The 7 Principles of Architectural Criticism

由专筑网李韧，杨帆编译

“好的评论员都知道自己的能力。许多媒体网站现在只是提供组装图像与新闻的信息，而不提供有价值的观点，这并不是评论。”Blair Kamin说，这是位获得普利策芝加哥论坛奖的建筑评论家。

批判建筑确实是一个棘手的任务，有许多方面无法区分对错，比如美学，一个人觉得漂亮的东西另一个人也许并不这么认为。因此，成为一个有效的建筑评论家需要深刻的内涵，包括广阔的知识、多年的经验、说服力、出色的专业技能，以及耐心和逻辑性强的论点。优秀的建筑评论家不仅可以帮助建筑师了解自己项目的本质，也有助于他们制定出标准，创造更卓越的项目设计。

“Good critics really know their territory. Many media sites now just assemble images and news items without lending a point of view. That’s not criticism; it’s pimpery,” says Blair Kamin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic of the Chicago Tribune.
Critiquing architecture is really a tough task as there are many aspects which cannot be distinguished as right or wrong, for instance, aesthetics; what might be beautiful to someone may just seem artificial to another one. So, becoming an effective architecture critic requires a wide range of attributes which include vastness of knowledge, years of experience, the power of persuasion, excellent delivery skills, lots of patience, thirst for awareness, and logic in arguments. Architecture critics not only assist architects in understanding the nature of their own project but also help them in developing a critical judgment about it. They make the picture clearer.


Image Courtesy – Grant Snider

现在让我们回顾一下评论家们用最具建设性的方式来扮演他们的角色所需要的技巧和素质。

So, now let’s review some of the skills and qualities necessary for critics to perform their role in a most constructive manner.


1、公平的判断力

首先，评论家应该是一个有原则的人。公平和清晰是判断设计时必不可少的要素。设计应根据其自身要求进行评估，而不是以其他项目作为比较依据。一个平民的房子永远无法作为判断国王宫殿的标准。


2、逻辑推理

评论家应该始终有一个合乎逻辑的论点。美国建筑师协会首席执行官Robert Ivy说：“情感并不能胜过理智。”当然，对一个特定的或风格具有偏向型的设计师来说这并没有错，但不能影响评论别人的作品的方式。评论的目的不应该是侮辱建筑师或他们的作品，而应该指出错误，以改善整体的情况。


3、提供有说服力的作品

“评论员必须提供一个有说服力的案例。”Architectural Record 的主编Cathleen McGuigan说。说服对批评具有建设性意义。如果接受者不理解，并无法真正认同它，评论家的意见就毫无意义，以真实生活经历来提供证明则十分有帮助。


4、适当的语言

有时候，错误的语言表达会摧毁一个好的评论家。糟糕的话语可能会具有破坏性，即使评论家是正确的，并且有良好的意图。同样，适当的言语，甚至应用自我批评的方式，以积极和激励的方式传递信息，这样便不会伤害建筑师的心。评论语言，如“你错了”或“这是一个愚蠢的想法”可能对改进作品没有任何的帮助，而“我觉得这可能是一个更好的解决办法”则可能创造新的奇迹。

1、Fairness in Judgement
First, the critic should be a ‘man of principles’. Fairness and clarity are essential when judging a design. The design should be assessed as per its own requirements rather than taking another project as a basis for comparison. A civilian’s house can never be judged along the lines of King’s Palace.

2、Logical Reasoning
The critic should always have a logical reason behind the argument. “Emotion doesn’t trump reason,” says Robert Ivy, CEO of the American Institute of Architects. Of course, having an affinity towards a particular designer or style isn’t wrong, unless it affects the way in which others are criticized. The goal behind criticism should never be insulting the architects or their designs, rather it should be pointing out the wrong in order to improve the whole situation.

3、Building a Persuasive Case
“The critic has to build a persuasive case–brick by brick,” says Cathleen McGuigan, Editor in Chief of Architectural Record. The art of convincing is very significant to make criticism more constructive. The critic’s opinion is not of any use if the receiver does not understand it and truly agrees with it. Describing a real life experience as an example to prove a point might help.

4、Adequate Delivery
Sometimes, it is the language that ruins a good critic. Poor delivery may ruin the effectiveness of a critique, even though the critic is right and has good intentions. Similarly, appropriate delivery may, even, promote an egocentric criticism. The message should be delivered in a positive and motivating manner, without hurting the target’s sentiments. The evaluative language like “You are wrong” or “This is a stupid idea” may not be of any help whereas “I feel like this may be a better solution” might just work wonders.


Image Courtesy – Scott Adams

5、客观评论

评论应该具有客观性，同时它也应该是具体的。着眼于手头的问题有助于建筑师理解当下的语境。“你的设计缺乏这个”在任何时候都比“这是不正确的东西”要客观得多。


6、建筑学常识

意识到过去、现在和未来可能出现的问题和趋势对评论家来说是一个真正的要求，在此基础上评论家才能够更好地评论建筑设计。此外，如果具有实践建筑师的经验也十分有利。


7、理解建筑师的观点

最后，评论家必须把自己置于建筑师的立场上，这样才能正确地评判设计。这样做将使他们能够从建筑师的角度理解问题，从而提供更合适的建议。

5、Objective Commentary
Criticism should be more objective. It should be specific, relevant, and to the point. Focusing on the problem at hand helps in understanding the context. “Your design lacks this” is anytime better than “Something isn’t right but I am unable to put it”.

6、General Knowledge of Architecture
Awareness of the past, present, and possible future issues and trends of architecture is a genuine requirement for a critic to be capable of commenting on an architectural design. Also, experience as a practicing architect can be very advantageous.

7、Understanding the Architect’s Point of View
Lastly, it’s essential for critics to put themselves in the shoes of the receiving architects in order to adjudicate the design properly. Doing this will enable them to understand the problem from the architect’s point of view and hence deliver more appropriate suggestions.


出处：本文译自www.arch2o.com/，转载请注明出处。