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建筑师和结构工程师：我们不能和睦相处吗？
Architects and Structural Engineers: Can’t We All Just Get Along?

由专筑网李韧，杨帆编译

世界杰出的结构工程师Charles Thornton曾经说过，结构工程专业面临的最大挑战是：“我认为我们没有足够的自尊和自信来相信当下所做的事情的重要性。”建筑师常常被训练来表现、交流、推销，并把功劳也归功于自己。

作为一个有十多年经验的结构工程师，我完全同意Thornton先生的观点。

是的，结构设计是施工过程中的重要组成部分，虽然有些是我们的错，但结构工程师并没有得到建筑师的信任，因为身处一个行业，我们对它没有过多的要求。我们是一个次要角色，实现不了自己的主观想法。我们发挥自己的作用，经过检验，然后继续前进。

我尊重Thornton先生的观点是，他认为结构工程师不相信我们所做的事情的重要性。

相反，我们非常清楚自己工作的关键性质。问题在于其他人，尤其是创意设计界的同事们并不了解。

Charles Thornton, one of the world’s preeminent structural engineers, once said that the greatest challenge facing the profession of structural engineering is that “I don’t think we have enough self-esteem and enough confidence in ourselves to believe that what we do is so important... Architects are trained to present, to communicate, to sell, to promote themselves, to promote their industry, and to take credit for what they do.”
As a structural engineer with over a decade of experience, I agree with Mr. Thornton—to an extent.
Yes, structural engineering is the red-headed stepchild of the construction process and, yes, some of the fault is ours. The structural engineer doesn't get the credit that the architect does because as an industry, we have failed to demand it. We have settled into a back seat role rather than asserting ourselves. We play our part, get our check, and move on.
Where I respectfully disagree with Mr. Thornton is his assertion that structural engineers don’t believe what we do is important.
On the contrary, we are very aware of the pivotal nature of our work. The issue is whether other people do, particularly our colleagues in the creative design world.


Image © Flickr user jimmyharris licensed under CC BY 2.0

许多工程师在与建筑师的关系中感受到（可能会延续）的是“我们与他们对立”的心态。就我个人而言，我认为这是一种被低估的感受。结构设计在施工过程中常常背黑锅，当然，建筑师、开发商和业主都明白，他们必须在图纸上签名盖章，这样才符合建筑规范要求，并最终获得建筑施工许可。但我不相信我们所提供的价值最终能够得以实现。

这种漠视的感觉很真实。美国土木工程师协会网站的执业工程师认为“对于结构工程师来说，与建筑师合作是一项挑战，其中包括建筑师缺乏对结构专业同事的尊重。”

由结构工程师学会研究同意的一项研究表明，结构工程师与建筑师之间缺乏共同的理解，在一个项目中，建筑师往往太迟才开始与结构工程师配合，他们也缺乏合作的兴趣。另一方面，建筑师对结构工程师缺乏创新的思想感到失望。

建筑师认为结构工程师缺乏审美能力，认为他们只是一群平凡的工程师，而结构工程师则认为，建筑师总是过于理想化，甚至违背规范与物理学常识。因此，二者在一起工作是个性与职业目标的冲突。

结构工程师和建筑师之间是否有某种嫉妒感？也许大多数建筑师坚持要以自己的资历和设计能力赢得工作（当然，还有其他专业能力）。但是，除了在极其复杂的专业领域（高层建筑、体育场馆等），我相信结构工程公司很少能够以优异的业绩和出色的工作能力来推销自己。

建筑师塑造人类精神，致力于自己的工作，而结构工程师则不断与各种刚度、荷载因素为伍。当然，这不是潜规则，也有许多工程师是以美学为导向，也有许多建筑师擅长机械学科。

Many engineers feel (and likely perpetuate) an "us vs. them" mentality in their relationship with architects. Personally, I would describe it as more of an undervalued feeling. Structural engineering services are often treated as a necessary evil in the construction process. Sure, architects, builders, developers, and owners understand that they have to have our seal and signature on their drawings in order to comply with building code requirements and ultimately to get their building permits. But I don't believe the value of what we have to offer is realized.  
This sense of disregard is real. The website of The American Society of Civil Engineers features a study among practicing engineers that concludes that “there are challenges for structural engineers in the relationship with their architectural client, which include architects’ lack of respect for their structural engineering colleagues as well as negative connotations of the field.”  
A study by the Society of Structural Engineers concurs, noting engineers’ frustration with the lack of structural understanding among architects, their habit of seeking structural advice too late for optimal structural solutions, and their general lack of interest in collaboration. On the other hand, architects are frustrated by the engineer’s lack of both innovation and engagement with architectural design ideas.
Architects view engineers as lacking vision and appreciation for aesthetics—technically competent but otherwise underqualified and uninspired—while engineers typically view architects as idealistic and ignorant to the laws of physics—design snobs oblivious to budgets. Working together can be a collision of conflicting personality types and professional goals.
Is there a certain amount of jealousy in structural engineers’ relationship with our colorful colleagues? Perhaps. Most architects insist on winning jobs based on their qualifications and design abilities (among other professional capabilities, of course). But outside of extremely complex and specialized fields (high rises, stadiums, etc), I believe it is rare for a structural engineering firm to sell themselves solely based on merit and having the greatest ability to do the job well.
Architects build “testaments to the human spirit” with glossy magazines devoted to their work, while structural engineers talk rigidity and load factors and are anonymous until something goes wrong. This, of course, is not the rule. There are many engineers who are aesthetically oriented and many architects adept at mechanical disciplines.


Image via Wikimedia (public domain)

事实上，结构工程师和建筑师之间的共同点远比他们之间的矛盾更多，尤其是在他们共同的事业上，他们都致力于为大众建造优质、舒适、功能齐全的工作生活空间，建筑设计与结构设计并没有明确的鸿沟，这是形式和功能的终极结合。

建筑师需要与结构工程师建立一种工作关系，在这种关系中，他们可以互相信任，将美好的建筑愿景带给生活。建筑师必须听从结构工程师的警告，不管是结构问题、施工问题还是预算问题。是的，结构工程师们也需要认识到建筑师的才能和远见，并利用他们所拥有的知识创造出可行的解决方案。

结构工程师和建筑师之间的协作能力早已被人们所认可。就像建筑师Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc说的那样：“两个行业利益将促进他们最好的结合。”


关于作者：
Cody Tharpe是Tharpe 工程集团GA的主要领导人

The truth is engineers and architects have more in common than they don’t—specifically the expertise to evaluate and design buildings and provide safe, well-functioning spaces to work and live. Architectural design and structural design are meaningless without each other. It is the ultimate marriage of form and function.
Architects need to have a working relationship with engineers in which he or she can trust that they will attempt to bring the architectural vision to life. Architects must listen when the engineers warn against something, whether it be a structural issue, a construction problem or a budget concern. And, yes, engineers need to realize the talent and vision that architects bring to the table, and use the knowledge that they possess to create a workable solution.
The power of collaboration between engineers and architects has long been recognized. As architect Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc said in the 1800s, “the interests of the two professions will be best saved by their union.”

Cody Tharpe is Principal of Tharpe Engineering Group, Savannah, GA


出处：本文译自www.archdaily.com/，转载请注明出处。