Entry Four: Jane Rendell's chapter in Occupying Architecture (1998) 'doing it, (un) doing it, (over) doing it yourself- Rhetorics of Architectural Abuse'

Jane Rendell addresses the idea that as architecture students, we are let to believe that there is one way of 'doing architecture'. The prestigious role of architect is that of 'imagining architecture' and then 'doing architecture' and that is that, and you can move on to the next architectural dream. Rendell was taught that 'doing it' was that of making things stand up, the 'right' way to do architecture.

Rendell then moves on to talk about her concept of '(un)doing it' whereby although a space may be initially designed in a specific way, it is not necessarily going to be executed in that exact manner forever or even at all. The occupant of the space can indeed change the purpose of the space for their own requirements and there isn't much that can be done to stop this.

The next idea of '(over)doing' it I believe refers to thoughts that those in the architectural profession think too highly of themselves as the only ones possible of the privileged activity of architecture. However we are in fact '(over)doing it' and indeed everyone can be a part of the activity.

I think Rendell does well to question the whole institution of architecture and the way in which we our taught and the way in which we may believe we are great 'makers of space' when we actually aren't. There is a definite main theme of anti-establishment, and we are given a push and shove towards a re-imagination of spaces and re-evaluation of the architectural system.