Comments on: Pidgin http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/ Annie Choi wants to fill your brain with words. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:31:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Adolfo Mendoza Avilés http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-8001 Adolfo Mendoza Avilés Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:10:31 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-8001 Dear Annie: I think you letter is one of the most wonderful texts I've ever read. I'm an architecture student at Mexico City. The moment I read your letter I knew I wasn't wrong about how WE architects don't hear people and do whatever our ego dictates. Two years ago you wrote this "joke" about a reality that is making our job really mere good aesthetics and """good taste""". Right now I'm trying to re-create our Architecture Weekend to be not just a showcase for architects. The purpose of this is to QUESTION what are we doing? Not to realize its good-bad... or any qualifying adjective, just as a healthy excercise everyone should do about their practice. If my proposal is accepted I would be really glad if you could just participate in, in any type even online of by your blog! Thanks for that awesome and thrilling letter! Sincererly; Adolfo Mendoza Avilés Dear Annie:

I think you letter is one of the most wonderful texts I’ve ever read. I’m an architecture student at Mexico City. The moment I read your letter I knew I wasn’t wrong about how WE architects don’t hear people and do whatever our ego dictates. Two years ago you wrote this “joke” about a reality that is making our job really mere good aesthetics and “”"good taste”"”. Right now I’m trying to re-create our Architecture Weekend to be not just a showcase for architects. The purpose of this is to QUESTION what are we doing? Not to realize its good-bad… or any qualifying adjective, just as a healthy excercise everyone should do about their practice. If my proposal is accepted I would be really glad if you could just participate in, in any type even online of by your blog!
Thanks for that awesome and thrilling letter!
Sincererly;
Adolfo Mendoza Avilés

]]> By: Liz Witt http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-7460 Liz Witt Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:16:35 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-7460 Annie, I, too, seem to know only architects. In fact, I have on multiple occasions been mistaken as the writer of your letter (which I consider to be quite flattering). I agree not all architects have enough of a sense of humor about what they do. I find that most have a lot of artsy-fartsy hot air prepared to defend their artsy-fartsy crap that regular people see and get really pissed off about. I certainly find that if one makes a joke about an architect's artsy-fartsy hot air or design crap Said Architect will not take it in stride. What Said Architect does not realize is that if non-architect friend(s) didn't have senses of humor, there would be no such thing as an architect having a non-architect friend. I consider it a small contribution to humanity to continue to be friends with broke, overtired, humorless architects and am glad that I am in good company in doing so. By the by, my sister worked in Rem Koolhaas’s Rotterdam office one summer and I have it on good authority that Rem may be well rested but he’s still rather dour. However, it was due to this office that I first saw your letter where it was posted in the kitchen and brought to me by my sister; apparently even among the architects crazy enough to work for Rem there are some with good humor—hope is not lost. Lizzie Annie,
I, too, seem to know only architects. In fact, I have on multiple occasions been mistaken as the writer of your letter (which I consider to be quite flattering).
I agree not all architects have enough of a sense of humor about what they do. I find that most have a lot of artsy-fartsy hot air prepared to defend their artsy-fartsy crap that regular people see and get really pissed off about. I certainly find that if one makes a joke about an architect’s artsy-fartsy hot air or design crap Said Architect will not take it in stride. What Said Architect does not realize is that if non-architect friend(s) didn’t have senses of humor, there would be no such thing as an architect having a non-architect friend.
I consider it a small contribution to humanity to continue to be friends with broke, overtired, humorless architects and am glad that I am in good company in doing so. By the by, my sister worked in Rem Koolhaas’s Rotterdam office one summer and I have it on good authority that Rem may be well rested but he’s still rather dour. However, it was due to this office that I first saw your letter where it was posted in the kitchen and brought to me by my sister; apparently even among the architects crazy enough to work for Rem there are some with good humor—hope is not lost.
Lizzie

]]> By: another architect http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-5713 another architect Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:54:13 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-5713 hey annie! im just another architect led to read this letter, and i have to say its the funniest shit i've read and at the same time totally true! which makes it x1000000000 funnier. actually, im not yet an architect, just one studying to become one and already do most things you whine architects do in your letter. my architecture friends find it hilarious as well, and we all love you. anyway, i really love your train of thought in the stuff you write and the style you write in.. so please write more shit about your architect friends!! and i will promise to buy your book that will give you another $2 royalty.. hey annie!
im just another architect led to read this letter, and i have to say its the funniest shit i’ve read and at the same time totally true! which makes it x1000000000 funnier.
actually, im not yet an architect, just one studying to become one and already do most things you whine architects do in your letter. my architecture friends find it hilarious as well, and we all love you.
anyway, i really love your train of thought in the stuff you write and the style you write in.. so please write more shit about your architect friends!! and i will promise to buy your book that will give you another $2 royalty..

]]> By: kp http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-4543 kp Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:46:11 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-4543 Annie, It occurred to me that I was taking a break from architecture to read about people talking about how architects never teak breaks from architecture. I don't know if this counts towards deprogramming. I have resisted reading all of these. Nice letter- going to make breakfast now. Annie,
It occurred to me that I was taking a break from architecture to read about people talking about how architects never teak breaks from architecture. I don’t know if this counts towards deprogramming. I have resisted reading all of these. Nice letter- going to make breakfast now.

]]> By: JD http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-3140 JD Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:07:53 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-3140 Just saw your open letter -- yeah, I'm late to the party. I have been in the field for over 30 years and want you to know two things: 1) Your impressions & observations are perfect. 2) Most architects are assholes. The really sad thing is that your friends are stuck in a world that more closely resembles school than a place where adults contribute to society, make a living and raise families. From the day I left architecture school I left that bullshit behind -- Thank God! I couldn't handle it in school. The flvor-of-the-month foreign decon or Miami wonderkind. What a bunch of crap. And don't even get me started about all the nonsensical ways solme guys like to describe their creations... "...the space evokes a sense of holistic being that transcends life itself..." WTF! Thanks again. PS: I grew up in The Valley too. Just saw your open letter — yeah, I’m late to the party.

I have been in the field for over 30 years and want you to know two things:

1) Your impressions & observations are perfect.

2) Most architects are assholes.

The really sad thing is that your friends are stuck in a world that more closely resembles school than a place where adults contribute to society, make a living and raise families.

From the day I left architecture school I left that bullshit behind — Thank God! I couldn’t handle it in school. The flvor-of-the-month foreign decon or Miami wonderkind. What a bunch of crap.

And don’t even get me started about all the nonsensical ways solme guys like to describe their creations…

“…the space evokes a sense of holistic being that transcends life itself…”

WTF!

Thanks again.

PS: I grew up in The Valley too.

]]> By: ‘Dear Architects, I Am Sick Of Your &$%#@.’ « The Pompomist http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-3027 ‘Dear Architects, I Am Sick Of Your &$%#@.’ « The Pompomist Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:40:10 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-3027 [...] ‘Dear Architects, I Am Sick Of Your &$%#@.’ Posted on December 18, 2007 by Jamie Many architecture blogs have posted this controvertial article. Annie Choi, from the Annie Choi blog, wrote this open letter on Part IV to all architects out there… don’t take it personal! I didn’t. I actually made me laugh: “Once, a long time ago in the days of yore, I had a friend who was studying architecture to become, presumably, an architect. This friend introduced me to other friends, who were also studying architecture. Then these friends had other friends who were architects - real architects doing real architecture like designing luxury condos that look a lot like glass dildos. And these real architects knew other real architects and now the only people I know are architects. And they all design glass dildos that I will never work or live in and serve only to obstruct my view of New Jersey. Do not get me wrong, architects. I like you as a person. I think you are nice, smell good most of the time, and I like your glasses. You have crazy hair, and if you are lucky, most of it is on your head. But I do not care about architecture. It is true. This is what I do care about:* burritos * hedgehogs * coffee [...] [...] ‘Dear Architects, I Am Sick Of Your &$%#@.’ Posted on December 18, 2007 by Jamie Many architecture blogs have posted this controvertial article. Annie Choi, from the Annie Choi blog, wrote this open letter on Part IV to all architects out there… don’t take it personal! I didn’t. I actually made me laugh: “Once, a long time ago in the days of yore, I had a friend who was studying architecture to become, presumably, an architect. This friend introduced me to other friends, who were also studying architecture. Then these friends had other friends who were architects - real architects doing real architecture like designing luxury condos that look a lot like glass dildos. And these real architects knew other real architects and now the only people I know are architects. And they all design glass dildos that I will never work or live in and serve only to obstruct my view of New Jersey. Do not get me wrong, architects. I like you as a person. I think you are nice, smell good most of the time, and I like your glasses. You have crazy hair, and if you are lucky, most of it is on your head. But I do not care about architecture. It is true. This is what I do care about:* burritos * hedgehogs * coffee [...]

]]> By: keeping it real. and just keeping it. « on pens and needles http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2995 keeping it real. and just keeping it. « on pens and needles Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:09:56 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2995 [...] *While I sympathize with this perspective on architects (I’ve listened to an hour-long conversation about the wonder that is concrete), I also sympathize with anyone who must endure so many hurdles for so little pay. It’s no wonder they want to talk about it. They’re sure as hell not being suitably compensated or appreciated. [...] [...] *While I sympathize with this perspective on architects (I’ve listened to an hour-long conversation about the wonder that is concrete), I also sympathize with anyone who must endure so many hurdles for so little pay. It’s no wonder they want to talk about it. They’re sure as hell not being suitably compensated or appreciated. [...]

]]> By: annie http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2933 annie Mon, 31 Dec 2007 16:25:03 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2933 herr kaiser: Ah yes, I forgot the cigarettes of course! That is a huge oversight. But everyone says "I'll just get through this thing and then I'll quit. Seriously." Hah. Cosmin: I think you did not really get the article. It's supposed to be humorous and satirical and it's using irony to bring to light certain issues about architecture and architecture culture. But I've already commented about this before, as have other people, on PartIV and here on this blog. This letter is now over a year old and everyone is sick of talking about it I think. herr kaiser: Ah yes, I forgot the cigarettes of course! That is a huge oversight. But everyone says “I’ll just get through this thing and then I’ll quit. Seriously.” Hah.

Cosmin: I think you did not really get the article. It’s supposed to be humorous and satirical and it’s using irony to bring to light certain issues about architecture and architecture culture. But I’ve already commented about this before, as have other people, on PartIV and here on this blog. This letter is now over a year old and everyone is sick of talking about it I think.

]]> By: Cosmin http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2911 Cosmin Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:26:41 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2911 I found the article amusing...not because of how you ALMOST perfectly described "the architect" but at how pissed off you are about architecture and architects(their life style). I think you're overdoing it. Let's get a few things strait. -I don't understand why you talk about architects in GENERAL. Not everybody likes glass cocks or shit like that. -You really think Rem Koolhaas, didn't have nights when he didn't sleep? and he probably complained to his friends.Rem Koolhaas is famous, he probably has a big architecture firm with a lot of people working for him and so he doesn't need to work so hard. -If you don't like you're friends...make new ones, nobody is forcing you to hang out with them -let's say that you we're out eating with 3-4 friends from your domain of work and an achitect what would you be talking? arhitecture? I think NOT. -So what if they complain how much they work or sleep...if you don't like that topic, STEP THE FUCK UP and start a new topic of discusion(don't be afraid when you are with them and tough when you are in front of a typing machine) -The part with the doctor who gives me drugs and the lawyer ...bla bla bla is my favorite :D. If you were to build yourself a house, you really think one of those "friends" (architects) wouldn't help you for free by designing you a house? You're to full of yourself. You really have isues and you better deal with them. P.S. Sorry for my bad english (if there are many mistakes)i'm not a fluent english speaker. I found the article amusing…not because of how you ALMOST perfectly described “the architect” but at how pissed off you are about architecture and architects(their life style). I think you’re overdoing it.

Let’s get a few things strait.
-I don’t understand why you talk about architects in GENERAL. Not everybody likes glass cocks or shit like that.
-You really think Rem Koolhaas, didn’t have nights when he didn’t sleep? and he probably complained to his friends.Rem Koolhaas is famous, he probably has a big architecture firm with a lot of people working for him and so he doesn’t need to work so hard.
-If you don’t like you’re friends…make new ones, nobody is forcing you to hang out with them
-let’s say that you we’re out eating with 3-4 friends from your domain of work and an achitect what would you be talking? arhitecture? I think NOT.
-So what if they complain how much they work or sleep…if you don’t like that topic, STEP THE FUCK UP and start a new topic of discusion(don’t be afraid when you are with them and tough when you are in front of a typing machine)
-The part with the doctor who gives me drugs and the lawyer …bla bla bla is my favorite :D. If you were to build yourself a house, you really think one of those “friends” (architects) wouldn’t help you for free by designing you a house?

You’re to full of yourself. You really have isues and you better deal with them.

P.S. Sorry for my bad english (if there are many mistakes)i’m not a fluent english speaker.

]]> By: herr kaiser http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2900 herr kaiser Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:33:04 +0000 http://www.annietown.com/2007/07/22/pidgin/#comment-2900 Hi Annie, thanks for your Article. You made me lough. Btw: You forgot to mention that we smoke 100 cigaretts a day, drink 100 cups of coffee a day and then use the 100 coffee cups as ashtrays for the 100 cigaretts. And you forgot to mention that we take every chance to drink a beer or (mostly) more. I think the point is that we are just the most self destructive species on this planet. Maybe the problem is: We built it. The rest of the humanity destorys it. And nobody even mentioned that we built it. And you´re right. Over here in the heart of europa are some architects hiding who are still human ;) Wish you best! Hi Annie,

thanks for your Article. You made me lough. Btw: You forgot to mention that we smoke 100 cigaretts a day, drink 100 cups of coffee a day and then use the 100 coffee cups as ashtrays for the 100 cigaretts. And you forgot to mention that we take every chance to drink a beer or (mostly) more. I think the point is that we are just the most self destructive species on this planet.

Maybe the problem is: We built it. The rest of the humanity destorys it. And nobody even mentioned that we built it. And you´re right. Over here in the heart of europa are some architects hiding who are still human ;)

Wish you best!

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