Architectural Education - Mirko Baum

> Introductory Lecture > Discussion Record Opinions of the Discussants: > Yvette Vašourková > Jakub Kynčl > Ladislav Lábus > Emil Přikryl > František Sedláček > Aleš Student > Jiří Suchomel

Reactions of the Invited Personalities: > Mirko Baum > Karel Doležel > Helena Jiskrová > Ivan Koleček > Miroslav Masák > Alois Nový > Petr Pelčák > Marian Zervan

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I am convinced that mass education is, at best, capable of transmitting only technical knowledge. This means knowledge about how things are done, but not why they are done. In my opinion, the only path to becoming an architect is through master's studies. That is, to learn from someone whose artistic opinion I do not necessarily have to agree with, but who shows me that the profession of architect is not merely a way to sustain biological existence and a coveted route to the colorful pages of fashion magazines, but primarily a way to learn to feel "called" and to draw the appropriate ethical consequences from that. Personally, I had three masters. The first was my father, a mechanical engineer at Škodovka in Mladá Boleslav, who taught me to draft and to love technical drawings. The second was Karel Hubáček, who showed me how to "achieve the unachievable" and not to mess up at the first opportunity. The third was Josef Paul Kleihues, who opened my eyes to the historical context and the intellectual dimension of architecture. I know that personalities of this kind are dying out, but they still exist and must be sought, and in any case, outside the scene of current architectural stars. If I take this seriously as a student, I might one day contribute to the survival of this endangered species. Quality is contagious.

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Prof. Ing. Arch. Mirko Baum is a professor at RWTH Aachen.