I recently came across a note with Laurie Baker’s architectural principles. It's amazing how beautifully many of them apply to writing as well.
My feelings about being an architect
~ Laurie Baker
1. Only accept a reasonable brief and one which you think you are capable of carrying through.
2. Discourage extravagance & snobbery and don't take on a job which is either.
3. Always study your site — re soil, topography, water climate & neighbours (noisy temples, smelly factories, etc).
4. See potential services — water, drainage, access, power, fuel, phone, etc. if not possible or available, what will you do?
5. You, yourself, get accurate details of the site, with in-situ facts such as trees, rocks, a well, wind & rain directions.
6. Every building should be unique. no two people, or families etc are alike, so why should their houses all be the same?
7. Study & know local materials — their availability, performance, costs, techniques & workman who know how to use them.
8. Study & know energy used in the manufacture & transport of materials, avoiding using energy intensive materials where possible.
9. Building codes are advisory & not mandatory! read the first chapter of our national building code.
10. Don't rob national resources & do not use them extravagantly or unnecessarily.
11. Be honest & truthful in design & material usage, construction, costs, & about your own mistakes!
12. Avoid opulence & 'showing-off', and don't use currently fashionable gimmicks.
13. Get your conscience out of deep-freeze & use it. let all you do be honest & truthful — not only your buildings.
14. Look closely at your own prejudices. question them and see if they are still justifiable!
15. Have faith in your own convictions & have courage to stick to them — but respect those of other people.
16. Make cost-efficiency your way of life — not merely "low cost for the poor". practice what you preach.
17. Keep your information & knowledge 'up-to-date', but make sure the latest 'fashions' are better than established ways before changing.
18. Don't do that which is not necessary. explain this to your clients when you think their demands are not necessary.
19. Above all use common sense (i think you had better not ask me what 'common sense' is!) & have fun in designing.
20. Trim your drawings, staff, equipment, travel & transport, paper, & expenses.
i just got this odd little book, it's roughly the size of a passport
this photographer went around calling the biggest european companies, asking to show up at their office and shoot their boardroom
this is unilever in 1993