“Architecture can do more” is a beautiful, short sentence. It leaves a lot open and thus leaves room for creativity. It was written by Sabine von Fischer, a familiar name to many in the arts pages. Von Fischer belongs to the dwindling breed of architecture critics. Accordingly, this little book can also be seen as a tribute to her work, and no less a tribute to the multifaceted nature of architecture. The reason why the book often contains the sentence “Architecture can do a lot” is explained by a stroll through the pages, which are reminiscent of the feel of newsprint.
The publication from the Birkhäuser publishing house is not, as one might assume, an essay. On almost 250 pages, the handy book contains a collection of thematically grouped articles, interviews and reports. These were commissioned by newspapers, and it is precisely her many years of experience as an architecture journalist that is evident on every page, starting with the table of contents. It is immediately clear that the author has abandoned tedious conventions, for example with a spirited self-titled “declaration of love” to the architectural debate: “writing is the greatest gift that professional life could give me. […] It is an active form of participation and action right in the middle of things.” (17)
In terms of content, the 37 texts are organized around four major thematic blocks: living together under the dogmas of open space and density, politics in socially relevant architectural work, concern for the environment and climate as powerful actors, and perceptions and an aesthetic of responsibility. A concluding reflection on architectural criticism frames the content-rich contributions.
Thematic additions to this Baumeister issue can be found, for example, on page 149, when Sabine von Fischer writes critically about the high-rise buildings celebrated in the press as “vertical forests”. With all the critical journalistic practice, it seems strange that the articles are almost exclusively written with or about men. But perhaps this is just a symptomatic reflection of the media landscape, which is still a big stone in our shoe as we move forward.
“Architecture can do more!” is a call to discard restrictive thought patterns and false feelings of responsibility. The reader shows in a pleasant way how to do building practice well and unobtrusively invites us to reflect on the potential of architecture.
Sabine von Fischer’s essay “Responsibility begins with an attitude” appeared in the July issue of Baumeister architecture magazine.