Fitting in

There is a great pressure to fit in, be the same, look the same, use existing standards. Building codes reinforce the fitting in strategy of architecture. Doing something different means no easy, rubber stamp approvals by the building officials, plancheckers and inspectors. No one likes to spend a single second getting approvals for something unique. When you do something unique, the construction crews may not get it right the first time or ever get it right. Many one off buildings fall into disrepair. Many are gone forever. Oftentimes cost is the driver of a project. Time is another limiting factor. A unique solution has unpredictable pricing and durqation of construction. For example the Sydney Opera House cost more than ten times its original opinion of cost by people supposedly expert at predicting costs and it was delivered long after it was contracted to be built and operational. If architects only build what fits in, their names will be forever forgotton. What kind of architect do you want to be?