Architecture Quote by Nishat Awan
““Thus the continuation of the master tutor and willing servant students, the privileging of the visual, the inculcation of absurd modes of behaviour (sleep deprivation, aggressive defensiveness, internal competition), the raising of individuals on to pedestals, all these and more self-perpetuate in schools of architecture around the world, a strange form of interbreeding with tutors passing the architectural gene to students who in turn become tutors who perform the same rituals.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: “Pedagogy in Architecture Education” (conference talk, 2018)
Architectural education perpetuates hierarchical, visual‑centric, and competitive practices, creating a self‑reinforcing cycle that limits diverse learning experiences.
In simple terms: Architecture schools often repeat rigid, visual‑focused teaching methods.
Key Takeaway
Question and broaden teaching methods.
Themes
education
architecture
pedagogy
hierarchy
competition
visual bias
Mood
critical
analytical
concerned
Type
Architecture:1
Around the world:0
Education:1
Pedagogy:1
Sleep deprivation:0
Spatial-agency:0
Teachers:1
Interbreeding Tutors:0
Architectural Gene:0
Students Privileging:0
Tutors Perform:0
Passing Architectural:0
When to use this quote
- curriculum design
- student mentorship
- faculty development
- institutional reform
Key Concepts
critical theory
institutional critique
creative practice
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives could break this cycle?
- How can students influence curriculum change?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched traditions can meet resistance from established faculty.
