Architecture redesigns its future
Program increases design focus, joins school of the arts
By Gil Hopenstand
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It seems not even the architecture department itself is safe
from remodeling.
UCLA’s department of architecture and urban design moved into
the new School of the Arts and Architecture this year, while its
past partner, urban planning, moved into the new School of Public
Policy and Social Research. The relocations are part of Chancellor
Charles Young’s graduate restructuring plan, designed to save UCLA
$8 million annually among the five targeted schools.
As a result of the change, architecture has a closer relation to
the arts and design.
"In the past we had strong relations to urban planning. In the
new configuration, we want to keep this relationship but add new
ones beyond our school," said Jurg Lang, acting dean of the
architecture and urban design department. "Our concept is to be
much more connected to other units on campus. We want a truly
interdisciplinary approach."
Architecture students had mixed reactions to the school’s new
design focus.
"I have an art background so this pleases me," said Johnathan
Rothstein, first-year architecture graduate student. "We’re not
really losing anything but gaining all the assets of the arts
school."
Other students echoed the benefits of joining the arts school,
but were hesitant to judge whether it will help or hurt
architecture in the long run.
"I think time will tell. It is so recent, I don’t know if it
will benefit the school," said Ray Varela, first-year architecture
student. "It definitely has potential though."
Others were more vocal about their opposition to the
restructuring.
"I was against the breakup. I was for strengthening ties with
urban planning. I think the chancellor just wants a school with his
name on it," said Laura Rambin, third-year architecture graduate
student. "Making it part of the design school further separates
architecture from society  it gets away from the social
concerns we try to address.
"We got a better design department, but we suffered a lot, too,"
Rambin continued. "Our reputation as a school is jeopardized."
The school recently hired eight new faculty members, most of
whom are practicing architects. UCLA is also taking advantage of
the faculty available since the closure of UC San Diego’s
architecture school.
New architecture professor Daniel Libeskind, who just completed
the new Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, said the new arts focus
was what attracted him to UCLA.
"The new school of arts has radically changed the nature of UCLA
architecture. It is a very new and interesting," he said.
"Planning was always a condition of architecture," Libeskind
explained. "The realization is that architecture belongs to the
arts. Fundamentally, it is one of the arts, together with dance,
cinema and design."
Adjunct Professor Julie Eizenman, who still maintains her
professional practice in Santa Monica, said the new configuration
gives the school room to grow.
"It’s an exciting time with so many people on board and so many
resources available. What we’re trying to do is start a strong
department," she said.
Eizenman added that having professional architects as teachers
adds to a student’s education.
"You need a balance between academics and professional
applications," Eizenman said. "It keeps an attachment to what’s
happening in the city."
Students agreed that having the well-known architects on the
faculty is a great boost to the school.
"It’s nice to see or get taught by someone who is actually
building. It makes it realistic and gives you insight," first-year
architecture student Irma Ramirez said.