I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED STAND-UP comedy. Not just because it offers a hearty belly laugh but, mostly, because I’m in awe of people who can perform this art at a high level, over and over, night after night, getting better each time. The best of them, Rock, Chappelle, Brennan, Hicks and Notaro, all manage to perform this high-wire act, between the serious and the silly, in a way that uncovers deeper thinking, social commentary and personal reflection.
I listened to a lot of stand-up while writing my PhD thesis. The levity helped distract me from the word count. But the format also seeped into my architectural communication. My view of architectural practice as an art form, honed over time, with its joys and responsibilities (with the distinct risk of ‘bombing’ every time you go out on stage), also has parallels. I believe that architecture, like comedy, can be used to elevate spirit while also providing a way into complex issues within society. Moreover, architecture can and, in my view, should be fun, if not also funny. I use ‘funny’ here not in the sense of a joke. Architecture is
