Viewpoint – Nina Maritz – Namibia.
Keynote speaker.
“Architects are probably (like schoolteachers, GP's and journalists)
the last great generalists. However, unlike journalists, they cannot
afford to treat their subject matter superficially and move on to
the next, but have to reiterate that same subject material over
and over. This calls for a design approach that integrates diversity.
The current trend of students aspiring to the fame of a Gehry or a Starck militates against the training of responsible and decent productive architects. Most schools of architecture seem to focus on the production of prodigies rather than a solid general "stock" of architects. This should be replaced by a thorough approach that teaches aesthetics as just another function, not the be-all and end-all of architecture, and abandon the idea of the architect as an artist manque (never mind a literary critic!).
Thus, in addition to a solid grounding in the universal basics of architecture, students need to build up an in-depth appreciation for their own/ local culture as well as obtain broad experience to other cultures - not just in the sense of globalised westernization, but in terms of understanding the diversity of the planet's regions. This should lead to and include an understanding of the limits set by the natural environment on human actions, resulting in the inclusion of environmental sustainability as a non-negotiable underlying ethos for all architectural endeavour.”
Nina Maritz – Namibia
Principal of “nina maritz ▪ architect” (est. 1998). Nina has undertaken a full spectrum of private, government and corporate work with a focus on environmental sustainability and community projects and been a keynote speaker at a number of international events.
