BERKELEY PRIZE COMPETITION ESSAY PARTICIPANT Mr John E Conley COUNTRY United States UNIVERISTY Georgia Institute of Technology DEPARTMENT College of Architecture MAJOR Architecture YEAR 3 FIRST DRAFT Vitruvius wrote, 'Architecture depends on order, arrangement, eurythmy, symmetry, propriety, and economy.' A more simplistic and relevant statement has never been written on the subject of architecture as a social art. All good architecture exhibits these qualities. So, in regard to social relevance, good architecture exists; it is abundant. One needs but to look at Libeskind's Jewish Museum to see that architecture creates structures with historical and moral relevance. And one needs but to look at Foster's Hong Kong Airport to see that architecture creates functional public spaces to accommodate the masses. However, the concept of architecture as a social art exists primarily as an elitist idea; architects create good architecture when a project is well funded or high-profile. Where good architecture is needed, where it can have the most impact as a product of a social art, is in a truly social environment. What should guide architects is the idea of creating good architecture in an urban setting. Subway stations, bus stops, pedestrian bridges, low income housing: these are the areas where architects should direct their collective focus. Cities are built from the relative ground up. Guimard knew his social burden when he designed his art nouveau metro stations. Modern architects should recognize their burden now. What principals and objectives should guide architects committed to the concept that architecture is a social art? Simply the principal that architecture should have social implications and the objective of delivering good architecture where it is most needed. FIRST SOURCES