Where We Are Now

We, the TradArch community are not inhabiting the same universe as we did a mere week ago.

A week ago Traditional architecture was something that pertained to history; the curious domain of historic preservationists and a few outlying architects catering to the pastiche whims of rich elites.

The power of the prevailing Modernist architectural establishment until a week ago rested in their near stranglehold on academic education, architectural media and government bureaucracy. The few traditionally minded architects allowed a seat at these tables did so at the pleasure of the establishment. They are minorities and as such must conduct themselves as accommodating, respectful and servile to maintain their place as they attempt to gradually make changes with gentle persuasion, appeals to fairness and plurality.

Yet at the heart of the Modernist establishment's power has been just this containment of the field of action. Civic architecture had been all but hermetically sealed off from public interest or involvement. This changed on February 4th, 2020. The arrogance of the establishment has given way to fear and viscous, defensive reaction and in doing so they've made a grand appeal to the public in the general media. Traditional architecture now pertains to the present. This is the universe we now inhabit.

We cannot go on acting as if we inhabit the old universe. The genie is out of the bottle. We now exist. The forum of action and the base of power has shifted to the public realm. There we are not minorities, perhaps even equals, and may in fact hold the advantage. New circumstances call for new leadership, one that will press that advantage to its absolute limit.

I can promise you this: TAG 4 will not be a lament by victims of what has happened to us. Rather it will be a call to action to reorient ourselves to the world as it is. We're not weak. We are strong as we have the Good, the True and the Beautiful at our backs.

https://www.facebook.com/events/188472385564283/



Contributed by Patrick Webb