When Architects Copy

[@stewarthicks]

Do you have any thoughts on copying in architecture? If you're into the topic, check out my friends over @archimarathon for their take. Link in the description.

[@Archimarathon]

CopyRight CopyWrong

[@stewarthicks]

Oh, I see what you did there.

[@yusufrahman4]

@@stewarthicks Oh, I see what you did there.

[@milosjovic4402]

Mies van der Rohe vs Philip Johnson

[@sanjeevchhabra9042]

My thoughts are of course, copying is wrong.

[@terecthetec756]

There's a very famous quote attributed to the works of Antoine Lavoisier that in nature, nothing is created, everything is transformed. I always felt this has a profound meaning in all disciplines of design, as the fundamental elements of "good architecture" are ultimately shared by all buildings. Authorship is not merely in the difference of form, but rather in the transformation of prior works driven by new ways to interpret their philosophies. While the copy is a superficial recollection of how a building or style is, an original work understands the principles behind the form of works which preceded it, such that a new design can emerge from the re-contextualization of their form, be it consciously or otherwise, trough the injection of the contemporary/local collective unconscious, or as you put it in the video, the current "zeitgeist"

[@nightprowler6336]

Lavoisier's law of matter is that matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed. However, they are transformed.

[@ooDirtyMickoo]

can't this just be used as a crutch to never address plagiarism? I understand the idea that nothing is technically original, that everything is a product of external forces and prior ideas, but the word "copy" means something, we should be setting standards for this? no?

[@renzojose6555]

Meme theory

[@terecthetec756]

@@ooDirtyMickoo Sure, I'm not saying copies aren't a thing - Hicks presents great examples of copies in his video, but notice that many times, the act of copying is itself a design choice, made to compliment or contrast other qualities/components of the space. In that context, copying in architecture is a form of intertextuality, not of plagiarism

[@clementinesuwargo8737]

I think it's in the intent? To perfectly copy is not as easy as lazily copying for personal profit. And to learn involves a great deal of copying. If the intent is to expand the influence and not to create new shape, copying would be a very fine way of doing that.

[@SagBobet]

I'm not an architect by any means, but the university advisor copying his student's work is unacceptable. I don't know how it works in architecture school, but punishments for students caught plagiarizing are very severe in other disciplines. I'd be pretty angry if a professor was the one copying my work.

[@bscottb8]

It must be admitted that 1WTC is a suave Manhattan icon recognized around the world, whatever its parentage during a crisis. I'm just grateful it isn't one of the gimmicky proposals.

[@e1123581321345589144]

I wholeheartedly agree. It was a douche move on the part of the professor. He could have at least given credit to his student for inspiration, or if he liked the idea that much, hired him for the project.

[@JedediahTombstone]

In Architecture school, professors have their own fields, interests, and pet projects, especially at the graduate level. Students will view their writing beforehand and sit in on presentations by the professors, then typically give a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice on which Studio/Professor they want to study with that semester. Even if he allegedly "copied" the student, the student sat down and was directed by him in his studio 3-4 times per week on the form and concept, which isn't even that complex to be considered unique. Again, the question of authorship comes up. But what's unique about the new world trade center, is the engineering and ironwork.

[@penmuni3833]

An 'original' is when no one can find where it was copied from.

[@allangibson2408]

Original is when everyone looks at it and goes “why?”. Copies happen when people look at it and go “wow”.

[@ARRHU-sy3jq]

@@allangibson2408 nice one

[@2ridiculous41]

That MIGHT be the only original comment here. I am certainly going to use it.

[@philipk4475]

The secret to originality is knowing how to hide your sources

[@harleyquinn199]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn6wnKFvrqyksLc

[@luismariaolmedoibarra538]

I’d sue the teacher too tho. Imagine the shock after seeing someone else getting all the money and praise when it’s the exact same project you presented.

[@MangoBuilds]

Lmao that’s like 50% of history hahahaha

[@kimberlyhawkins]

100%

[@chaomatic5328]

150%

[@DrGodzirra]

higher academia is plagued with theft. advising professor have so much control over students who are just so desperate to get their phd or masters, and unfortunately students end up being coerced into adding their professor to the list of contributors. personally know of a person who had the advising professor continue to hold the student back because they claimed the dissertation topic was not solid enough, then a few months later the professor was in the process of getting a research grant of a few hundred thousand dollars to study something that matched the dissertation exactly. Many professors abuse their position

[@NimrodClover]

Having gone to University of Illinois I have first hand exposure to this sort of activity. This is true not only in design, but I saw it in materials, building systems, and digital applications. Yes, it can be difficult to isolate blatant copies, taking undue claim, manipulating credit, or blurring of authorship. Also realize that all "design" made within the context of the University enrollment is the property of the University. I will not argue any legality, but I do believe that credit is due to the person that creates the first synthesis of a building design regardless of its inspiration. The winning design of Freedom Tower is so obviously similar to the student's thesis work it is criminal not to give credit to the student and proportionate accolades. This is regardless of the fact that the shape of the tower is similar to columns found on campus. It is very likely there is another tower with similar morphology built years earlier. But this was the same design for the same program for the same site for the same reasons, and at the same time! The winning design was not a synthesis but a duplication of the student's work. (want to guess the difference in the number of floors between the two designs?....just saying)

[@johnyarbrough502]

I was unfamiliar with the world Trade Center dispute. However, if my thesis supervisor used my thesis for chapters 2 and 3 in his next book, I'd at least expect to see my name in the acknowledgements not just ""thanks to students in the Postwar Built Environment Seminar." This looks like it's more than just adapting a form that's out there. It's more like copying down to the same footnotes.

[@ajtatosmano2]

your name isn't necessary in the acknowledgement then....it needs to be in the citation exactly!

[@johnyarbrough502]

@@ajtatosmano2 you are, of course correct as to what should be. However, in some fields, an MA candidate may be counseled to keep their academic future in mind before going up against a senior scholar.

[@glenbartholomew1058]

It doesn’t say much for the teacher for not at least acknowledging his own students contribution.

[@Da.man99]

In undergrad, we were taught to take influence. The phrase "don't reinvent the wheel" was used a multitude of times. Architects, in general, have taken ideas and elements from others, then transformed or included them within their designs. Architecture is about providing solutions, and ultimately each Architect come ups with a remix of solutions within one design. So when it comes to design elements or shapes, I don't believe that anyone can claim intellectual property. I'm a recent subscriber, and I am loving your take on things.

[@mayeetra7430]

You are one of the best and informative youtubers in architecture. You are a great teacher love learning from you. Thanks for the video.

[@Archimarathon]

Yeah he’s gooooooood

[@guiT39]

Here's my take: when we talk about RESIDENTIAL architecture, the line between "copy" and "inspiration" is usually not as thin as in other types of architecture. In residential, for it to be considered copy, it must be almost identical to the original, IMO. And even so, there's the client factor. It's perfectly normal for a client to request the architect to literally copy the exact same project of a certain house he likes. There's literally nothing wrong with that. And usually when that happens, if money isn't an issue, the copy comes out better than the original. Sort of "perfected"/adapted. I plan on doing that myself, actually.

[@brilliantstudio]

1) Growing up in my house we pronounced it “Le Corbu” 2) one of the greatest examples of copying is how all mixed use developments in the past 10 years look identical no matter the city or context. I blame digital fabrication where the designers all start in a blank slate computer environment. 3) I discovered your architecture leak video and really appreciate what you are putting out. I once interviewed and considered applying to an March program, that was 3 years ago and now I am looking into it again. 4) thanks for your enthusiasm

[@abibnoor]

I just discovered Stewart Hicks and I am so hooked and I am binge-watching. You re-ignite my passion for architecture. Thank you Stewart.

[@Hakulanni]

I'm a former flight Engineer and my love of Engineering in general influenced my twin sons to become engineers themselves. One is an Architect for a Japanese American firm (his Wife is also an Architect working for another Firm) and his twin is a Civil Engineer working as the main project manager for the State Government in Hawa'ii. I just subscribed to your channel a few videos ago. Both my Sons are excited about your videos. I intend to watch most of them so long as the subject matter interests me. Thanks for your efforts, Mr. Hicks.

[@stewarthicks]

Thank you for sharing! Glad you’re all enjoying the videos!

[@shahriarfardin777]

I want to see more architect's and engineers on KZbin giving free lesson's to world for better future of human existence, good luck from Bangladesh 🇧🇩

[@CrankyHermit]

"We learn to paint, after all, in the Louvre." Auguste Renoir, at the end of his life

[@mcx8095]

Those moments in architecture school when you and your peers all come up with roughly the same concepts and design, and nobody knows who copied who.

[@marcdefaoite]

Another great video Stewart. Thank you. I recommend Gish Jen's book The Girl at the Baggage Claim for anyone interested in the theme of copying. She examines copying from and East-West perspective, highlighting how in East Asian cultures copies can be seen as a form of hommage, while in Western cultures it can often be interpreted as plagiarism. Her discussion of a Chinese exact and unlicensed copy of an Apple store is particularly relevant. (also, I hesitated making this comment before, but since it came up again in this video - In French 'le' is a singular 'the' (the apple) pronounced 'luh' (more or less) while 'les' is a plural 'the' (the apples) and pronounced 'lay'. So 'luh' Corbusier, not 'lay' Corbusier for Le Corbusier. This is not meant to diminish in any way the fantastic quality and erudition of your videos. Keep up the good work.)

[@stewarthicks]

Whoa, what a great suggestion. I'll check it out.

[@LDVTennis]

Is copying limited to the facades of a building? Do architects also copy interiors, even if the layouts aren't exactly the same? For example, do you think of Saarinen's TWA terminal every time you see the interior of a Hadid or Yansong building? When you see the interior of the Glenstone museum, do you think the Vals Bath?

[@stewarthicks]

Great point.

[@OppoAs-xu2jk]

០០៨

[@bernardmaree790]

Copying is inevitable. The real ethical question is if the copying is done maliciously or by accident. If it is blatently copy i.e the world trade centre of if it is like those 2 buildings of the competition, where the same reaction to the site was given. This is the real question we as the community must look at.

[@AlessandroCardano]

"I'm inspired by everything I see." -Luis Barragán

[@vonsalas3244]

I think it is important to have numerous references whenever you are designing a building because those will serve as a guide to producing an exquisite building; but it is significant to make sure that you add your own "flare" or "groove" while designing an edifice based from references.

[@2ridiculous41]

"Talent copies, genius steals" One person said that and any number copied it. Me included. When I worked on home improvement magazines, an editor said to me one day "to copy from one source is plagiarism, to copy from two is research, from three or more is original work"

[@dwarch186]

Thank you for another fascinating video! I studied architecture in college and I really enjoy revisiting these topics and learning more about this multifaceted profession. I just wanted to offer a suggestion for a future video: an analysis of the fictional town of Hill Valley from Back to the Future, and how its transformation from 1885, 1955, 1985, 1985 (Alternate) and 2015 embodies the transformation of American towns across the US. I've always found this to be an interesting transformation, as when you look at photos of towns across the US in these years, the story of each is identical to the story of Hill Valley. I look forward to seeing more of your videos!

[@stewarthicks]

OH, good one!!

[@TheBoringAddress]

Copying in architechture is a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, is the one art that demands constant reinvention. On the other, fuck, I'd give anything to live in a Fallingwater or in an Ennish House. On a third hand, sometimes architechts should copy each other: When I compare the social housing projects in Chile from the 60s-70s vs the 90s-to now, urbanists should've just Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V.

[@Phil9874]

honestly love some of the old social housing projects in france.

[@moxielouise]

I'm not familiar with this social housing- can you give me more info so i can learn more? Thanks

[@Phil9874]

@@moxielouise social housing is essentially government funded and sometimes managed housing that is often housing to help low income families/households find housing. There is a lot of it in places like france. It does tend to vary based on the country the quality and quantity. Singapore is also pretty well known for having tons of social housing where you basically take out a multiyear lease on the home and then at then end of that time you can sell it or keep staying there. Essentially though most social housing in cities will be apartments or multi-household structures There were some really bueatifully thought out and executed ideas in the 60s and 70s in a lot of europe. I am by no means an expert but this is what I remember from my architecture history class 2 years or so ago.

[@fatoeki]

@@Phil9874 copying from the 60/70's isn't a good idea energie and safety wise. But we probably should take it as a starting point.

[@Phil9874]

@@fatoeki I mean obviously tech was outdated but that contemporary style especially the furniture from those eras are still quite popular and comfortable.

[@glenbartholomew1058]

I was at a trade show once talking to a businessman from Scandinavia. He pointed to a product and said, ‘Copying doesn’t bother me if they take my idea farther and improve it. But if they copy and make the product worst, it is upsetting.’ When I think of copying and architecture, I think of Frank Lloyd Wright returning from Japan. Japanese design influenced him, by broadened his palette and reinforcing his beliefs at the same time.

[@LambentOrt]

I'm not even an architecture student but your vids are so informative and well-made you've made me an instant fan! Keep up the great work!

[@stewarthicks]

Glad you enjoy them!!

[@davidbaldwin1591]

WashingtonDC in many ways is a copy of Giza (a worship center) in Egypt. When researched carefully, the resemblence is striking.

[@asher8828]

the amount of research done for this video is Astonishing

[@KarimElHayawan]

POV: You've heard the word 'copying' so much that that collection of sounds has lost all meaning and form

[@stewarthicks]

copying, copying, copying, copians;f, fodnsafs

[@jaclynrachellec]

"Semantic satiation."

[@urbancolab]

There is a villa savoye copy slight scaled down in Novi Michigan at 7 mile and m-24.

[@SeanHemenway]

My architectural history professor would encourage us to copy maybe more in the sense of what robert venturi did but he always claimed that if we were coming up with new ideas we would already be amazing architects and theres a precedent for everything

[@bredlo]

'If your work is copied and that upsets you, it means you waited too long to move on.' Brilliant take from Diller. Acknowledges the practice, recognizes the feelings that come with being copied, but also places some responsibility on artists themselves; that the nature of pushing art forward requires action on our part. It strips away some of the "preciousness" we place on our creations. On balance, I think that's a good thing. Another great video, Stewart.

[@KissyRitzy]

I feel as an artist, designer or creator is very difficult not to be inspired by the artists that you so much love, that knowingly or not your work has bits and parts of them. However there's a difference between inspiration and flat out coping someone else's work. But if someone else's copy something that you did, it's ok, they can have it, you will always and forever be able to create more.

[@davidleemoveforlife6332]

Thanks for having the smartest channel on KZbin

[@dimitrijedjurdjevic838]

you have a great channel my guy. and i genuinely hope that it just grows unstoppably

[@stewarthicks]

Thank you very much!

[@DZstudios.]

Remember when Robert Venturi was supposed to make a Las Vegas Hotel for Disneyland Paris

[@wadeguidry6675]

I live in Louisiana and some houses have this stairway on the porch that doesn't go anywhere. It's a modern homage to old Cajun style homes that featured the staircase on their porches.

[@jaclynrachellec]

This is my new favorite channel on KZbin. I love the dialogue in the comments. ☺️

[@A0A4ful]

I am not familiar with the design copyright laws in different countries, and whether it can be extended worldwide. But just like 'original' books or even films, which after the mandatory years/decades of intellectual property and royalty, is usually out there on the public domain. To be used freely for consumption. So, if a 'revered' architectural design is copied after decades/centuries, would it be an act to be condemned? Especially in this era of instant reference on the digital realm...?

[@jesseo8212]

My ears pricked up when you mentioned ARM - I’m from Melbourne where this firm is based and we discussed some of their work recently in a Masters design elective. I’m personally not a fan of most of their work but they do tend to invite architectural discourse (or controversy!) through their particular practise of architecture - for instance, they directly copied the plan form of Libeskind’s Jewish Museum and integrated into their design for the National Museum of Australia. Make of that what you will ;)

[@Crudz601]

I used to think badly of ARM but I've come to appreciate their work after understanding the ideas behind some of their buildings. The National Museum played with the notion that the history and development of Australia is incomplete and tangled, hence the motif of puzzle pieces being scattered across the site, in which the Jewish Museum plan is a piece of that puzzle. (Although I have no idea what the reference to Libeskind means LOL) The ARM Venturi copy was making a statement that architectural expression can only be 'discovered' through references, rather than an art that is capable of creating new references. It explored the idea that there is no 'originality' in architecture, which becomes interesting when you look at the context of Australian history, where culture wasn't being made, but enforced through colonization.

[@GraceMusyoka]

1,000th viewer. So proud after just discovering this channel a couple of weeks ago.

[@lightbox617]

I'm a photographer or, that is my artform. In this time, with cell phones owned by everyone and with highly capable cameras built in to each of them, it it difficult to impossible to take an "original" photograph. I work on this by finding tiny details on large architectural structures that are simply invisible to most people, especially other photographers. The terra cotta decorations or etched concert facades of buildings from Newark, NJ, USA to Budapest, Hungary offer a daily buffet of fascinating structural images

[@jeffsweeney8785]

Great insight Stewart, I enjoyed your thoroughness in the explaining of this subject matter. I love architecture and the creative. It really is a conundrum that many artist have when trying to be creative and artistic at the same time all the while trying to make their own unique mark as an authentic signature to ones own work.

[@stewarthicks]

Thank you!!

[@Draakhart_961]

Copying can be a great launching board for new architecture to emerge. By looking at examples of how local (or foreign but similar circumstances) buildings deal with issues such as climate or culture, one can make a more informed decision; the wind towers from areas of the Middle East would probably fare very well in the more arid parts of the US and Australia as an example. Replicating itself still feels a bit odd but learning from examples tackling similar design constraints is something I'd certainly encourage.

[@JayAbel]

Hands down, my favorite "copy" is the reconstructed Barcelona Pavilion. It's a copy of itself.

[@manuelmoyano7727]

I think is right to see others buildings in order to get inspiration and see what they did well in their projects! You can take those ideas and apply them to your own project, with your context (sun, views, wind, etc) and that will make your project like no other’s one with some strategies that you have seen before

[@DavidCohen-artcritical]

Lovely video, but they all are Stewart. I’m learning so much from your work. I did want to comment on this one as I have a fascination with transcription in the visual arts, especially old masters paying homage to one another - Rembrandt to Rubens, Rembrandt to Titian, Auerbach and Kossoff to Rembrandt and Titian, that sort of thing. By homing in on cinema I think you gave your audience a taste of what they can work out is there, too, in music and painting and literature (Dante to Virgil, Joyce to Homer etc) and I like that what your verbal script leaves as implicit your counterpoint visuals (another kind of transcription!) explicate by showing fine art students doing what your script tells us architecture students did in the very same academies.

[@rolturn]

Sometimes reinventing the wheel makes absolutely no sense when someone else has already created the perfect solution to a problem. The best innovations come when using someone else's solution as a starting point giving us the opportunity to leverage old solutions to new problems and modern technology. I spent my youth thinking I could do better in some cases I did and in others I didn't. Overtime I came to realize that the best value comes from the small innovation rather than starting from scratch.

[@GoingtoHecq]

Taking the shape of the column and using it for a building is at least in some way transformative. Taking a shape of a column and making it into a building. However the case of the trade tower plagiarism wasn't anything transformative. It was a direct copy, theft of the student's labor for his own profit. You can't steal the column but you can steal someone's work and that's what he did.

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

total copy 100%

[@InFondRemembrance]

It's also a question of power dynamics. Copying and inspiration are read differently when both the person being copied and the person doing the copying are on equal footing. What's upsetting here is not just the copying, but the transgression of trust that should exist between student and teacher.

[@rogeramezquita5685]

How horrible and he got all the credit

[@marlonvite4152]

I am proficiently creative since birth and I have spent a few thousand dollars trying to patent a few ideas that a year later I saw for sale at the stores ..... I believe that billions as we are today more and more individuals get concepts almost instantaneously equal .... furthermore I am certain to wish that patents once granted also give royalty license to anyone to copy and sell for a set percentage of the final sales price regardless of price, there are many patents out there on shelves preventing the whole world to benefit from ..... I also believe that by copying the original is improved and or a new item is born that makes the original obsolete on its own historical right, our world would be much more developed if present patent laws were to include copying as above.

[@charleskingsadler]

Excellent video as always! The binoculars I believe were a contribution of Claes Oldenburg to Gehry’s project, as described in Gehry’s biography.

[@stewarthicks]

Thanks! Yeah, I got that part wrong. Live and learn.

[@nick4506]

my grandmother's house was a copy of that le Corbusier(?) house. she built it that way with the entire living space on the second floor to clear the neighbor's house and get a view of downtown la. and underneath was just a garage and stilts. but over revisions and remodels of her fambly growing the bottom was completely framed in for extra living space. but it still has those slit windows and an internal balcony.

[@reeddillingham2401]

Just found your channel today. Excellent! Will go back thru earlier episodes. As a landscape architect, am particularly interested in "place" and context. Although all buildings have a context, some exploit it more than others. And the best have a magic connection to their place. A good example might be the Anshen and Allen chapel - forget the name - in Sedona, Arizona. Any others?

[@jglammi]

In 1995 (more or less) Geary said during a lecture at the Design Center in W Hollywood that he always found himself Copying Aalto especially when it came to interior design. So, he had to begin again, but Aalto was the template in his mind, he said. He also said that on a trip to Finland he was allowed to sit at the original desk of Eliel Saarinen, which he found thrilling.

[@earlmcmanus194]

"Good artists copy. Great artists steal." - Picasso

[@khorps4756]

he's right

[@chairde]

What does that mean?

[@khorps4756]

@@chairde Copying is just making another one of that thing. Stealing is taking that thing outright and running with it.

[@chairde]

@@khorps4756 I understand that of course but why does he say great artists steal.

[@khorps4756]

@@chairde To be honest, I'm not sure about that either.

[@StrifeA217]

I build in a game called Empyrion and actually built a building based off of Villa Savoye. I had to take a number of liberties with it to fit the limitations of the game but it really turned out very cool.

[@KarlLetcher]

Buildings in Santa Fe aren't trying to fool anyone. They're demonstrating respect for historical building methods and the resultant aesthetic, which includes respect for the city's natural setting and local culture. It's a beautiful city (for the most part) and I am grateful for having grown up there.

[@DMS1million]

It’s actually a pretty interesting video. Its major weakness is that “copying” is restricted to the visual. It makes no mention whatsoever of copying _function_ such as walkable streets. It’s all about “looking good” which is important but limited. & Who cares if a building melts? (per Gehry)

[@ZakBurrell]

Another great video, you have a beautiful knowledge of structure and precedence of how things have formed. Would absolutely love to see how you approached projects if you were in that field. I bet your view, concepts and approach would be extremely professional and advanced. Picasso said 99% plagerism 1% creativity. Personally I am obsessed with floor plans, orientation and creating high end cost effective homes that distinguishes an average architect from a professional. Thanks for your insights you get people excited.

[@6Oko6Demona6]

Copying is good, nuff said, i think that Picasso said, that a craftsman imitates, an artist steals. It's easier to swallow it in the world of architecture, where one design is used once, so once it's built you've already monetized it. It's harder for people who designs or creates once and then live of selling it, licensing it, making live shows etc.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

Back in the 20'ties I worked in a ship yard close to New Orleans, and our manager had promised us a party so he got one of the locals at the yard arrange a party in his garden, in the evening his nabours came through the hedges to get some free food, and as all Americans, the guests was obsessed with Europe, the women next to me claimed her family came from Denmark and went on and on about Denmark and how she wanted to visit the city her family came from, and she also asked me if I may knew them, of which I replied I came from Norway, one elderly man, one of the nabours that had pushed himself through the hedge to get free food had been sitting silent and listening to our conversation, and then wanted to express his opinion, he thought going to Europe was a waste of time and money, because, he had been in las Vegas, and there they got everything, the pyramids and the Eiffel tower and all, (that was his exact words) and that put an end to the ridiculous conversation about the chance I, as a Norwegian, by accident should know the woman's family from a city in Denmark

[@95GuitarMan13]

A residential designer I know told me that all her competitors (and herself included) sell the same floorplans, each one sees the work coming out of other offices and if they or their client likes a layout they just reproduce it verbatim and tweak to taste. If you compare each office's website you can play match the plan.

[@Arterexius]

Tbh, I love the modern shapes, so I often find myself copying the overall shape of geometric furniture and then add my own details to it. I love the designs of Michael Alm and to show how much I love it, I've decided to make my tv tables shape into an inverse trapezoid and add sliding doors like he also did. However, to avoid making an exact copy and to make it fit into my home better, I've changed both the surface and sides, the feet and the style of the sliding doors, as well as their angle, so that the center sliding door becomes an inverse trapezoid itself. I think it's very important to remember that with minimalism, it's literally impossible not to copy, as there are only so many physically doable shapes. I plan on becoming either a furniture designer or an architect. I'm a Dane and do love Scandinavian minimalism, but I've also added my own touch and feel to it. When it comes to copying, it's important to recognize the difference between replicating a shape and making a direct copy. I would never consider an indirect copy, which changes some of the design elements, as a copyright infringement as that is just the nature of design. You're biased from the moment you see something you like. You can add your own personality on to that and thus make it your style, but inventing a new shape is impossible. They've all been made already.

[@deliriouswith]

The most important analogy is with nature as natural selection, which is not a random process, involves copying or repeating adaptive new traits and bypassing countless failed attempts. It's no surprise this can be extrapolated to architecture, it's rooted in our being. Maybe a video on biomimetic architecture in the future Stewart, as for 'failed' examples we already have the Lost Architecture series 😉

[@CosmoCreed]

Loved the video very insightful. I always observed them. And very good edited.

[@simoncattle1434]

This is another good video. Thank you, Stewart. I would respectfully question the idea that Le Corbusier pioneered ribbon windows - these were already long evident in Arts and Crafts works, by Lutyens and Voysey, for instance (see especially Lutyens' Deanery Garden, both in the courtyard and on the South front), and also in plenty of works by Frank Lloyd Wright. I would expect Venturi was as conscious of those precedents as of Corbusier's own later use.

[@stewarthicks]

Good call Simon. You're right. I think I was channeling Vidler's (maybe?) description about typology? For some reason I've internalized that he talked about the invention of a new type as the highest form of architecture and used Corb and the ribbon window as an example. I might be misremembering.

[@plantmandanreimer5570]

I love all your videos! your mustache seems longer on your left side than your right, but I love that too. :) keep up the great work!

[@TheAirif]

hey can you do archigram/superstudio? really want to know about radical architecture

[@stewarthicks]

Next week has a little about them!!

[@HarryPujols]

In Santo Domingo there's a small replica of the Washington Monument, which is itself a copy of Egyptian obelisks. It was intentional, the monument in Santo Domingo is at avenue George Washington. The other Easter egg is that the original name of the adjacent park, was Ramfis, after the son of the dictator who built it, a name of Egyptian origin. The history of how a city founded by Columbus's brother ended up with Washington, and ultimately, Egyptian references is too long to put in a comment.

[@badkittynomilktonight3334]

I have stated that if I ever won the Powerball, one of the things I would do would be to build several famous unbuilt or demolished buildings, Mies' Brick Country House, RM Schindler's Wolff House, Nuetra's Stromburg house for examples, yes they would be copies, but they would be built so that students and architects could appreciate these structures.

[@shalimarliest]

To take the shape of a column and apply it to the design of a skyscraper is creating something new. It is taking inspiration from an unexpected source. Wheras getting a skyscraper design and put it in another plot is not an original approach. It is too direct. So, I think what makes a design original and or better is for it to give unexpected references and combining them in surprising new ways.

[@Eternalspring22]

Loved your thoughts on copying! Thanks for sharing. Would LOVE to see your take on architecture in Dubai. I lived in Dubai, and the stories of sheiks asking architects to copy NYC buildings only make them twice the size resonates against the superhuman buildings along the Sheikh Zayed Road. Would love your thought on that inflated architecture. Oh, you might have noticed, there is a lot of biggest in the world architecture in Dubai. Cheers.

[@hyperfixatedd]

Kinda starting to take interest in architecture due to your amazing videos, cheers man

[@doubravadamian]

Really like the Chanel. It would be nice to see a video about your favorite architecture tropes.

[@jmcassonetto]

Glad to see u reference Quentin Tarantino….I’d blab further to the context of when I was in arch school but my thumbs would give out while poking on my iPad

[@larrysorenson4789]

When an Architecture student at the University of Illinois in the early 1960’s, we made up a catch all phrase: “Creativity is the art of disguising your source.” We came to discover that several of our student projects from our class were copied in the 1980’s. It was sadly disgusting but the copyist did become very successful. What a schmuck.

[@sanjeevchhabra9042]

When I first went to Kaula Lumpur in 2004, I found a host of buildings from Mumbai and Gurgaon sitting right there...for many creative people hungry for fame and money, copying is the answer to the low shelf life of a trend. So if you are the 'Flavour of the season' you take on more work than you can and then fly off your associates to foreign lands to get lesser known creations to copy from. RD Burman did that in music, and many do it in Architecture too

[@walterpleyer261]

Often certain styles and ways of construction have developed in a particular environment as the results of decades if not centuries of experience to adapt to the climate, the ressources locally available etc. So if you design a building using theses features, is it copying or just continuing best pratices?

[@EfrainMcshell]

Hi, I am not an architect, but I love architecture. Many years ago, I was inspired by the work of Le Corbusier Chapel in Ronchamp. Although my design didn't look nothing like the chapel, it just inspired me to do some kind of dome buildings that looked much like cartoon ghosts, when i came to San Francisco a friend of mine took me to Hillsborough to see my design in real, I was perplex, because it was exactly like my drawings, eventually i found that the same design was made it by another architect in Mexico, i felt so frustrated that i thought that any one could think that I stole the idea, but it's not true, i still have drawings and modifications that i made through the years. And one of my friends when I was 22 year old saw my drawings and made fun of it, telling me if those were ghosts, some other drawings when i was a about 14 or 15 were similar to the drawings or buildings like the ones Frank Gehry made, and I still remember how some architect told me when he saw my drawings that, that was not architecture and was obsolete, this was in the 70's. As my drawing of watermelons, I never saw that Rufino Tamayo made water-melons too. At the end in conclusion, my old friend Guillermo Espiritu, told me that sometimes ideas are universal and not necessarily copies, that what for some one to have an idea here, some one else, somewhere else in the world can have a similar idea, and it happens in a lot of things in photo, and even in music, in which i find the same melody, the same chords played in a different rhythm and change the lyrics. What ever it is I am not going to give up my dreams of architecture or art, i used to deliver the blue prints for most important firms in architecture, from small firms to big architectural firms, with some architects i used to have conversations and show them other drawings, some of them like my drawings and took pictures of my drawings, i delivered for 19 years, to many companies. Sometimes i wonder if they copy my idea and modify it, well, they were in the firm, and never have the guts to become a real architect, because i suffered from depression.

[@ohrl1146]

I’ve been binge watching your videos, I loved the cantilevers one specially, very funny! Thanks for the content and feeding my architecture thirst 👍

[@khamkhien6581]

ນທສມ

[@rolandcassar75]

I think copying is a part of architectural history. The White House is a copy or a quote of the Hotel de Salm in Paris, a hoard of English houses are copies of the Villa Rotonda and every Beaux Art building is a hotch-potch of copied elements. There is so much copying throughout history that it is often difficult to say where any one thing truly originated. In the end, the only question is : is the result an interesting building or just a lazy mess ?

[@yesh7183]

I like to think of copying, when used with good intent, can be seen as an improvement of the original, or a transformation. In other words, the original is a prototype, and not seen as an end in itself, but to be in a process of constant improvement. All architectural elements follow this, most obviously is the column. The best book on copying in architecture would be Banister Fletcher's History of Architecture on the Comparitive Method. It's chock full of drawing comparing buildings and details to one another. In most cases, the original is usually badly designed or rather, has extremely great merits and extremely bad design parts (much like Villa Savoye). However subsequent generations of architects have used his ideas as a prototype or a springboard to create improved versions of the original. Maison Bordeaux and Villa Shodhan present iterations of the Villa Savoye. Another example is Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All Along The Watchtower. Neither version could be seen as superior over the other, but are different takes of the same thing.

[@todddemangone9622]

2 thoughts/comments. There will always be those architectural cliches that are copied everywhere. When I was in school all the students in my class designed the same swooping curve on one facade. Now you see the continuous line that creates a wall leading into a floor then another wall and then the roof on one elevation. The other copying that I’ve noticed on many century old buildings (and older) is interesting. It occurs when a building received an addition a decade or some time later. The new design would take up the next lot over, usually similar in size, and the design would copy the older facade perfectly. I’ve even seen examples where a new building was built right next to a building using the exact same language and facade elements but done uniquely enough that you can tell they’re different but so close that there was definitely an influence. I’m always keeping an eye out for new cliches and old copies. It’s fun and fascinating!

[@PhotonSteve]

Stewart, Those binoculars ARE by Claus Oldenberg.

[@stewarthicks]

You’re right! But the fish isn’t is it?

[@PhotonSteve]

@@stewarthicks Right : ) The fish are by Gehry. It is my understanding that they reference carp and gefilte fish of his youth. Both the fish and the Binoculars, however, do function as POMO pastiches... which is kind of like copying, but is more like a citation. Citation and pastiche are about understanding and honoring the past, while copying seems deceptive in nature, trying to pass off something borrowed as original. BTW-- I love your videos! Do you use them to address issues in your classes?

[@atbattson]

Its a fascinating topic that has often perplexed me. I would say that the framing of this issue only comes about due to copyright law and how it is applied in the likes of the music industry. I have been in heated arguments with friends and acquaintances who work in the music industry who malign any plagiarism and copying in their world. I have often used architecture as an example of another creative field where the same rules exist but they rarely get applied and not only is that generally accepted as a norm but their suggested application of the law on architecture is maligned as a negative that will stifle the whole industry.

[@garethgriffiths1674]

I recall an architecture professor rejecting the entire emergence of the Renaissance in 15th century Italy as morally bankrupt copying of classicism, preferring instead to sing the praises of innovation in gothic architecture.

[@Darrida]

Actually they did not copy, but created. Antique was invented in 15 century. Of cause Vitruvius did not existed or Greek Order. Many architect with rich practice know this fact.

[@garethgriffiths1674]

@@Darrida I think the point that he was making was that the Renaissance, though not directly copying Greek and Roman precedent, returned to classical principles, albeit then using that language to create something new, not to mention explore new avenues such as perspective.

[@aodhanofailain]

1. Copy something or copy everything? It’s a matter of degree. All buildings copy something. We don’t reinvent the nut and bolt every time we build. 2. Copy or pay homage to? Plagiarised from or inspired by? Intellectual indolence or standing on the shoulders of giants? It’s a matter of intention and interpretation. 3. In the style of or a pastiche of? Here it’s not just intention and interpretation. Even if we intend to honour, we can mock the original by our incompetent reproduction of it. 4. Borrow from or rob from? It’s a matter of honesty about what we’re doing. And getting permission/ acknowledging sources. 5. Copying or building upon? We don’t 'trial and error' everything ourselves but evolve others’ learning. It’s almost impossible to do a 100% accurate replica, as Stewart’s examples show, so everything is evolving to some degree. 6. Faking oldness or being traditional? The former wants you to believe it’s old; the latter has evolved out of what is old. I think Santa Fe is traditional. 7. IPR breach or compliment? If you found the right way to do it, you’d be pleased if others want to do it your (right) way, surely? 8. Small or large? We don’t expect our little houses to be ground-breaking. But a big city museum needs to say something original. 9. One author or many? It’s a matter of sharing credit accurately. Many non-architects (clients, planners, theorists, engineers, regulators…) influence the final look of a building. 10. PoMo ironic quotations saying something meaningful or Baudrillard’s Simulacra (meaningless copies of copies of copies of…)? 11. Zeitgeist-relevant or fashion victim?

[@richardleau]

I was thinking during your video about the way architects have to copy technical details over and over based on modern standards, like modern wall construction designs with outlets every six feet and light switches at a certain level. And maybe one of the reasons that architects don't copy from the past more, is the difficulty in adapting past design elements into modern buildings due to technical and material limitations. For instance, once the move had been made to construct buildings from glass and steel there are hundreds of glass and steel towers, all looking very much the same. Or material and construction costs keep us from copying past designs such as intricate brick and wood Victorian homes.

[@alexthekunz]

I'm starting to wonder if your were a biology major at some point based on a couple of references you've made. I'm new here, by the way, and I love the educational worth, efficiency of communication, and production value on your videos. Thank you!

[@my4cars528]

Cool video! Childs totally ripped that student's work!

[@mmenjic]

10:44 I feel strongly against copying and in this case it clearly is the worst kind of copy by my opinion. Professor could be influenced by countless other examples but he did not, instead he made almost exact copy. If it were other way around, student copying professors work people would look at it in different way for sure. Copying design is like robbery if it is small and you are not famous you will be punished for it really good, if you are famous and robbery is big then movies will be made about it and you. Same thing if you get robbed, If you are famous people robbing you will be punished hard and again movies will be made about it, but if you are not then it will be only note written somewhere and soon forgotten and you will get the advice to pay more attention in future to not get robbed.

[@archwaldo]

Sometimes it's intentional, other times it's just like nature. Plants, animals, fish etc. Organisms living in similar environments, although located in different parts of the world somehow develop similar evolutionary traits because it just works. Same thing w humans. Countries in tropical regions would incorporate large openings and steep pitched roofs because they have to contend w the humid climate and regular storms. Or if we talk about history, civilizations built pyramids or variations thereof because the shape points towards the heavens, and that they're relatively simple to construct using primitive technology, since they're basically just a pile of stones. In the case of Architectural design competitions, sometimes the design brief points toward a particular form that just somehow fits the bill.

[@brynmurrell5475]

It is worth noting that the black villa savoye by ARM is black and mirrored because the first image of the original that was published in Australia was mirrored and inverted.

[@frikkievuiltrens]

Humans evolve when we copy what works and, most importantly, improve on it at the same time.

[@bonzomio]

My old boss, who worked for Richard Neutra, used to put the copyright "logo" on all his drawings; it was embedded in his standard template title blocks.

[@Lezl0rLetztlich]

reminds me of how when we consider the artist as genius, we become obsessed with authenticity even if a copy/reproduction looks exactly the same. interesting to consider our priorities

[@tedwhite8753]

In planned neighborhoods, there is often mirror image floor plans, which could be considered copies of one another. In the same neighborhoods, two homes may have the identical floor plans but alternate facades to differentiate them.

[@ReinoldFZ]

It was disheartening that a few architects honestly wouldn't know about famous buildings published in magazines and newspapers. That lack of architectural culture meant in those occasions my designs had to compete against MVRDV, Renzo Piano et al. And the photocopier would be awarded originality and creativity 😜

[@alaskanuni]

Shun Drake Meme: "Copy" Pointing Drake Meme: "Precedent"

[@fendericklee8614]

these videos are great, thank you for valuable insights!

[@stewarthicks]

Glad you like them!

[@ZebraFacts]

I think that often similar-looking buildings are a result of the fact that we live in a world of geometric shapes. To say a rectangle-shaped building is a copy of another rectangle-shaped building is just the fact that it is a popular shape of how people see the world. In some cases, I would prefer city governments insist on similar construction. Some cityscapes just look like no esthetic city planning. I personally enjoyed cities like Ft. Worth in Florida. Instead of tearing down the old and replacing them with new and quite boring construction, they restore the old, clean it up and you are left with beautiful, and very quaint shopping and business zones. A huge building shaped like a pair of binoculars placed in such an old architectural zone would be a horrible choice.

[@clorox1676]

Indeed, but those flashy buildings make it to the media and grab people's atention which is what city govermenta likes the most. "Look we've made something!" kind of thing.