The 1970s: the Attitudinal Barrier
/After the energy crisis of 1973, a number of architects quickly became interested in solar architecture and other energy-efficiency measures. However, these practices did not appeal to many of the establishment and "star" architects of the time. By the late 1970s the resistance became a point of frustration for those in the solar architecture movement, as seen in this passage from Greg Franta:
The attitudinal barrier of architects themselves may also be a major constraint. Philip Johnson, FAIA, is a world-renown architect (of nonsolar oriented buildings) and winner of the 1978 AIA Gold Medal Award. Mr. Johnson was recently asked when he would start including solar applications in his design process. His response was, "...only after all of the other architects do." Another leading architect, John Dinkeloo, was quoted during the judging of the 1977 Progressive Architecture Awards Program as saying, "I'll be glad when 10 years have passed, and everybody has gotten off this solar kick. They'll find out what a bunch of bologna it is, and get back to work." The attitudinal barriers of leading architects may be a much more serious problem than many people care to admit.
---Gregory Franta, "Commercializing Solar Architecture," Solar Energy Research Institute (March 1979).
