Philip Korchek, AIA
2003 AIA Monterey Bay Chapter President |
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Dennis Moran,
Thank you for your article
in today's Herald about demolishing a Carmel landmark. As a local
architect and member of AIA Monterey Bay, I appreciate the attention
that you have given to this issue.
However, I would like to correct
your description of John Mandurrago. You referred to him as a “Carmel
building designer,” which implies a recognized title. However,
there is no such legal description recognized by the city or state
licensing boards. Only architects and engineers are allowed to
design commercial buildings through the California State Department
of Consumer
Affairs. This is done to protect the public from unqualified, uneducated,
and/or inexperienced individuals attempting to pass as licensed
design professionals.
Assuming that Mr. Mandurrago is not licensed,
you
could describe him accurately as a “self-proclaimed building
designer.” Preferably you would drop this descriptor and
simply call him a building owner or building developer.
This is
not a trivial
matter to our profession. The word “architect” is protected
by the state to insure public safety. As a good journalist, I am
sure that you would not want to call someone a physician or an
attorney who did not meet the state licensing requirements. Thank
you for
your future attention to this matter.
Thomas Carleton A.I.A. |
  The
Wells Fargo Bank in Carmel designed by Walter Burde faces potential
demolition as
a function of a proposed development on its site. This building,
which is an excellent example of contemporary architecture from
the early ‘70s, has had strong support from AIAMB chapter
members who have voiced their concern at several public forums.
However, a more vigorous effort will be required in order to convince
the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea of the cultural significance of this
building. We encourage you to follow this project and make an effort
to have your voice heard! When a structure does not necessarily
qualify for historical significance, the dilemma and challenge
are to find other means for the community to consider its public
worth. Should the AIAMB help our local cities develop guidelines
to identify and assess the significance and value of architectural
resources which may not fit into a category of historical significance,
but would nevertheless warrant consideration for preservation?
A
Draft Environmental Report is being prepared for the proposed development,
and AIAMB’s Board of Directors has submitted
a letter to the city of Carmel-by-the-Sea expressing concern over
the proposed demolition of a “significant cultural resource.” Hopefully,
Carmel-by-the- Sea will recognize that its character is a function
of diversity and richness from its architectural heritage.
We
have reprinted a letter from one of our members to the Editor
of the
Herald, in which he challenges the common, but unfortunate, mischaracterization
by the press of the new building’s designers as architects
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