I feel however, that we architects have a special duty and mission... (to contribute) to the socio-cultural development of architecture and urban planning.
Kenzo TangeRead
Architects today tend to depreciate themselves, to regard themselves as no more than just ordinary citizens without the power to reform the future.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Architects often underestimate their ability to impact society and the future.
In this quote, Kenzo Tange reflects on the tendency of architects to belittle their own significance, viewing themselves merely as regular citizens rather than influential changemakers. This self-devaluation can hinder their potential to contribute to meaningful societal reform and advancement through their work in architecture.
Themes
ArchitectsSelf-DepreciationImpactFutureSocietyReform
In practice
Example use cases
During a conference on urban planning, a speaker can reference this quote to inspire architects to embrace their influential role.
More from Kenzo Tange
All quotes βWe live in a world where great incompatibles co-exist: the human scale and the superhuman scale, stability and mobility, permanence and change, identity and anonymity, comprehensibility and universality.
Kenzo TangeRead
Similar quotes
I'm particularly interested in the public role that all buildings play. I believe that we architects should try to go beyond our basic obligations to the public, and our opportunities to do so are many.
Cesar PelliRead
My architectural drive was to design new types of buildings to help poor people, especially following natural disasters and catastrophes... I will use whatever time is left to me to keep doing what I have been doing, which is to help humanity.
Frei OttoRead
One cannot make architecture without studying the condition of life in the city
Aldo RossiRead
My passion and great enjoyment for architecture, and the reason the older I get the more I enjoy it, is because I believe we - architects - can effect the quality of life of the people.
Richard RogersRead
A profound design process eventually makes the patron, the architect, and every occasional visitor in the building a slightly better human being.
Juhani PallasmaaRead
It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people. What is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished.
William H. WhyteRead