Metaform Phonographs

Teo Tudorică is the author of phonographs within his project

metaFORMA.

Architecture studies at UAUIM Bucharest and UP Timisoara.

www.behance.net/metaForma

Revista Arhitectura: Is the prestige of the architectural profession in decline? Why?

Teo Tudorică: I find the term decline perhaps too strong. Certainly the profession is changing its way and area of influence in society. At the same time, society's relation to the architectural profession (I would even venture to refer to the professional in general) follows its own developments and conditionings. It seems essential to me that the professional should always remember that he must respond to the needs of the community - be proactive in relation to the society for and in which he performs. In other words, I don't advocate a defensive, sometimes even lamenting, attitude of the architect in relation to the social context to which he or she is ultimately addressed.

R.A.: Do you feel an obvious threat? Of what kind? How do you overcome it?

T.T.: Yes. In my case, the threat even materialized. From discussions with colleagues old and new in the profession, I conclude that it is a situation faced by a large number of junior architects. It is routine. By this routine I mean several aspects, such as: the proverbial Romanian bureaucracy; the sometimes depressing level of collaboration with investors, clients, collaborators; inadequate remuneration, etc. My way of keeping my balance and creativity has involved a more drastic step. I gave up practicing architecture. Probably not permanently, but certainly not before my sincere desire to design returned.

R.A.: The architectural profession is becoming deprofessionalized and ultra-professionalized. Why?

T.T.: Both. The architect seems to be deprofessionalizing in relation to society through compromise, derisory pricing, inadequate communication. At the same time, the architect is ultra-professionalizing in relation to the guild.

Read the full interview in issue 3/2013 of Arhitectura magazine