Throughout history, architecture mirrored civilization, and architects were people of great interest. From Vitruvius to Davinci and Mimar Sinan, their contributions reflect intellectual brilliance, establishing them as prominent architects. With this status comes a greater responsibility: a moral load on both the creator and its creation that is often overlooked by history.

Due to the seemingly material nature of architectural production, it's used to judge its matter and its designer through a pragmatic equation of: “You are what you create.” Hence, a good building is a reflection of a good architect. However, this one-criterion system opposes the previously mentioned importance of these two elements in and for history.

Morals and architecture

Morality is not commonly discussed in architecture, especially with a focus on the architect as creator and outside the legislative realm of the practice. This latter leaves a considerable space for relativity within. The conduct of this discussion implicates the questioning of both the product and the producer in the hope of establishing common rules of moral correctness.

Neutrality of architecture

Despite it being a concrete expression, architecture takes a marginal role as a referential moral ground. It is there, existing despite the narrative or the motives behind it. This stagnation allows its nuanced use as an economic asset, a development tool, a weapon, and a settlement force.

A good architect and a moral architect

The basic role of an architect is to plan space to accommodate a function. A good architect is a competent architect. He effectively uses a set of parameters to imagine, draw, and build a space that's durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.  A moral architect operates within a deeper and intentional plane. It is someone with strong beliefs in right or wrong; he makes sure to reflect in his work.

Images of immoral architecture

The authority of an architect over people’s environment tests him to make moral decisions throughout his career. He either chooses to please them and attend to their needs or be superior to them.

Land acquisition

Space theft stems from colonial roots. Many famous and impactful architects took part in the settlement agenda to build in occupied territories, making them fields for their theoretical experimentation. They not only supported the reappropriation of the land but also local styles and finishes, naming them post-indigenous.

Selfish expression

Unless it’s the intended goal or function, designing a space that’s uncomfortable, disorienting, or “outside the norms” for the sole purpose of aesthetic singularity is a selfish act. In residential buildings, a space that, by one’s standards, is unlivable or doesn’t adequately meet the needs of its users speaks of entitlement and apathy.

By highlighting the importance of architecture as a direct translation of human advancement, it is crucial to recognize the architect as a translator. Undoubtedly, He is an artist. He implicates himself in his work both intentionally and subconsciously. And while a moral judgment might seem brutal on his evident and even necessary subjectivity, his motives must align with his noble mission as a space shaper.

Architecture is a moral responsibility and a commitment towards humanity. A moral architecture is human architecture, and a moral architect is simply a good person.