesthetics. The world needs people with dedication to bring imagination and the application of a body of knowledge to solving people's problems.

[@aayatsa323]

You know that feeling when u are a senior high school student and don't even know who you want to be in the future,even your grades are not that good to be who you want to be💔

[@randomtragedyx]

I graduated a year ago from architecture and have to say I do miss studio culture. After moving cities it's hard to connect with other people about architecture or find others who enjoy architecture outside the school environment. The video really portrayed the struggle and joy studio is.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

randomtragedyx Thanks for the comment on the film and happy to hear you feel that it captures the studio culture well. That is one of the things we hear most is how well the film develops and showcases the feeling of being in the design studio. Good luck finding some good architecture colleagues in your new city. Not sure where you're located but there is likely some sort of national architectural organization which is always a good spot to start.

[@ToaLanDe]

This doc is a perfect vid to tell the aspiring to be students the need of the passion for architecture to be an architect. Don't take architecture half-assed since it wouldn't take you anywhere, take it seriously, it would surprise where it would take you. I'm someone who went in and realise this isn't for me and regretted later why I pushed myself to finish the school even this is not my passion. But I'm thankful for my school for it taught me the skills of how to perceive my surroundings critically and later to solve a problem efficiently by creativity, which I could use in any kind of field of work. Think twice when you wanna be an architect, since it would literally require you to change your lifestyle and dedicate yourself fully, when it is not passion you have, it would likely become a torture for yourself later. Thanks for sharing this amazing video :) !

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

ToaLanDe Thank you for sharing your story and reaction to the film! What did you end up doing after architecture school?

[@sidharthravva]

yep this is the message we need to give to students who who think architecture is fancy profession and they can make lots of money through it.

[@ToaLanDe]

Arbuckle Industries I end up in working in financial industry with side jobs of graphic designing :) again thanks for sharing the vids

[@ToaLanDe]

sidharth ravva exactly. thats what I initially thought before deciding my major : *how hard is it to design a building*. Boy, I was wrong. But I still fulfill my studies and graduate as one of the best with cum laude. So, its not that I can't, but Im just not passionate about it. It became a burden when working. So again, my message is, if you're not seriously loving this, please rethink about entering this field. If you love it, then go for it :)

[@SquidCena]

@@sidharthravva So it isn't a fancy profession and you can't make a lot of money through it?...

[@eldorado223]

this doc has me in my feels. i miss Studio so much. i have a friend that went off into the military when i went off to SPSU for my prof. bach. when i was in my graduating year, he came into the program. now that he's out he said to me: "the bonds that you make with our studio-mates are exactly like the bonds i made in afghanistan. we all went through war together."

[@panusupame7975]

After I watched this video, some urge deep inside me that has long forgotten and lost is back. It's the inspiration. As an architecture student ,who has been completely lost ,depressed, stressful for 2 years, it's hard to be motivated if you are not in the proper environment . Unfortunately, I have to admit that my architectural school environment is ,socially and physically , disagreeable and unproductive. However, this documentary film did exceedingly inspire me. That makes me want to give it a try again.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Panu Supame Happy to hear the film provided some inspiration!

[@r.b.l.5841]

i have spent five decades working with Architects trying to make their ideas fit into budgets, while not falling down or letting the rain in. Some of the best work: was not struggling to look cool or different but actually just solve a practical problem a client had, and fit into an existing community.

[@maiav8432]

I am an architecture student and this was such a beautiful glimpse of our world.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Maia Vexsler Thanks for the awesome remark! Please spread it to all who you think would like to see inside our world and who may be interested in Architecture!

[@jpowell33609]

This Film was well put together. As an Architect student who goes through the daily struggle it re-energizes me because I know there are other out there willing to make a difference. GREAT JOB!

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Jay Powell Thanks for the watching and the awesome comment! Yes, it is very hard to capture on camera the familial environment of the studio and feel like we did this justice in the film. Please share it with anyone who never "got" why architects do what they do, especially in schoo!

[@ManojSharma-jn8tb]

It made me understand my son...who is doing Architecture ....Thanks

[@aestheticcuriosity9867]

I cannot express how inspiring was that short movie for me few years ago, when I was almost finished with my studies and I felt really overwhelmed and tired. It reminded me about passion, hard work that every one of us at architecture school experience and the satisfaction when we see the growth. Today the video popped up once again in my watch later section, and I am grateful for reminding me again how great it is to work in a creative environment. /L

[@ShafnatNaufalsketch]

just listening to this talk without even watching the video while doing my design project is already motivating me. good luck, to every architect students reading this!

[@mustafaali8238]

I'm an architecture student. This video has inspired me to put more efforts in my designs. Also the studio is a very effective space to work on a design. And the ideas of the people there, like about the critique and changing what you dont like, surely gave me motivation to work more efficiently. Nice work! :)

[@TheStudentArchitect]

This is truly one of the most inspiring architecture documentaries I have ever seen. It gives a very accurate representation of the architecture studio life and culture. It encourages further discussion about the grand ideas of architecture and raises important questions of “what is architecture” and “how should it be taught?”. It also helps to explain to outsiders why we put ourselves through such scrutiny time and time again. This documentary also helped to justify some of my personal feelings toward architecture including the constant struggle, doubt, and fear. I have come to realise that these negative feelings are imperative to the design process in that they accompany the passion and internal strengths that emanate once these struggles have been overcome. The design struggle is real and powerful and inevitable but ultimately, it is the driving force of great design.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

The Student Architect Thank you for such a awesome post! Please help us continue to get this film out in front of architects, designers, future architecture students and others. We don't have a distribution budget so we depend on you all for helping post it everywhere!

[@dominiquesteptoe2143]

Thank You for creating and sharing this video. It is an inspiration to see the "inside" of Architecture. At first I thought the students were professionals, but then I noticed that they were in a studio. This video has impacted my inspiration on my view of Architecture. Architecture is the craft of the world's design. Architecture is part of Life.

[@sassysaguaro4906]

This motivated me in an incredible way i didn't know was possible. It touched every corner of me, and cohesively spoke to everything that has been on my mind for the last 6 months. Thank you for creating this.

[@amirabrahimi4863]

I never knew I needed to see this. Architecture school is so unique, so few truly understand

[@shawaw99]

This was EXACTLY what I experienced in architecture school and it seems not much about "studio culture" has changed or adapted to the real world as architecture has. As an arch student, the one thing that I never understood was the jury critiques. While some critiques sparked meaningful discussions between instructors who actively participated in my development as an architect, others were just browbeating sessions by random people off the street as it were. Ultimatel6, I didn't really "find my niche" in architecture until I walked away from architecture school and into the real world to help people/firms with real needs. I will credit architecture school with that much, it did help me find a place where I could expand myself and still provide a needed service. It wasn't all bad. There were some fond memories born in the studio as well.

[@vladimirloubensromilus2971]

Thank you for making this film. I've watched this before and even watching it again still motivates me as a student going into architecture. Struggling but the world need such minds as ours.

[@Lo-and-Jaq]

My favorite studios in school were in creating planning documents and conceptual designs for small towns/ pueblos in my home state of New Mexico. The 'starchitect' stuff was lost on me. I genuinely loved the opportunity to work in real communities and expose them to the design process. I kind of enjoy the task that is working with a limited budget - because it's REAL LIFE. I love my job as an intern at a small firm and I feel so fulfilled. I have learned so much. I still have to attend grad school as well. This video made me miss being in the studio environment and look forward to going back soon enough. Thanks for making this :)

[@charltoncarswell9977]

Would be excellent to follow the same folks at 5 year intervals to check progress, accomplishments, changes in attitude and beliefs and see how the world treats them, how marriage and family and potentially divorce and certainly age and life in general, changes their perspectives. This was an excellent video that captured unique points of a niche education/career. Thank You!

[@phcastro2761]

Olá, quero parabenizar os criadores do vídeo, foi realmente muito bom e inspirador. Sou estudante de arquitetura do Brasil, estou no 4º semestre da faculdade. Esse vídeo me mostrou como realmente uma universidade tem que ser, como realmente os alunos de arquitetura tem que se comportar perante os desafios e questões sociais referentes ao seu projeto. Fiquei muito feliz e inspirado ao ver como é realizado a metodologia de ensino para os esses alunos de arquitetura. No vídeo mostra que não estão formando apenas arquitetos, mas também pensadores, críticos. Isso é o que falta para o ensino das universidades Brasileiras.

[@triphide]

A good tip to prepare for a critique imho is not to explain/talk/rant more than asolutely necessary about things we cannot see. Talk about what is present in your material. If you did not finish all your work, don't overexplain what should have been there, focus on what is on your panels. Also, if you have too little stuff, print the best stuff really really big ;)

[@fourchins5710]

That strong sense of community is what I was looking for in art school. Didn't find it there since everyone was simply doing they're own thing, going in they're own directions. The fact that everyone here shares the same goal and interest make it so much easier to form strong bonds.

[@sanaathegreat2324]

Any other high school students kinda intimidated by this...?

[@SubtleAcoustics]

If you're not intimidated you'll fail out.

[@carl_anderson9315]

Don't worry. If you are interested on architecture, do it. Architecture is so beautiful you always find the strength to work no matter what. You just have to drop your ego at the classroom door and to get mentally prepared because professors are not going to tell you you're special or smart. They're going to make you question yourself, but that's part of the game. Don't take it personal.

[@PhengKhang]

If you really want it, you must live and breathe it.

[@potatosarenice3286]

If anything I'm motivated by it. It makes me think i can do it no matter what anyone says as long as i continue to put effort in and study harder to become an architect

[@vidhi9746]

It cannot be described in words how amazing it feels to draw every inch of our magnificent imagination on a pice of paper . From the beauty to efficiency , from incredible history to extremely advanced future , it has everything . It is not just mere interest of an individual it is beyond it , it is passion.😄

[@walterbebirian6590]

brilliant point about stepping back from the giving of a sales pitch -

[@reiannevangelista5381]

After watching this, I immediately miss my Architecture school days. The goofing around while doing projects and the criticisms from my professors and colleagues.

[@Aymen90madrid]

Greetings from Tunisia, as an architect student, I found this very motivating and inspiring, great job, THANK YOU!!!

[@404fulmike]

One of the main problem of being an architecture is the critique you heard from your professor because you have to swallow her/his words. Some people see critism as pressure, but some see it as motivation and what to improve. The world of architecture is very complicated afterall.

[@oyuo12]

Wow, this really took me back to my days as a student! This is a really good start to a whole set of topics we need to start discussing in the industry. Right now that I'm finishing my postgraduate studies, I have a broader vision now of where us architects have the potential of coming out from the dogmatic scheme under which we've been working so far. I hope this inspires many architecture students to move forward!

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Andrea Oyuela Thank you for the great response! Yes, the film screened over 130 times so far with most of these having discussion panels surrounding many topics raised in the film and in general how we are training the next generation of architects. Some are posted to the Discussion page of our website - www.archiculturefilm.com/discussions.html

[@johnferraz6417]

Being an 'Architect' is a serious personal challenge that does not ever end. The preparation is intense and the result totally immersive. The profession is very demanding and unforgiving...you do need to have a very strong belief that what you are doing will make a difference at an individual level, as well as to our national communities. It is a total surrender to positive, enduring and sustainable change. The opportunity to contribute to a better world is out there. 'Journey as Place...Becoming as End.' All the best to those who choose to endure the challenge.

[@richardsprow3418]

I spent 5 years in this studio culture, and then the next 40 years trying to move beyond it. Studio life and crits are an important skill to have, but the great failing of architectural education is that once you get past imagining something that doesn’t exist, it is a team effort to actually build anything. The last two years of arch school should focus on understanding the complex process of bringing architectural ideas into a world of collaborative business. Architects limit their own influence on the world with this constant focus on design heros who ‘..get some experience, but then I want to have my own small firm’. The Broadway actors who move from the chorus to stardom all understand the complexity of putting on a show, they don’t retreat to a cottage in Vermont putting on their own plays at the village rec center.

[@neoxpolarbear]

aaaarrrhhh the Critique hahahahaha. I'm in 2nd year, and for our final semester studio we had a 6hr presentation/critique and less than a quarter of the class actually came to present (our prof was really hard in previous ones, but not compared to her new Final Boss mode she had going on in this critique). So in this 6hrs we had 6-8 people present out of the usual 20-25. Our presentations would last a minute or two, the critique lasts what seemed like days, and weeks when it was happening to myself. Our prof made people cry, and stay standing as we basically just got humiliated in front of everyone in class for the finals we presented. Not one person got any recognition for their efforts. Instead of 6hr it become 7.5hrs, basically an hour each. And everyone actually stayed as a form of support for everyone else in class (felt like an army team building exercise hahaha) But what made it worse, like what they guy said @about 9mins in, is that the professors explain their ideas in a minute, we then understand their thought, but then they reiterate and then perpetuate the stupidity of your choices for the next 20-30mins. I know this is mean as fuck, but it just shows whats going through their minds when they design or looking at others design. The knit picking and attention to detail, which we as architect have to have as a skill. But damn is critique a scary and fun place at the same time.

[@OldSchool9690]

What school do you go to so I can skip that application?

[@FairleyTrashed]

As an architecture lecturer I’m sorry. It shouldn’t be that way. It’s more about the egos of the crit panel than the educational opportunities.

[@guyb7005]

Attention to spelling and to detail are both important. Remember, those who can do, those who can't grammarly!

[@winterwolf211]

@@OldSchool9690 The worst critique I've ever been to was one I couldn't think properly because (1) I hadn't slept in two days, and (2) I hadn't eaten anything since dinner and I felt like I was about to pass out. Their words just went in one ear and out the other.

[@dreadpirates_]

you had a VERY BAD TEACHER, critiques are best when they are motivational, not destructive. Your school should have recognized this and had remedial action if her students aren't showing up... you guys can also go to the dean and say she is being unnecessarily intolerant and get a video of one of these awful critiques. ... I'm sorry but a lot of architecture is VERY toxic. We need to pull each other out of our own assess and fix this industry. I've been told by clients that they HATE talking with architects because it feels like an ego contest and they don't listen. When ego should have nothing do to with the solution, if the client hates your design its bad... that's its. If you both are satisfied with it; its perfect. sucks but that's reality. I have also grown very intolerant of what I call " archispeak" its a bunch for meaningless words we make up and sound really smart in describing something... but only you know what you are saying and you look like an asshole to everyone else who isn't an architect .... suggest purging this from your lifestyle once you hit the a firm.

[@jesseloh4524]

This film is so meaningful and awesome!! It always motivates me and inspires me to think why i enter architecture and why architecture matters. "You don't go into architecture if you're pessimist, if you don't actually believe that the world can get better." fantastic!! archiculture!!

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

YiQing Loh Yes, that is such a great quote from Maurice Cox! Happy you enjoyed the film!

[@marcellofernandes4998]

I graduated in 2014 from NJIT School of Architecture and Design and this is exactly what I went through.. It's like Deja Vu.. but you know what? I am glad I did and if I could I would live it all over again. Those were one of the best years of my life..

[@francoisbay5468]

The definition I give of good architect is a guy who know various things and is able to summarize in a building, the particular problem are just the part of the game!

[@jeffcornett4172]

Really enjoyed the video. I've thought about studying architecture for years and this is exactly what I wanted to see. The part about using right and left brains and having optimism was enlightening and explains why I've always been drawn to architecture, since I think the same way. Thank you for giving me a taste of what arch education is like.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Jeff Cornett Happy you got so much out of the film!

[@AlanChanasc]

#Archichat This documentary was announced when I was in my first year of architecture school. Now, having graduated 3 years ago, I still found this very enjoyable. The studio culture really is like nothing else out there. I think my favorite part was when a student mentioned how much was lacking when working from home. Studio really is one of the most important aspects of architectural education.

[@ianharris951]

Alan thanks for the comment. Yes, we made it a point to keep the story structure from feeling dated by focusing on larger, more rhetorical questions of architecture education. Happy you picked up on that and you feel it did a good job of taking you inside the studio!

[@R4D4RGUN]

I've only been in architecture school for a month and after reviews I've already started to relate to this

[@erpanxawket1902]

A great exploration about how should we learn the Architectture

[@Sandmn05]

I am curious where each of these students ended up. How their attitudes expressed within this video translated into their workflow/collaboration and influenced their job landing.

[@KimberlyPeretteAtKimpStudio]

They burn out and become bartenders and mystery writers like I’m currently doing. Bwaa!ha!ha!🤪😆😎

[@thedreamer9529]

@Jemalo That motivation is sporadic and the amount of stress they'd actually have to endure during the remaining time is horrible. I've been through that and I could relate to the design high she talked about, I've had to go through multiple sleepless nights just thinking about my project. Not a very healthy environment in my opinion. I hated the studio all the time and just wanted to get out and breathe.

[@SquidCena]

@@KimberlyPeretteAtKimpStudio You're serious?...

[@brendenfullmer1052]

I thought it was funny they kept trying to make it seem like the architecture students were a reputable source of information about how it is to work as an architect or what real-life architecture work is. Both the teachers and the students live in a school version of whatever it is that they're learning which I've found is more fantasy than reality. I've found that working as a welder. College made me optimistic and like living the life of a welder would be fun and exciting- but instead I was working against the clock to meet efficiencies, breathing smoke and scrapping bee-bees (you'd know what that means if you're a welder ;), working my butt off and putting my health last for the sake of a sweat shop. I really wish we could all jump straight into the career we wanted and learn it from professionals and do the exciting ground breaking and creative work as soon as you're capable- but instead that is only left to a few people which makes sense financially obviously but is sucky for everyone who isn't at the top- and if you want to get there you'll have to sacrifice so much of the goodness life and your limited time to get there. Maybe. Eventually. Thats why I'd much rather make my own path and go my own way instead of joining in the rat race- but starting out by yourself is hard and you do ultimately need to know what you're doing if you start going your own way. You can't become an architect with doodles. There is specific standards that must be met with a blueprint that a regular person would not know, and a different version of that example is true of any job. There is also the problem that people's job responsibilities are getting more and more specific because it is more immediately profitable for the business if people are doing the same specific thing everyday. The more humans switch between responsibilities or work from work the more time is wasted and the more mistakes can be made which all costs the business money, but switching focuses is exactly what helps people de-stress at work and love their job. People doing the same small thing over and over all day, but everyone doing the different things working towards an singular end product is also the description of a factory. The more and more factory-like our jobs become for the sake of the monetary profit of the business the more we are all going to hate our jobs. The up-side to all of this is that you can do pretty much whatever you want in your life and you can go as far as your hard work can take you- I just think there should be less friction so our hard work takes us all farther. But still we should fix the competitive attitude out current businesses have to be less Olympic games and more self-sustaining. Maybe that's why people don't hold onto jobs very long anymore- perhaps it is because they desperately need change. Jeez this has become an article. You might say "Well jeez Brenden, isn't business a competition where you're trying to beat the other companies?". Thats what everyone says, sure, but in reality when have you ever seen a company "beat" another company and destroy their business? Its not like CEO's are Warlords trying to conquer each other. Would you even want that? No! Even the thought of taking jobs away from other people who may love their job and coworkers is sad not to mention that they may be the sole income of their family. That would be terrible! Businesses are all about the long term game and their employees, but modern businesses don't play it that way. Why do we even have jobs in the first place? To provide a good life for people and yet people are more miserable at their jobs and out of their jobs that ever! What are we doing wrong? Us as people need a good environment. A healthy amount and variety of responsibilities and freedom, and good people around us. We also strive to learn about the things that interest us at the time. This should all be available to people, but its going to require us to have a change of focus about how our businesses are run.

[@arieletara3949]

I love it how the part from 4:08 to 4:38 seems as some kind of a movie scene. I accidentally watched this video a second time now and remembered how great this part is.

[@sghomemaker9354]

Thanks for helping us appreciate the world of architecture

[@BrendanGeyer1]

Great film, thanks for uploading :) Im a 2nd year architecture student thats going through a rough patch at the moment and this little gem just filled me with some much needed motivation. Thanks!

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Brendan Geyer Very happy to hear this! Keep up the hard work and good luck with the rest of the year!

[@lailasumadi2912]

Brendan Geyer The Architect ™ Full HD Movie The Architect ™ Full HD Movie

[@angel888angel]

hahaha this is soo funny,I finished my BA Architecture in other side of the globe and we had the same workshops, the same problems, the same funny groups of crazy architects who never sleeps and when it is 3 AM it looks like brain is lack of oxygen, because of 19 hour working without sleep and it starts to make some funny jokes out of nothing ...so completely the same lifestyle. I think architecture unites the architects of the world, only architects know what you are going through, and also the professor not constructive critic talks 20 min about your "mini problem" what actually not a problem :D But i learned to accept that with smile ,always agreed, but anyways done everything my way :D

[@milestone8585]

great response .

[@vitoorvieeira]

im sad, my college is shit, i study architecture and it doesnt look like this documentary, im transfering right now

[@meh_6425]

@The Initials BB not in all places, i some places it's worthy asf

[@wickedhate2006]

Architecture in Philippines is BACHELOR IN SCIENCE of architecture not BA.

[@haariyare2946]

I want to learn architecture what advice to help me

[@inspiracast9297]

Fantastic Documentary. I love architecture and the creation process.

[@JulesA5266]

I'm not an architecture student but is a counterpart - an Interior Design Technology (which incorporates interior architecture with design principles) and this documentary is really exciting! I'm only a Freshman who's yet to have to do boards and models yet but I am looking forward to it! I hope to get a Master's of Architecture someday!

[@callherbyurname]

Great film, thanks for uploading. I'm a student in high school and I wanted to be an architect. That's my biggest dream. I have so much passion to reach this dream and this film just gave me so much motivation to struggle in high school. Thanks!

[@ozge8262]

How are you doing now?

[@TARO5888]

I am currently a PHD student studying architecture and I feel like I want to quite architecture completely. Ive felt that the more you study about how poetic and beautiful architecture is, the more frustrated you become on the current state of the construction industry. Im sure that there are many positive aspects but the recent economical events that have hit the construction industry and the current condition of the construction industry has made me probably too pragmatic and pessimitic for architecture.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

***** Yes, you either dig in and help make it better or you opt out and choose another career path. Hopefully you'll use your talents for good!

[@jordiegundersen1465]

This school it seems brings out the best out of a person as well addresses the part of being human that needs to be refined. I see architecture as evolution. In my eyes you are a special breed.❤

[@franciscojavierlopez3649]

me encantó este documental sobre la educación de la arquitectura y como debe darse en nuestros tiempos, el ejercicio MANUAL cotidiano de los alumnos Y LA INTERACCIÓN que hacen con su ambiente, con sus compañeros y con su escuela les permite rescatar los métodos tradicionales de la enseñanza en nuestra profesión, ESTO SE HA PERDIDO YA NO SE PROCEDE CON LO BASICO, ahora domina la tecnología y los principios que sirven de base se hacen a un lado. ..

[@NABROWNEBMX]

Car Design/ Industrial Design Student here- There are too many similarities in the design school world- students who stay up and destroy their sleep, health, and overall well being are almost seen as "design martyrs" and put their work above themselves... I used to do the same exact thing. its really not healthy. its sad how normalized it is to have a a mental breakdown/burnout as a "rite of passage", along with the intense low self worth rampant among design students because they're not the best one in their class. Don't focus on becoming the "star Designer" and focus on your own aesthetic and what makes your work special. Take care of yourself, and the care in your work will reflect that. ALSO- the heavy reliance on 3D programs is truly not a good thing. its only a tool to flush out your idea, but SKETCHES are the utmost important thing..picture this: you're in a meeting, and you come up with a great idea in the moment that you'd want to show the team...what're you gonna say "oh hold on let me model this for you and ill be right back"? HELL NO. grab a pen, grab some paper and sketch out your idea. That's happened to me in so many meetings and i couldn't even begin to describe how much of an impact it's made. While computers are needed, you cant solely rely on them.

[@billyjosh9462]

Nabrowne what?

[@paolagutierrez2125]

I really enjoy this film! Mostly because it shows the student and the professor situation at the architecture school. I am a last year student from Bolivia, I think this film could remind our motivations as future architects, our convictions to do things that help to change the perception of the world and the world as itself. And one of the most important thing to listen smartly every day.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Paola Gutierrez We totally agree! We see our company's work as a way to start communicating the stories behind the built environment and Archiculture is just one of the many important ones to tell.

[@mohitjain9620]

very inspiring and at the same time it makes you think what type of architect you want to be....

[@aaronteodoro9061]

5 years of study plus 2 years of apprenticeship before you can take the licensure exam. This video is inspiring.

[@rheacane3108]

I'm really proud of this career :) and being one of the future architect in my country Philippines :)

[@pepita86]

What a good times! :)

[@pitchcomic]

Being a couple years out of school now I often wonder if I would see the world and interact with my surroundings the same if I had not gone to architecture school. I walk to work every day in downtown Chicago and constantly see people who appear so out of touch with their own surroundings. people that walk the same route everyday who appear lost. I believe architecture school truly altered my psyche, and made me more aware of my surroundings while also allowing me to think critically about them.

[@nadazougham7428]

this video has just made me a lover of architecture ❤❤thank you

[@josepajares5684]

Pretty accurate. Great film.

[@vestfoldify]

am i the only one that thought that this was a video of architects just stroking each other (Im an architect)

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

vestfoldify Sounds like it.

[@vagrantoner]

+vestfoldify They're the only ones who usually understand what they "really" do, so that tends to be the case.

[@TheThreatenedSwan]

+vestfoldify It seemed like it, and it seems like they aren't teaching them about the importance of visuals between buildings or oublic space or anything like that. They just had them pull whatever they could out of their asses without a look to the bigger picture. Our new cities are just going to be sprawled and completely disjunct stylistically I guess...

[@TheThreatenedSwan]

The Acanthus/Plinth Type Look at all the new buildings being put up regularly in cities like London and come back to me...

[@tomwilliams7326]

+chasem007ify Fucking pessimist, this is why you'll never be an architect

[@ssam032000]

Thanks! This video gave lots of help to me considering being an architect.

[@meangene123]

I have been waiting to see this film since I first heard about it 2 years ago and the wait was well worth it. I am finishing up my undergrad studies and am starting my grad courses in the fall and this really helped to light that fire again. I cant tell you how many times I watched the TRAILER for this film when I was feeling down in studio and it helped to pull me out of a rut. I do wish that it had been made into the feature length film but I understand why it wasn't and I just want to thank you guys for making this.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Gene Bauer Thank you so much for posting this heartfelt comment and happy to hear it helped give you some energy on those long studio nights. Good luck on your grad studies and please be sure to share this with your studio mates!

[@colinmacsuibhne9210]

I know there a lot of comments here on either end of the spectrum, this video has really polarised people. This is not a bad video, its well edited, very well shot and nice to watch. But at the same time it is being framed badly as a movie about the studio, when it's actually about studio mentalities. I know some people enjoy this stuff, and it seems from the comments that it has motivated a lot of people, which is great. I think there is a real danger here of glorifying the design process and the way we're educated. Just taking the section on The Critique, the students are shown presenting their work and arguing with critics and then say privately how they feel about the crit and they great struggle they go through. Its not until Kenneth Frampton comes on is anything of substance actually said about the crit, and he challenges the 'sales pitch' idea of the crit. It could just be the way the students are speaking so generally about the studio culture, and Shigeru Ban almost makes out like the American schools are they only ones with communal studios? Regardless, its always interesting to see how other schools do things

[@ryankim9111]

Wow, this video really inspires me.. I spent many days agonizing which job I want to do in the future (I'm a high school student). I think Ive found what I am really interested in, architecture. This video shows a spectrum how architecture affects our society which is awesome! This might be helpful to pick my courses. Thanks

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Ryan Kim Happy to hear the film has inspired and helped you find your path!

[@ekaterinapermitina3229]

Very interesting was to see this documentary movie. He can really motivate a lot of people with desire to study architecture. It is like little history but with many useful information that can helps in the future plans.

[@alexmaninga5447]

Very inspiring.... Truly needed to watch that.

[@jimmy_camping]

I'm an Architect here also, and I totally disagree with this whole documentary, Architecture is not a struggle, it is a challenge and quite pragmatic and practical as a profession, you design, you build, for purpose. Losing sleep does not create good Architecture but rubbish details and incompetent clarity of thought...................

[@billyjosh9462]

Jimmy Kim what?

[@brittanyJ7998]

Being an architect can be a struggle for some and a breeze for others its all in how you perceive things as a whole. Knowing the little details and such. lets not throw shade around we are all different and will have different opinions. Have a wonderful day!!

[@kimbrooks5419]

I was brought here from a public speech we had in beauty school. He said if you want to be good at building a hair structure. you must know architecture.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

This is awesome!

[@velueta2008]

ɷɷ I Have Watchedd Thisss Moviee Leakedddd Versionnn Hereee : - t.co/RlKbv1hghK

[@zeine442]

Same with writing a novel. There are two kinds of writers - discoverer and architect.

[@joep7122]

Then the presenter didn't know what architecture is..

[@haroldalvarez5113]

Este video es motivador, porque te ayuda a entender lo que en realidad significa "estudiar arquitectura"... Es algo que va mas allá de lo que la sociedad puede imaginar, el estudiar arquitectura es entregar tu vida por ella... Definitivamente lo que busca una personas con grandes ansias de transformar el mundo...

[@JayvoneSeverin]

This is by far the best video on KZbin that shows the life of an Architect student and tells a whole bunch of information about it. Every other video on here is a joke. And this was at one of my schools that I wanted to go to. I left school early to go on a tour there, which I was late for, and I have to say that they have a very beautiful campus. The artwork is just amazing. Thank you for this documentary!!!!!

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

jayvone Thank you for the great comment about the film! Where did you end up going to school?

[@JayvoneSeverin]

Arbuckle Industries I'm still in high school, but I'm a Senior with only 2 more months to go. And when I would look online for some architecture stuff it was just little videos and what not. But I got accepted into 3 SUNY colleges. So for that I'm looking towards Farmingdale State College only because it's 58 minutes away from where I live. But I really did want to go to Pratt bit that's to expensive. Lol. But now I'm waiting for CUNY to get back to me. I'm looking at the city College of new York or the city College of technology. If I don't get into those then Farmingdale is my choice.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

jayvone Try reaching out to people who've graduated from each program. They'll give you the best input. Good luck with your selection process!

[@xiaominyu8104]

Thank you for the subitile

[@pallavipandit2016]

i love architecture .. i want to be an architect after watching this video .. iam so energetic .. i really want to be the best architect

[@benosas24]

Great videos shared here. Thanks for sharing this video. I am so enlightened

[@sbsaga692]

This is everything that i try to explain to people about architecture. We always get looked at as the weirdos because of the way our life is structured, others see chaos but to us its our own form of order. Love this documentary.

[@ArbuckleIndustries]

Blaine Butler Thank you for watching and enjoying the film! You nailed the reason we made the film in the first place!

[@israeladorno237]

Giving another perspective on the architecture college vision: I'm an architecture student in Brasil (don't spell it with Z please) and our reality is almost the same as the students from the video, but it doesn't have to be like that, trust me. There is a type of romanticization surrounding the way students put health and social life on a second plan to give space for the thinking and designing of our projects. Speaking as a student that is living (was living, thanks to miss Rona...) in the chaotic world of architecture, we don't need to be so stressed all the time and give priority to our classes. We can live our lives and also study!! It's all a matter of balance. If your thinking that studying architecture is all stress and work...you're deeply wrong. We have lots of fun, play and laugh all the time with our colleagues during the times we're in the studio creating, we go to parties, get wasted on weekends, have relationships and etc. I fell in love with my course and I don't see myself studying anything else.

[@ozge8262]

Thank you for this. I'm going to start studying architecture next year and everything I've heard from people was negative. It's been a big dream of mine and it's disappointing to see so many people despise the career and the major. This gave me some hope.

[@israeladorno237]

@@ozge8262 Glad I gave you some hope!!! It's a very difficult course, but also beautiful and gratifying. Hope you fall in love with architecture just like I did. Wish you lots of luck!!!

[@aryosugandi7500]

great film, thanks for uploading i'm a 1st year architecture student from indonesia

[@aryosugandi7500]

*****​ yeah... Let's do it... Good luck for us :)

[@aryosugandi7500]

because i'am not sleep yet. By the way can we shared experience about archi or college maybe... #sorry about my English

[@aryosugandi7500]

Aakash Karnavat i am have not math. my math is enginerring mechanic.

[@srossgower]

This is a great video and 100% true in my experience. I did not find that architecture school prepared me at all for the reality of architectural practice. It is very difficult to combine the creativity and unique vision that is required to be a great designer with the pragmatic skills necessary to juggle budgets and fit into the larger structure of the construction industry. I only wish that architecture students would try harder to be original and unique.

[@popularairtravel2905]

Great job friend! Bright shots! Architecture is frozen music. Good mood and growth!

[@2146wearemortal]

wow, messy studio. I love it so MUCH !

[@liquidnseven]

I loved the point @9:44 about critiques! That's also my biggest peeve. I always tell my peers after a rough crit, "That is their job! If they don't point out some point of improvement, then They are not doing their job & You are not improving." But I love the addition to that, where the critique is others personalizing your ideas as their own thoughts...so in some regard, more discussion=more impact.

[@LowResBS240p]

I'll get to that point eventually. I haven't started due to life events but I'll get there and be one of the best

[@jeszzs]

Amazing!! I hope to get into college as soon as possible

[@matthewlo55]

Thank for sharing this video!!! I am going to study architecture this year. When i was a child, i love lego and built lot of buildings, cities or models. Therefore, i have a passion to be an architect. After wasted a year waiting for a chance, finally i got it! I hope to be a professor in architecture one day and contribute to the society!!!!

[@pigwingeeess9560]

I cried when he restated "Do something about it, just do something about it.

[@Salma-je3dw]

Thank you for this amazing video !!

[@RXJ020]

This reminds so much of Architecture school and now Landscape Architecture school is so similar.