n the latest episode of his 99% Invisible podcast, Roman Mars bravely takes on a very sensitive topic: the

design of prisons which contain execution chambers or house prisoners in solitary confinement More specifically, the podcast discusses whether architects have a moral duty to decline these commissions and whether, as a profession, architecture should have a code of ethics which prevents registered architects from participating in such designs

!e compares architecture to the medical profession, where the "merican Medical "ssociation imposes an ethical code on its members which all but forbids them from taking part in execution by lethal in#ection, based on medicine$s general aim of preservation, rather than destruction of life %he "merican Institute of "rchitect$s ethical code is both generic and meager in comparison: &Members should uphold human rights in all their professional endeavors '

!owever the organi(ation "rchitects, )esigners and *lanners for +ocial Responsibility is highlighted as a group trying to change this %hey would like to see a clause added to the "I"$s ethical code, which prohibits architects from accepting any commission designed for &execution or for torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, including prolonged solitary confinement '

%he debate is framed around the *elican ,ay +ecurity !ousing -nit, a prison in .orth /alifornia designed by 0M) architects which some have described as a solitary confinement unit %he podcast raises an interesting point about this prison: whilst many design features are oppressive, there are some architectural touches 1 such as perforated cell doors and skylights in the corridors 1 which are described as &good design features'

%his could perhaps raise a counter argument: in the same way that medicine$s refusal to be involved in lethal in#ections has not stopped executions from happening, it could be argued that without architects, prisons are at risk of being designed by people with less design skill In other words, by refusing to design prisons themselves, architects could cause new prison designs to become even more inhumane

+o should architecture have a strict code of ethics2 )oes architecture have a primary goal 3as clear as medicine$s aim to preserve life4 that could inform such a code2 5r should members of the profession be allowed to choose by themselves what they believe to be moral2 "nd does refusing to take part in designing these prisons improve the situation, or #ust make it worse2

architecture has no need of new code of ethics 1 "ndrea *alladio$s &architecture has to be convenient, durable and beautiful' precisely describes the duties of architects 6 g prison design is not convenient nor is it beautiful 1 also do I think, that about 97% of the existing buildings of all kinds would have to be demolished because they are neither convenient, durable and beautiful Reply +imon /retney on 8une 97, :79; at 9<:7= %humb up %humb down >9 Imposing such ethics on architects poses a contrary ethic which then relates to spaces being designed which are then not at all suitable for their intended purpose?s@surely by being involved allows architects the ability to make these spaces as human and as habitable as possible 5ur societies have rules and regulations and 5.AB if the imposed conseCuences are contrary to your own personal ethics and guidelines should you then excuse yourself from accepting such a pro#ect@after all isn$t this what the free world and democracy is all about 1 having the freedom to choose within the boundaries of your own beliefs and principals2 Reply !eywood Dloyd on 8une 97, :79; at 9E:79 %humb up %humb down 7 %he idea that there should even be a deabate about whether architects should be permitted to design prisons is a ridiculous polemic that that would not even exist without a :< hour news cycle and serves no purpose other than to further someone$s preconceived polotical ideology If licensed architects were prohibited from designing prisons that would force unlicensed architects to take on that work, thus #eopradi(ing the health and safety of not only the inmates but the guards, cafeteria workers, health care professionals and countless other unincarcerated support staff and employees who make their living in such institutions ,esides the fact that there are other aspects to prison design rather than perforated cell doors and skylights that reCuire a licensed professional to address: egress, fire safety, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, etc all reCuire the design expertise of a licensed professional to ensure safety and functionality for all users I would support legislation that limited how much a prison should cost per sCuare foot or per inmate, that is fine 5r if you don$t want to take such a comission based on your own politics that is of course an architect$s perogitive ,ut to legislate whether anyone should be permitted to take them is something other than democracy Reply 8ordan on 8une 97, :79; at 9F:77 %humb up %humb down >< I find this to be an interesting Cuestion ,ut 1 in reality, it$s a nonsensical Cuestion I think each individual architect can execute a personal moral and ethical boundary on their work 1

but a call for an institutional implementation of ethics across the board is ultimately redundant Maybe it$s #ust me 1 but I$m of the opinion that we should be looking to a future wherein professional regulatory bodies are diminished in their current roles %here$s something overly midGcentury +oviet about the way these organi(ations act and react to work being done Reply )aniel )ay on 8une 97, :79; at 9=:79 %humb up %humb down >: If we as a profession are &forbidden' by a code of ethics from accepting a commission to design a prison then it will be left to those considerably less Cualified to design spaces for habitation If the designs are bad now it seems to me that they$d be much worse if nonG architects design them %his doesn$t make any sense at all if the goal is to bring a bit of humanity and dignity to the prisoners that inhabit these spaces Reply salvatore gundula on 8une 99, :79; at ;:79 %humb up %humb down 7 I worked for a firm that did prisons and made a shit load of money with it such good fees why decline2 I mean real good moneyH Reply )ru Mc0eown on 8une 99, :79; at I::; %humb up %humb down >: Jouldn$t the solution lay in a reGevaluation of our prison system itself2 If the moral Cuandary lay in inhumane conditions shouldn$t we look toward a model of rehabilitation in lieu of incarceration2 It seems there would be some fine opportunity for humane design within the system 5f course it depends on education of the client or the ability to make the personal choice that if you don$t agree with the pro#ect to not accept the commission Reply MK on 8une 99, :79; at I:E; %humb up %humb down 7 +peaking about ethics, when we want to define a moral minimum standard on function 3prison 8?.24 and design 3ugly 8?.24 we should think about defining moral standards for clients as well Is it ethical to build for a regime, which does not meet minimum standards for human rights2 Is it ethical to build a television and radio headCuarters in a land, where the press and media stands under censorship 3e g 0oolhaas in /hina42 5r how about building for a nondemocratic government, spending the money of the people, without democratic legitimation Jhere do we draw the line2

Reply vw on 8une 99, :79; at 99:7< %humb up %humb down 7 )oes this discussion then venture into abortion clinics and hospitals2 Reply 6ric in /olorado on 8une 99, :79; at 9F::: %humb up %humb down >9 8ust as "rchitects should have their own personal choice in the matter so too should )octors have in the matter of death )eath is an inevitable part of human life and sometimes it should be aided by the presence of a trained professional "rchitects and )octors both should do what they can to make this part of life more comfortable "lso, incarceration and death chambers are a societal issue, not architectural "rchitects should fulfill their /lient$s needs, if they choose to Reply Aas(lo 0ovacs on 8une 99, :79; at :9:99 %humb up %humb down >: we really need to stop comparing ourselves to doctors doctors are available to the vast ma#ority of the population lets face it, architects cater to a small population that have the money to pay for our dreams the rest consult a contractor to design their building as far as ethics go, that is a personal issue, and no one should be forced to comply with any code Reply +ebastian Bur#evic on 8une 9:, :79; at ::<9 %humb up %humb down 7 It is within the ethics of architecture to perform our duties to the best of our professional abilities and to a standard of personal excellence within the legal framework of our particular societies In the absence of a better system, the rule of law has, up to now, delivered us from chaos and 3an imperfect4 )emocracy has insured a system for letting our voices be heard %he death penalty, torture and imprisionment along with disease and hunger are some of the longest lasting challenges of human society I believe it is for us as citi(ens to exercise our opposition to such matters in our civic duties, rather than in our professional responsibilities, especially as a guild or association I do not believe in bullying my fellow architects to comply to my moral standards and condemning them for acting in accordance to highest standards set by our society and fully with the law, as imperfect as it may be Reply marco ragonese on 8une 9:, :79; at F:9E

%humb up %humb down >; my two students are working on a new prison in italy as final degree pro#ect +ome teachers doesn$t agree it ,ut I think, as architects, we have to engage with this issues and propose new layouts for this kind of buildings, forcing ourselves to look at them 3and design them4as rieducational and not as torture and death structures Reply Lanessa AeitMn /orella on 8une 9<, :79; at 9E::< %humb up %humb down >9 Je as "rchitects are not executing the prisonersH It is not comparable to the doctors, but to the lawyers who defend the criminalsH It$s their #ob as to design is ours It is a matter of moral and ethics for the state laws .ot for the designers Reply Maria Marshall on 8une 9E, :79; at :::; %humb up %humb down >9 I think this gentleman is asking us to reflect on this issue %o engage in a profession but not consider the potential impact of our work is troublesome Je can revisit our ethical standards from time to time, who are we if we don$t2 Reply J6 on 8une 9E, :79; at :;::= %humb up %humb down 7 +o let$s get this straightN the design of learning institutions has been, and continues to be, the bread and butter for many architectural firms while simultaneously the educational system has placed our youth into debt serfdom along side historically high unemployment Beah, revisit those ethical standards Reply "ndrew ,arrah on 8anuary 9;, :79< at 9=:;9 %humb up %humb down 7 I am an architect and have worked in the delivery of prisons and have worked closely with corrections staff %hose in favour of high ethical standards excluding working on prisons have clearly never worked within a prison and seen the daily challenges associated with managing very difficult people ,e lofty in your ideals and only do the ethically safe work and leave the more difficult aspects of modern civilised architecture to those that thrive on a challenge and embrace reality