Michael Rotondi

I recently saw Michael Rotondi, co-founder of SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) and co-founder of RoTo Architecture firm based out of Los Angeles lecture about his position on architecture.  One of the most important aspects of architecture lectured about was the visual imagination aspect, and taking time to take in the space around oneself.  Being a good architect means being about to put yourself in the position of the client and being able to imagine how the space will be used once completed.

In the book "Point Omega" by Don DeLillo the character is highly captivated by the slowed down viewing of "Psycho".  The character starts to notice so many more details that would have otherwise gone unnoticed and forgotten.  This heightened sense of  awareness is just what architects need to have as they design spaces.

In the book "The Look of Architecture," Witold Rybczynski speaks on this issue as well.  When architecture is photographed, it is often absent of people.  Author Rybczynski argues that architecture and people are not unrelated.  Because architecture is built for people, we should see the space being used by people in photographs, rather than a purified art piece.  If the piece really is as artistic as the architect claims it to be, the space should be able to be photographed and appreciated for the artistic space it is, while being used for its intention, to serve humans.  Using Michael Rotondi's rule of putting yourself in the space, it is important for architects and photographers to start showing spaces in use, so that people can more easily imagine themselves in the space.