Architectural living will

I think it’s safe to say that Architecture has not been feeling very well lately. He’s just lying there, hooked up to “machines for living”. Indeed, the profession has weakened to the point that it may have fallen into a coma. Are we prepared? Do we have a living will? what do we do with the body of work?

< No wait… I think I’ll be fine, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I Should I go into the light, right? Grandpa? is that Corbu with you? >

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MY LIVING WILL

i, Modern Architecture ,
being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make this declaration to be followed if I become incompetent, underappreciated, or irrelevant. This declaration reflects my firm and settled commitment to refuse life-sustaining financing from my clients under the circumstances indicated below:

    • If my work begins to resemble a folded plane of loneliness – again – you may unplug me
    • If my work begins to drift into the predictable realm of the easily understood – you may unplug me
    • If my work begins to effect real and sustainable change in the community and provides a template that can be incorporated by other designers, thereby making this change scalable at a global level – you may unplug me
    • If my Mom claims to understand the last project I designed – you may unplug me, and tell her I’m sorry
    • If my work is published in Dwell Magazine – you may unplug me & kick me
    • If my work loses it’s appeal in Norway – you may unplug me, and watch as I slowly grow more and more cold, and distant.
    • If, when looked at from a great distance, over a calm body of water, my work does not enhance the elegance of the automobile being filmed for this commercial – you may unplug me & call Calatrava
    • If the world grows tired of my self aggrandizing and excessive self reflection – you may unplug me & begin to talk about how amazing I used to be.
    • If Oprah mentions my name – you may unplug me & the television.

I direct my attending clients to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining financing that serves only to prolong the process of my dying, if I should be in a terminal condition or in a state of permanent unconsciousness.

In addition, if I am in the condition described above, I feel especially strongly about the following:

I ( )do (X)do not want to be portrayed by Tom Hanks or Keanu Reeves in a film. (I’m ok with Kiefer Sutherland, or ideally Donald Sutherland.)

I ( )do (X)do not want my work to appear in “blogs”. (crap)

I ( )do (X)do not want my work to define my generation, (please see Kurt Cobain’s living will)

I ( )do (X)do not want roof leaks to deter from the grandeur of Frank Llyod Wright’s life’s work (it’s too late, isn’t it)

I ( )do (X)do not want any form of surgery or invasive diagnostic tests performed on my work. (unless it results in more transparency, and/or loneliness)

I ( )do (X)do not want antibiotics. (though I may need some form of medication)

Other instructions:

I (x)do ( )do not want to designate another person as my surrogate to make medical treatment decisions for me if I should be incompetent and in a terminal condition or in a state of permanent unconsciousness.

Name and address of surrogate (if applicable):

Frank Gehry – California

Name and address of substitute surrogate (if surrogate designated above is unable to serve):

Jon Hamm – California, (or Charlie Sheen, he’s probably free)

I made this declaration on the day of (month, year). 6-26-2011

Declarant’s signature: ???*

Declarant’s address: Durham, NC

The declarant or the person on behalf of and at the direction of the declarant knowingly and voluntarily signed this writing by signature or mark in my presence.

Witness’ signature:

Witness’ address:

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* Yeah, I’m not sure if I should sign this or not,

Jody

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photos are from erutan’s photostream on Flickr (used under creative commons license)

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