What, Why and How of Architecture Journalism

Introduction

To begin with, Architecture Journalism for novices can be understood as reading/researching/writing effectively about Architecture/design. It involves efficiently expressing design and it’s experience in words, consequently producing content about the field. While adding this experience in writing, it becomes equivalent to adding life to design with words as the only tool.

 

To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history but to articulate it. - Daniel Lebiskind

 

It is essential for architects to design buildings, but it is equally important to convey the same efficaciously. The above statement can be reinterpreted as, the importance of this articulated piece of architecture is enhances once it is put down in words that aptly communicate it. Infact, Rem Koolhaas is a journalist turned into architect - where his critique about architecture gained popularity in his initial days, which makes his building even more worth writing today.

Illustration: Architecture journalism simplifies how building is perceived in concise word and compelling narration.

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If a project is intense, valid, and has a powerful idea, its imperfections will be in the background - Albrto Campo Baeza

And it becomes the job of an Architecture Journalist to interpret such powerful design ideas and highlight these such that it can capture more eyes and thus more awareness among the fraternity. The more we read/write/research about the field, the better we’ll nurture.

 

I’ve always viewed Architecture Journalism as a mean to bridge the gap between
the environment, people and the architects - Apurva Bose Dutta

 

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Is this you?

This field is apt for those architecture students/architects who thrive on reading and researching about architecture. 

 

“Ideas improve but the meaning of words participate in the improvement. - Guy Debord”

 

If you’re somebody who would love to write and document architecture and value the importance of the same, this field is for you. Knowledge about Architecture and a flair for writing form the basic skill-set required to pursue Architecture Journalism. 

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Opportunities

An Architecture Journalist can work for architecture magazines, publishing houses, blogs, social media, architectural websites etc. In this digital era, architecture offices are constantly looking for freelancers to effectively depict their designs in words. They use this on social media, their website etc. as a marketing strategy or even sometimes to sell their ideas to the client aptly. 

Offices also hire people to carry out preliminary research for a new typology of the project they are on to. This is an emerging field where new job opportunities are constantly coming up. 

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Courses

There are multiple colleges and universities offering courses relating to Architecture Journalism. 

One can also apply for a Diploma/certification program in Architecture Journalism while pursuing Architecture. This will surely account for an additional brownie point in your portfolio.

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Relevance

By producing Architectural content relevant to the industry, the architectural community is bound to benefit. Translating the experience of an Architectural building in words grabs more people’s attention than the number of people actually being able to visit the same. By reaching a larger audience, learning and awareness increase among the people.

“Still, I believe I can really contribute to the dialog because architecture is this strange art form that’s the most invested in people’s daily lives while it also comes across as the most elitist of the art forms.- Steve Cuozzo ”

Steve Cuozzo, an American writer/journalist said the above mentioned statement in an interview published by The Architect’s Newspaper. He has worked as a real estate reporter and did not pursue any formal training in architecture. However, he still firmly believes that since architecture is so rooted in our everyday lives he feels the need to mention and contribute to the architecture dialog.

Thus, it is essential to read and write more about architecture because this is something that affects our lives on an everyday basis- whether you’re from the field or not. It affects lives on a much larger scale. Thus, writing about it is actually really necessary.

Infact, architecture is a field that defines the everyday life of a man; starting from as one wakes up, the path from his bed to the bathroom to the living to the kitchen to the exit door, everything is because of the way the space is planned by an architect. As soon as one steps out of the house, the buildings you see around, the distance from home to workplace etc is all because of the urban planners involved in designing the city. Thus, if everything around is determined by architecture, it just makes all the more sense to dwell in this field further, informing people about the constant changes happening around them that is going to affect them directly.

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Conclusion

Micheal Kimmelman, Paul Goldberger, Inga Saffron, Rowan Moore, Jonathan Glancey etc. are a few Architecture Journalists one can look up to. Just like architecture, getting recognition as an Architecture Journalist is a very slow process. The credibility of work only comes by working constantly with patience and acquiring experience.

If somebody wants to opt for this field, it is required to constantly remain updated with new innovations happening in the architectural sphere. Reading the current affairs pertaining to architecture can be a stepping stone to begin your journey towards this path.

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More references here to learn from: 

• Architecture Journalism by The Architect’s Newspaper

• Architectural journalism by Ramya Kommula

• Podcast- AG 07 Architectural Journalism in India with Apurva Bose Dutta by Manish SImon

• Architecture Journalism — yet another kindred profession by Sofiya Sabreen

• 10 Writers with Portfolios that Stand Out by JILL BLACKMORE EVANS on Format

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