I am constantly amazed by the extremes architects go to to realize their “vision” or to impress or even merely serve a client. Clients demand so much and architects seem to willingly bend to insane schedules that tax their people to the maximum. In the age of extreme everything, architecture is extreme working.
Of course sometimes good things can emerge from the pressures of compressing schedules. There are synergistic flows that can magically occur when people are working under the pressure of an impending deadline. Granted, sometimes pressure is a good thing that allows creativity to emerge.
There are times, however, when this approach becomes dysfunctional and counterproductive. It can even damage a business in the long run. It’s a hold-over from the indoctrination during school studios. Remember when they told you that 80 hours a week wasn’t enough to spend on your studio project? Or when they said nothing else mattered? Still trying to convince yourself that it’s true, aren’t you?
