The Ethics of Architecture by Mark Kingwell New York: Oxford University Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-19-755854-0 (Amazon) Read by the author in July 2023, purchased for $19.29 |
Rav Moshe Feinstein was asked whether an architect is permitted to design a house of worship for idol worshipers. He answered in Yoreh De'ah 68 that it is permissible: preparing the plans is not the same as physically building the structure and architectural plans are not necessary for them to construct the edifice. While this answer belittles the importance of architects, it does hint at one type of ethical question that architects consider: which clients and types of structures are acceptable.
Part of an OUP series, Ethics in Context, The Ethics of Architecture is a collection of "walks" focusing on ethical issues associated with the field of architecture. One hopes that all architects have professional ethics, though what exactly that entails remains an open question. Kingwell hits on some of the most popular topics of our day - environmental design, inclusivity, working for dictators and warlords, and healthy buildings (in the wake of Covid-19). The author misses some other obvious ethical concerns like making sure buildings are safe, being honest with clients, and not taking bribes from suppliers, all issues that are mentioned in rabbinic literature.
Regardless, the book is also chock-full of interesting considerations, drawn from architectural essays and moral philosophers, that enrich the discussion surrounding the ethics of architecture. Are design styles (Modernism, Brutalism, etc) moral? Should people who are no longer alive have a vote in our design decisions? (By this he means how much do we continue existing patterns, and when do the interests of people who have not yet been born override those who are dead.) Is it moral to abdicate the public sphere and focus only on the private, or vice versa? Is there value in designing things that remain unbuilt? It is worthwhile to ask these questions, even if one doesn't have a clear answer. As an architect I appreciate the opportunity and prompt to pause and reflect on these issues.
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