Our final blog for this Critical Reading module, is not a reading... but a film. A film about a young individualistic architect; Howard Roark, who the author, Ayn Rand is believed to have created based on Frank Lloyd Wright. Roark embodies the ideology of the ideal man and his struggle reflects Rand's belief that individualism is superior to collectivism. The story observes the role of the architect and how they are perceived through media. The novel the film is based on went on to be a bestseller among political libertarians and architects. It has also been translated into 20 languages, so to say it is an international book is an understatement, architects across the globe can now read the story of Ayn Rand.
Howard Roark has unique design ideas, not something which was encouraged by his first boss. He wanted Roark to do what he was told architecturally for the people. Eventually, Roark takes over the company and becomes his own architect, he then proposes a tower block to the town planners who want to 'soften' his new style architecture. They said his design was too different and would shock people and he would have to compromise by putting some traditional features back in to please the people, Roark demanded they take his design as it is or not at all. He didn't want to play in the 'middle ground' he wanted to change architecture with his new way of thinking. He wants to set his own standards as opposed to being told what to do. A huge similarity to that of Frank Lloyd Wright, who had designed Hollyhock House for Aline Barnsdall with a new style of Mayan Revival architecture, only to be sacked towards the end of the project for having differing opinions on the 'artwork' of the house. Both Roark and Wright wanted to distance themselves from the popular demands of architecture the people expected and therefore wanted to design a new unique style of buildings.
Peter Keating went to architecture school with Roark, and unlike Howard, Peter designs to the peoples needs and wants rather than having the individualistic approach to his architecture. Keating asks Roark to design a scheme for him, allowing Keating to take all credit, on one condition, it is built exactly as Roark designed. Roark still lived by his belief of building for anybody and anywhere as long as he built his way which goes back to Rand's idea of individualism vs collectivism. He hated the idea of the client changing his designs and putting their individual characteristics on their building but Roark was adamant nothing was to change if he was the architect. The scheme gets built different to that of Roark plans, so he goes to site and blows it up. He appears in court after being found out to be the principle designer, Roark talks in court of the 'human' being born an individual, having one brain as the only weapon we really have and that brain cannot be a collective one, therefore an individual brain brings unique ideas. His ideas are his property and if his ideas were tampered with, without his approval, he felt he had the right to remove the object as the object was his and his alone. Roark wins his argument and is allowed to redesign the plans his way, publically this time, allowing it to be built EXACTLY as he wants. A novel which suggests individualism is stronger than the collective, a story that shows individualism can succeed in architecture. If individualism didn't flourish in this industry every building would have a common appearance and nothing would stand out.
Howard Roark has unique design ideas, not something which was encouraged by his first boss. He wanted Roark to do what he was told architecturally for the people. Eventually, Roark takes over the company and becomes his own architect, he then proposes a tower block to the town planners who want to 'soften' his new style architecture. They said his design was too different and would shock people and he would have to compromise by putting some traditional features back in to please the people, Roark demanded they take his design as it is or not at all. He didn't want to play in the 'middle ground' he wanted to change architecture with his new way of thinking. He wants to set his own standards as opposed to being told what to do. A huge similarity to that of Frank Lloyd Wright, who had designed Hollyhock House for Aline Barnsdall with a new style of Mayan Revival architecture, only to be sacked towards the end of the project for having differing opinions on the 'artwork' of the house. Both Roark and Wright wanted to distance themselves from the popular demands of architecture the people expected and therefore wanted to design a new unique style of buildings.
Peter Keating went to architecture school with Roark, and unlike Howard, Peter designs to the peoples needs and wants rather than having the individualistic approach to his architecture. Keating asks Roark to design a scheme for him, allowing Keating to take all credit, on one condition, it is built exactly as Roark designed. Roark still lived by his belief of building for anybody and anywhere as long as he built his way which goes back to Rand's idea of individualism vs collectivism. He hated the idea of the client changing his designs and putting their individual characteristics on their building but Roark was adamant nothing was to change if he was the architect. The scheme gets built different to that of Roark plans, so he goes to site and blows it up. He appears in court after being found out to be the principle designer, Roark talks in court of the 'human' being born an individual, having one brain as the only weapon we really have and that brain cannot be a collective one, therefore an individual brain brings unique ideas. His ideas are his property and if his ideas were tampered with, without his approval, he felt he had the right to remove the object as the object was his and his alone. Roark wins his argument and is allowed to redesign the plans his way, publically this time, allowing it to be built EXACTLY as he wants. A novel which suggests individualism is stronger than the collective, a story that shows individualism can succeed in architecture. If individualism didn't flourish in this industry every building would have a common appearance and nothing would stand out.
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