Berlingske Tidende, 
Leading Center-right Danish Daily 

July 18, 2000, Cultural Section, Page 1

 Headline:  "More Power to Good Architecture"

Caption:  "He is an American but he believes that living and working in skyscrapers isn't good for people, and he admires the Nordic architects for their sense of the humane scale.   Richard N. Swett, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, has therefore taken the initiative to host an international conference with the overall objective of stimulating communication between architecture and society at large."

By Torben Weirup

Text: 

Q:  Can architects actually change society? 

"Any individual can, in my opinion," says U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Richard N. Swett.  "But an architect has an advantage.  An architect can have a vision and see a connection."

           These very qualitiesóand the wish to apply them politicallyóhas inspired the architect Ambassador to organize an international conference on architecture in Copenhagen.  Scheduled for early September, the conference will host a number of architects and political decision-makers from the United States and several European countries.

           "My background for the conference is from ten years of working with politics as well as architecture.  When I was elected to Congress, I joined a number of committees that dealt with public works and infrastructure.  Hence, I was able to apply my professional experience.  I also tried to enlighten the architectural community as to their responsibilities in the political decision-making process.  When I came to Denmark my knowledge about Danish society was limited, but I had a fundamental knowledge about Danish and Scandinavian architecture.  I have always been a great admirer of Arne Jacobsen, J¯rn Utzon, Eliel Saarinen, and, of course, Alvar Alto.  I was curious to see what role architecture had played in the development of the Scandinavian countries.  I even thought that considering the great importance architecture plays in society here, architects would be found among the political decision-makers.  But then I realized that to a large extent the situation here is similar to the U.S.: there is little connection between the work of the architects and the political decision-making process.  The purpose of this conference is to investigate and discuss this further."

FOR UNITY

Q:  Why is that, do you think?

"Well, there seems to be a general perception that architecture and politics aren't connected.  But unlike their U.S. colleagues, Danish architects believe that their relationship with society is very important, and there are better connections here between architects and decision-makers.  Traditionally, Danish architects have also been more involved in the development of the social extensions of the physical environment than seems to be the case in the United States.  I found all of this really interesting and although my position as an ambassador obviously includes many other tasks than the study of architecture, it led to the idea of instigating a conference to discuss politics and architectural practices with participants from the United States and Denmark and speakers from such countries as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom."

Q:  Do you see a new role for architects, a role that includes new ways of thinking that may have an even greater impact on the development of our societies?

"Certainly.  Many professions are trouble-shooters.  Doctors, lawyers.  But in this case we may argue that architects can solve problems that aren't isolated but that can be viewed in a wider perspective.  One thing that's impressed me here in Denmark is the use of a mock-up in the presentation of a new building to ensure that the design solution works as part of the whole, and not just for the people who will be using it.  There is a wish to include the entire population in the decision-making process, and I think that creates a greater understanding for the need to erect a new building."

GREEN IS GOOD

Q:  Some of the brand new business centers in Londonóa considerable number, in factóare designed by American architects, whose starting point seems to be the presence of green spaces, water fountains, pools and sculptures between the buildings.  They seem to insist that the surroundings must be pleasant.

"That is not my impression of American architecture.  When I think of American architecture I think of landscapes of skyscrapers and personally I am far from convinced that this is the best solution.  Large buildings with room for many people operate on another scale than the human body and the human experience.  What I find so successful about a city like Copenhagen is the low, very humane scale.  When elements such as open spaces, fountains and sculptures are present in, say, new business areas in London, they reflect the qualities of a good society.  No matter what national background the architect may have."

Q:  What is a good building?

"A good building gives people the feeling that they know exactly where they are.  It's important no matter which type of building we're talking about.  It should give people a sense of belonging, of being safe, and offer them the facilities for meetings with others as well as working alone.  Buildings should also reflect the history of society in a broad sense.  When you build something to last, it should reflect the very best of the time it was built."

Q:  Apart from the low scale, which is an inviting aspect of Copenhagen, and the fact that the city center hasn't been ruined by large buildings as is the case in many other old cities in Europeówhat else do you like about the city?

"The details, for example.  The details ensure that you can't pass a building and see it in one glance.  I believe there is a connection between the details in architecture and the details in our lives, and that that makes life interesting."

THE HUMANE SCALE

Q:  I have to ask you this: seen from the outside, seen from Dag Hammarskj–lds AllÈ...

"...we're sitting in an ugly building.  This is a terrible way for the United States to be represented in Denmark."

Q:  Just like you I'm a great admirer of Alvar Aalto and early modernism in general.  But what goes wrong?  Why are so many buildingsótypically near airports, for exampleóso ugly and hostile?  Isn't it with good reason that many people consider modern architecture to be cold and barren?

 "Part of the explanation is a lack of the details we spoke about earlier.  Many contemporary architects avoid details.  And then you end up with this easy, simpler, less expensiveóbut also plaineróidiom."

Q:  More industry and less art?

"Precisely.  And that has a negative effect.  I'm not saying we should return to building Rococo or Baroque buildings you can't take your eyes off, but I do look for the peace and quiet you can achieve in a simple but well-thought out building."

Q:  Do you like Venice, and why?

"Why is Venice so wonderful?  First of all, of course, because it's unique.  Then there's the water, which is such an enriching aspect of a city.  There are also canals and water in Copenhagen and you mentioned Amsterdam.  With regard to Venice, there are the buildings themselves.  The low scale.  Which unfortunately tends to get lower every year, but as I was saying, this low, humane scale..."

Q:  Do you like Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao?

"Certainly.  And I see it as an example of how architecture brings art and economy together.  Gehry created a building that is a work of art in itself as well as an excellent venue for exhibiting art.  The Guggenheim has attracted tourists to Bilbao and with them hundreds of millions of dollars that have made a profound change to the entire area.  That is one of the social aspects of architecture.  That one building has had an incredible impact on the entire region.  This is something good architecture can do.  Does this mean that every city should have a Gehry Museum?  No.  But should architects be able to deliver quality and should the local community be willing to invest in magnets like this that can make an area much more interesting?  Yes!" 

The conference "Design Diplomacy: Public Policy and the Practice of Architecture" will take place in Copenhagen September 6 ñ 9.  End text.

Ambassador Swett's bio:

"Richard Nelson Swett was born in 1957 and holds a degree in architecture.  He has worked in one of the largest architectural firms in the United States.  He has designed family homes and apartment buildings and worked with alternative energy.  He is the co-author of the book A Nation Reconstructed: A Quest for the Cities that Can Be.   Richard Swett has received a number of awards in the United States.  In 1990 he was elected to the House of Representatives for New Hampshire, and in 1998 he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Denmark by President Clinton."

Photo Captions: 

Top left to right:  ìWhat some buildings can doóVenice's ëhumane scale.í"  The meeting between art and economy in Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.  The New York skyline ñ "another scale than the human body;" Arne Jacobsen's own summerhouse in Odsherred.  Richard N. Swett is not exactly thrilled with his own country's representation in Copenhagen ñ "an ugly building" ñ opened in 1954, designed by American architects Ralph Rapson and John van der Huele assisted by Danish architects Erik Herl¯w and J¯rgen Juul M¯ller."

veh: "architec"