Masonry Magazine August 1997 Page. 21
by Fred L. Bemheim, FARA
Bemheim & Kahn Ltd., Architects
Northbrook, Minois
Can Architects Save Their World?
Let me address a matter to which architects give short shrift: politics and community service. It's good, it's bad and, from the architect's viewpoint, it does not command much attention. It is often seen as a waste of time and money. Therefore, it is boring. Too bad! This lack of political participation continues to allow engineers (all professional fields), urban planners, interior designers, lawyers, accountants, and perhaps a few others through political action committees or elective office to steer the ships of state.
In every city, hamlet and community, architects should be represented on planning commissions, zoning boards, appearance review commissions. These are missions for which they are trained and perform daily. Their extensive education and experience give them the capacity to render design judgements both practically and esthetically. It is a task they can willingly do for the profession and society. But, unfortunately, too few of them do not. Therefore, they remain less known, and their community is bereft of their knowledge.
Many years ago, a carpenter on a store remodeling project of ours had a cup of coffee waiting for me at 7 a.m. or whenever I was scheduled to