What’s an Arms Architect?

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Starchitects are architects who gain fame and influence in the architecture community and beyond, often branching out into luxury goods. Their work is cutting edge and demands attention, but some find it unpleasant. Developers attach them to projects for approval, and some cities regret endorsing questionable projects. Notable starchitects include Gaudi, Gehry, and Koolhaas, and their projects have a “wow factor” that illustrates their power to get away with unusual and expensive designs.

An architect is an architect who becomes widely known among the general public and the architecture community. A famous architect could be considered an archistar; these high-profile figures often have star power and public influence. Beyond building design, some starchitects also branch out into home furnishings and luxury goods, hoping to extend the branding power of their names. They are often the subject of in-depth analysis in magazines and newspapers, and occasionally also appear on television.

The word is a portmanteau of “star” and “architect,” and is generally used pejoratively. Some people think of starchitects as supermodels of the world of architecture, pushing for fame and glory at any cost. Their work is often extremely cutting edge and very loud; demands attention from the viewer with distinctive, bold and large design elements. For more traditional communities and architects, the work of architecture architects can be a bit intense, and some people find the projects of architecture architects quite unpleasant.

Some well known examples of starchitects include Anton Gaudi, Jeff Kipnis, Michael Graves, Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, Philippe Starck, IM Pei and Frank Lloyd Wright. While many people speak derisively of the work of starchitects, the work of some of these individuals is certainly unique, and some people find it both surprising and entertaining. Star architects have certainly pushed the boundaries of modern architecture, making previously unseen architectural features desirable and acceptable among the community at large.

Since starchitects have a lot of power and power, some developers attach them to projects in hopes that the projects will be approved. This is often the case with controversial building schemes, such as plans to build large apartment complexes or tall office buildings. Developers typically bring an architect on board soon, with the plan to sell the project in the architect’s name. Many cities are seduced by the scale of these projects, coupled with star power, sometimes endorsing questionable projects and then regretting them.

Some famous projects by starchitects include the Guggenheim Museum in Spain, the Pompidou Center in France, the Seattle Central Library in the United States, and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Finland. These projects are notable for their so-called “wow factor”, a reference to the word most often uttered upon first seeing these buildings. High profile projects such as these illustrate the incredible power a starchitect has to get away with highly unusual and sometimes quite expensive projects.




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