Tom Spector: The architect as public servant.

In this episode of the A is for Architecture Podcast, architect, scholar and author Tom Spector discusses his book, Architecture and the Public Good, first published by Anthem Press in 2021, and now out in paperback.

Tom’s critical and philosophical exploration of the ethical foundation of the architecture profession and its role in serving the public, confronts the persistent tension within architecture between artistry and public service, arguing that this dual identity often undermines the profession’s ability to clearly articulate and fulfil its moral obligations. Arguing that the discipline holds on to an inaccurate concept of the public, arguing that the term is too often treated as a monolithic, abstract concept, Tom urges a deeper understanding of publicness, one that accounts for pluralism, participation, and the political nature of public space and infrastructure.

It is a proper decent book, and whilst fundamentally a critique, Tom’s presentation is one of hope and possibility. This is what we need, believe. Linked above is the book. Tom’s back catalogue can be found on PhilPapers here.

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Music credits: ⁠Bruno Gillick