How architecture can create dignity for all | John Cary

Summary

The speaker reflects on the birth of his daughter in a poorly designed hospital room, highlighting the impact of design on human experience. He critiques the architecture profession for being disconnected from the people it serves, emphasizing the need for design that dignifies and respects individuals. Through interviews, he showcases how thoughtful design can uplift lives, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse architectural practice that prioritizes public good and reflects the value of all people.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The speaker's personal experience in a hospital birthing room highlights the disconnect between the significance of the event and the uninspiring environment, emphasizing the impact of design on human emotions and experiences.
• 👶 The birth of the speaker's daughter, Maya, serves as a metaphor for the potential of design to dignify and enhance life, but also the current shortcomings in the architectural profession.
• 🎼 The speaker compares design to an unnoticed soundtrack, subtly influencing our feelings and expectations, suggesting that the design of spaces should align with the experiences they host.
• 🏛 The architectural profession is criticized for being elitist and disconnected from the needs of the people it serves, focusing too much on aesthetics rather than societal impact.
• 🎓 Architectural education and the path to licensure are described as narrow and unforgiving, often lacking real-world interaction and understanding of diverse user needs.
• 🏆 The profession's focus on awarding projects for their aesthetic appeal rather than their societal contributions perpetuates a narrow view of success and responsibility.
• 🌐 The speaker calls for a reevaluation of what architecture is for, advocating for a design approach that values dignity and inclusivity for all people.
• 🤔 The script prompts the audience to consider how the spaces they inhabit make them feel, questioning the design choices that lead to feelings of unhappiness, unhealthiness, or lack of inspiration.
• 🚻 The issue of long bathroom lines for women is used as an example of how design can fail to consider the needs of different users, reflecting a broader problem of gender inequality in design.
• 🌟 The speaker shares stories of successful design projects that have dignified the lives of people, such as homeless individuals in Dallas, women in rural Rwanda, and patients in Arkansas, demonstrating the transformative power of thoughtful design.
• 🌈 The speaker argues for the diversification of the architectural profession to better represent and serve the public, suggesting that a more diverse profession would lead to more equitable and dignified design solutions.
• 🏛️ The script concludes with a call to action for designers to commit to the public good, to create spaces that reflect the value and dignity of all individuals, and to reshape the profession to be more inclusive and impactful.

Q & A

What significant event took place in the hospital room described in the script?

The birth of the speaker's first daughter, Maya, took place in the hospital room.

How does the speaker describe the environment of the hospital room where his daughter was born?

The speaker describes the hospital room as windowless, with beige walls, buzzing fluorescent lights, and beeping machines, creating an atmosphere that was misaligned with the joyous occasion of a birth.

What is the speaker's profession, and how does it relate to the story of the hospital room?

The speaker is an architect, and he relates the story of the hospital room to highlight the impact of design on people's experiences and emotions.

What does the speaker believe about the role of design in people's lives?

The speaker believes that design functions like a subconscious soundtrack, influencing how people feel and what they expect, and that good design can dignify people's experiences.

Why does the speaker feel that architecture as a profession is disconnected from the people it impacts?

The speaker feels that architecture is disconnected because it is largely a white, male, elitist profession, focused on theoretical projects and aesthetics rather than societal impact or the needs of diverse communities.

What issue does the speaker raise regarding the design of public spaces like bathrooms?

The speaker raises the issue of gender inequality in design, using the example of long bathroom lines for women, highlighting that the world has been designed by men who may not fully understand or consider the experiences of others.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of dignity in design?

The speaker views dignity in design as crucial, equating it to justice in law and health in medicine, and believes that spaces should reflect the value of the people who inhabit them.

What examples does the speaker provide to illustrate the impact of good design on people's lives?

The speaker provides examples such as a cottage community for the homeless in Dallas, a training and community center for women in rural Rwanda, and a free clinic in Arkansas, all of which were designed with dignity and had a positive impact on their users.

What does the speaker suggest is the current state of diversity within the architecture profession?

The speaker suggests that the architecture profession is not diverse, with only about 15% of registered architects in the United States being women and an even smaller percentage being people of color.

What change does the speaker advocate for in the architecture profession?

The speaker advocates for a commitment to the public good and a diversification of the profession, including its ranks and client base, to ensure that good design is accessible to everyone and reflects the needs and experiences of diverse communities.

How does the speaker's grandmother's story relate to the overall message of the script?

The speaker's grandmother's story about expressing her dissatisfaction with the drab design of her doctor's office and taking action to improve it exemplifies the power of individuals to demand and create better design for themselves and their communities.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 The Impact of Inadequate Design on Birthing Experiences

The speaker recounts the experience of his daughter's birth in a hospital room that was starkly disconnected from the significance of the event. The room was windowless, with an oppressive atmosphere created by the buzzing fluorescent lights, beige walls, and the incessant beeping of medical equipment. The speaker, an architect, reflects on how design can subconsciously influence emotions and expectations, and criticizes the profession for being elitist and disconnected from the needs of the people it serves. He highlights the need for architecture to be more inclusive and attentive to the societal impact of its creations, advocating for a design approach that dignifies and respects the people who use the spaces.

05:02

🚻 The Dignity in Design: From Bathroom Lines to Homelessness Solutions

This paragraph addresses the broader issue of design's role in reflecting and shaping human dignity. The speaker humorously points out the disparity in public restroom facilities, suggesting that the imbalance is a result of male-dominated design that overlooks the needs of women. The narrative expands to include interviews with individuals who have benefited from thoughtful design, such as Gregory, a formerly homeless man now living in a dignified cottage, and Antoinette, who oversees a community center empowering women in Rwanda. The speaker argues that design is not just about aesthetics but about creating spaces that reflect the value of the individuals who inhabit them. The call to action is for the design community to focus on public good and to diversify its ranks to better represent and serve the needs of all people.

10:03

🌟 The Transformative Power of Inclusive Design

The final paragraph emphasizes the transformative power of design when it is inclusive and serves the public good. The speaker challenges the design community, particularly those who are part of the majority, to diversify their ranks to better represent the communities they design for. Statistics are cited to highlight the underrepresentation of women and people of color in the field of architecture. The speaker suggests that a more diverse design force would lead to more equitable and dignifying spaces, affecting everything from homes to public spaces. The narrative concludes with a personal anecdote about the speaker's grandmother, who took action to improve the design of her doctor's office, illustrating the importance of design in shaping our perceptions of self-worth and dignity.

Keywords

💡Design

Design refers to the process of creating and planning something in a visual, aesthetic, or functional way. In the video's context, design is portrayed as a powerful tool that can shape our experiences and emotions, and it is intrinsically linked to the concept of dignity. The speaker illustrates this with the example of the hospital room where he and his wife experienced the birth of their daughter, which was poorly designed and failed to reflect the significance of the moment.

💡Dignity

Dignity in the video is used to describe the inherent worth and respect that individuals should feel in the spaces they inhabit. It is a central theme, where the speaker argues that good design can confer dignity by making people feel valued and seen. The script mentions various examples, such as the cottage community for the homeless and the clinic in Arkansas, where thoughtful design contributed to a sense of dignity for the occupants.

💡Architecture

Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures. The speaker, being an architect, discusses how architecture has the potential to create spaces that enhance people's lives but criticizes the profession for being disconnected from the needs of the people it aims to serve. The hospital room example highlights the gap between architectural practice and the lived experiences of its users.

💡Elitism

Elitism is the attitude that those with certain qualities or status are superior to others and should therefore have more power and influence. In the video, the speaker points out that architecture is often seen as an elitist profession, dominated by a narrow demographic that may not fully understand or address the needs of diverse communities. This is evident in the critique of the hospital room design and the broader discussion of the profession's focus on aesthetics over societal impact.

💡Subconscious Messages

Subconscious messages are the subtle cues or signals that influence our thoughts and feelings without us being fully aware of them. The video suggests that design sends subconscious messages about how we should feel and what to expect in a space. The hospital room's design, with its fluorescent lights and lack of natural light, sends a message of being in a foreign, uncomfortable place.

💡Public Good

Public good refers to the concept of serving the collective well-being of a community or society. The speaker calls for architects to dedicate their practices to the public good, implying that design should be accessible and beneficial to everyone, not just a privileged few. Examples such as the clinic in Arkansas and the cottage community for the homeless demonstrate design's role in serving the public good.

💡Diversity

Diversity in the context of the video refers to the inclusion of different perspectives, experiences, and identities within the field of architecture. The speaker argues that the profession needs to diversify to better represent and serve the needs of a broader range of people. The call for diversity is linked to the idea that a more inclusive profession will lead to more equitable and dignifying designs.

💡Professional Responsibility

Professional responsibility is the ethical obligation of professionals to act in the best interests of their clients and society. The video criticizes the current state of architecture for having a warped view of professional responsibility, focusing too much on aesthetics and awards rather than the societal impact of designs. The speaker advocates for a reevaluation of what it means to be responsible as a designer.

💡Inaccessibility

Inaccessibility in the video is used to describe the lack of access to good design for those who could benefit from it the most. The speaker points out that people like homeless veterans, elderly individuals with mobility issues, and those in wheelchairs often have limited access to well-designed spaces that accommodate their needs. This highlights the need for design to be more inclusive and considerate of diverse requirements.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. While not explicitly stated, the concept of empathy is implied in the video as a crucial aspect of good design. The speaker suggests that architects need to better understand the experiences of people unlike themselves to create designs that are respectful and dignifying. The stories of Gregory and Antoinette exemplify how design informed by empathy can positively impact lives.

💡Blueprints

Blueprints are detailed plans or technical drawings used in architecture and engineering to visualize and plan structures. In the video, the term is used metaphorically to represent the designs and decisions that shape our built environment. The speaker questions how different our world might be if a more diverse group of people were involved in creating these blueprints, emphasizing the importance of diversity in design.

Highlights

The author's personal experience with the stark, uninviting hospital room during the birth of his daughter Maya, highlighting the disconnect between the significance of the moment and the environment.

The idea that design functions like an unnoticed soundtrack, influencing our subconscious feelings and expectations.

The author's belief that architecture should create spaces for people to live their best lives, but finds the profession disconnected from those it impacts.

Critique of architecture as a white, male, elitist profession, focused on aesthetics rather than societal impact.

The importance of design in dignifying people, making them feel valued, respected, honored, and seen.

The author's interviews with over 100 people to explore the relationship between dignity and design.

The story of Gregory, a formerly homeless man, and his experience of dignity in a designed cottage community.

The impact of a thoughtfully designed community center in rural Rwanda, where women pressed the bricks for the classrooms.

The importance of dignified healthcare settings, as seen in a free clinic in Arkansas serving the uninsured.

The absence of those who benefit most from good design in architectural discourse and the need for inclusivity.

The call for architects to dedicate their practices to the public good, like firms Orkidstudio, Studio Gang, and MASS Design Group.

The need for diversity in the architecture profession to better reflect and serve the public.

The potential for a more equitable and dignified built environment if women and people of color were more represented in architecture.

The transformative power of design once experienced, as illustrated by the author's grandmother's initiative to improve her doctor's office.

The essence of dignity in design, shaping our ideas about who we are and what we deserve.

Transcripts

On a beautiful day, just a few years ago

my wife and I entered a hospital

near our home in Oakland, California

for the birth of our first daughter, Maya.

We had responsibly toured the birthing center in advance

and yet we were somehow still startled to find ourselves

in the place where we would experience

one of the most significant moments of our lives.

We were stuck in a windowless room

with no hint of the bright and sunny day that we had left.

Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead,

the paint on the walls was beige

and machines beeped inexplicably

as a wall clock indicated day turning to night.

That clock was placed above a door

in direct line of sight

to where my wife lay as her contractions increased hour after hour.

Now, I've never given birth --

(Laughter)

but she assured me that the last thing that a birthing woman would ever want

is to watch the seconds tick by.

(Laughter)

An architect by training, I've always been fascinated

watching people experience design in the world around them.

I believe design functions like the soundtrack

that we're not even fully aware is playing.

It sends us subconscious messages about how to feel

and what to expect.

That room that we were in seemed completely misaligned

with the moment that we were experiencing --

welcoming a human being,

our daughter, into this world.

At one point a nurse, without any prompt,

turned to us and said,

"I always think to myself,

'I wish I had become an architect,

because I could have designed rooms like this better.'"

I said to her,

"An architect did design this room."

(Laughter)

Despite the immense joy of our daughter's birth,

the messages of that hospital room stick with she and I to this day.

Those messages are,

"You are not at home,

you are in a foreign place."

"You are not in control of anything.

Not even the lighting."

"Your comfort, simply, is secondary."

At best,

a hospital room like this

might just be described or dismissed as uninspiring.

At worst, it is undignifying.

And I use it to point out that none of us,

anywhere in the world,

are immune from bad design.

I went into architecture because I believed

it was about creating spaces for people to live their best lives.

And yet what I found is a profession largely disconnected

from the people most directly impacted by its work.

I believe this is because architecture remains

a white, male, elitist profession --

seemingly unconcerned

with some of the greatest needs in the world

or even the relatively simple needs of an expectant mother.

Students are trained in school

using highly theoretical projects,

rarely interacting with real people or actual communities.

Graduates are funneled through a long, narrow

unforgiving path to licensure.

Meanwhile, the profession holds up a select few

through relentless award programs

focused almost exclusively on the aesthetics of buildings,

rather than the societal impact or contributions of them.

It only goes to reinforce a warped view

of professional responsibility and success

and yet this isn't why so many young, hopeful people

go into architecture.

It's not why I did.

I believed then, though I didn't have a language for it,

and I know now, that design has a unique ability to dignify.

It can make people feel valued,

respected,

honored and seen.

Now I'd like for you to just think about some of the spaces that you inhabit.

And I'd like to have you think about how they make you feel.

Now, there are places that make us feel unhappy,

unhealthy

or uninspiring.

They may be the places that you work

or where you heal

or even where you live.

And I ask, how might these places be better designed with you in mind?

It's a really simple question

and it can somehow, sometimes be very difficult to answer.

Because we are conditioned to feel like we don't have much agency

over the spaces and places that we live, work and play.

And in many cases we don't.

But we all should.

Now, here's a potentially dumb question for any women watching:

Have you ever stood

in a disproportionately long bathroom line?

(Laughter)

Did you ever think to yourself, "What is wrong with this picture?"

Well, what if the real question is,

"What is wrong with the men that designed these bathrooms?"

(Applause)

It may seem like a small thing,

but it's representative of a much more serious issue.

The contemporary world was literally built by men

who have rarely taken the time to understand

how people unlike them

experience their designs.

A long bathroom line might seem like a minor indignity.

But the opposite can also be true.

Thoughtful design can make people feel respected

and seen.

I've come to believe that dignity is to design

what justice is to law

and health is to medicine.

In the simplest of terms,

it's about having the spaces you inhabit reflect back your value.

Over the past two years

I had the opportunity to interview over 100 people from all walks of life

about their experience of design.

I wanted to test my hunch

that dignity and design are uniquely related.

I listened to Gregory,

a resident of this cottage community

designed specifically

for the 50 most chronically homeless people in Dallas.

Gregory had been living on the streets,

drifting from town to town for over 30 years.

A broad coalition

of social service agencies,

funders and designers,

created this place.

Each 400 square foot cottage is designed beautifully

as a permanent home.

Gregory now has a key

to a door

to his own house.

He describes the sense of security that it brings him.

Something he had lived without for three decades.

When he arrived with little more than the clothes on his back,

he found everything:

from a toaster, Crock-Pot and stove

to a toothbrush and toothpaste awaiting for him.

He describes it simply

as heaven.

On the other side of the world,

I listened to Antoinette,

the director of this training and community center

for women in rural Rwanda.

Hundreds of women come to this place daily --

to learn new skills,

be in community,

and continue rebuilding their lives

following the country's civil war.

These women literally pressed

the 500,000 bricks

that make up the 17 classroom pavilions like this one.

Antoinette told me,

"Everyone is so proud of it."

And then back here in the US

I listened to Monika,

the director of a free clinic

primarily serving the uninsured in Arkansas.

Monika loves telling me that the doctors,

who volunteer at her free clinic

routinely tell her

that they've never worked in such a beautiful, light-filled place.

Monika believes

that even people experiencing poverty

deserve quality health care.

And what's more,

she believes they deserve to receive that care

in a dignified setting.

People like these are invaluable ambassadors for design

and yet they are roundly absent from architectural discourse.

Similarly, the people who can most benefit from good design

often have the least access to it.

Your cousin, a homeless veteran;

your grandma or grandpa

who live in a house with a kitchen that's no longer accessible to them;

your wheelchair-bound sister

in a suburban area planned without sidewalks.

If good design is only for a privileged few,

what good is it?

It's time designers change this

by dedicating their practices to the public good

in the model of firms

like Orkidstudio,

Studio Gang

and MASS Design Group.

Their clients

are orphaned children in Kenya,

foster children in Chicago

and pregnant women in Malawi.

Their practices are premised on the belief

that everyone deserves good design.

Dedicating more practices to the public good

will not only create more design that is dignifying,

but it will also dignify the practice of design.

It will not only diversify the client base of design,

but it will also create new, more diverse forms of design

for the world.

Now, in order to do this,

my architecture and design friends, especially my fellow white guys,

we must simultaneously and significantly diversify our ranks.

If we want the public to believe that design is for them

and for everyone.

Today, barely 15 percent

of registered architects in the United States are women.

And a far smaller percentage are persons of color.

Other professions, like law and medicine

had made far greater strides in these crucial areas.

How might our shared built environment --

our homes, our hospitals, our schools, our public spaces --

be shaped differently

if women and people of color

were behind half of the proverbial blueprints?

It is not a question of whether,

but to what extent

our buildings, our landscapes,

our cities and our rural communities

are less beautiful, less functional,

less equitable and less dignifying

because women and people of color are less likely to be creating them.

As Winston Churchill famously noted in 1943

when he called for the rebuilding

of London's war-damaged parliamentary chambers,

"We shape our buildings, and afterward, they shape us."

The good news is that we can change how we build

and who we build for.

Be that a health worker in rural Rwanda,

or a birthing mother and nervous new father in the United States.

We can do this by recommitting architecture

to the health, safety and welfare of the public.

This will pay dividends.

Because once you see what design can do,

you can't unsee it.

And once you experience dignity,

you can't accept anything less.

Both become part of your possible.

One of my favorite conversation partners is my 90-year-old grandmother,

Audrey Gorwitz, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

After one of our conversations about design,

she wrote me a letter.

She said, "Dear Johnny,

I thought the other day, as I sat in my doctor's office,

how depressing it was,

from the color on the wall, to the carpet on the floor.

(Laughter)

Now I will have to call to see

who is responsible for the drabness in that place."

(Laughter)

In the same letter, mind you, she said,

"I did call, and I got the man in charge,

and he said he appreciated someone calling him.

My doctor's office is now on the list for an upgrade."

(Laughter)

She signed it by saying,

"It is always good to express one's opinion

if done in a proper manner."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

I love my grandma.

(Laughter)

Like my grandma Audrey,

you deserve good design.

Because well-designed spaces

are not just a matter of taste or a questions of aesthetics.

They literally shape our ideas about who we are in the world

and what we deserve.

That is the essence of dignity.

And both the opportunity and the responsibility of design

for good

and for all.

Thank you.

(Applause)