I for one hope this discussion ends soon!  Each institution will have its
own odd experiences with architects, and there are architects who'll never
again sign on with some of their former clients, they were so indecisive.
And there are architects who also refuse nowadays to take government work,
even if it means going hungry for awhile.

Again, it's the CEO who absolutely must carve out the time to keep the
design/build process on track, whether by delegating clearly and forcefully,
or by presiding over the sundry meetings.

No one should expect an architect to turn in the finished product without
reliable input on what the museum wants.   Conversely, strong-willed museum
folk must learn to let the architect become part of the team -- so that
his/her good ideas and dreams are given respectful consideration.  There
have been lots of postings here about lose-lose situations, which to me
reflect faults at the management level.


-----Original Message-----
From: West Coast Historical Museum <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, April 11, 1998 9:17 AM
Subject: museum architecture


>I hope the lack of trust between museum professionals and architects who
>design museums which has been demonstrated in this discussion is not
>widely shared throughout both professions.
>
>If a museum building project is being managed correctly then surely the
>opinions of both will be given equal hearing and the professional skills
>of both will be recognised and respected. Then, based on the facts that
>each have used to back up their argument, an appropriate decision will
>be made (a little naive perhaps but it sounds good in theory).
>
>If an incorrect decision is made then it is time to question the
>management, communication and team building skills of those in charge of
>the project rather than apportion blame to architects or museum
>professionals or to exclude either from the management team.
>
>--
>Peter Read
>Senior Museum Assistant
>West Coast Historical Museum, PO Box 180, Hokitika 7900, New Zealand
>[log in to unmask]
>http://www.minidata.co.nz/nztour/museum.htm