"Over the past few decades, architecture as an idea and practice has increasingly limited its definition of itself.  In the foreseeable future, the instrumentality of architecture-that is, change  that challenges the dominance of commercial institutions, their aims and values-will diminish.  While the present day seems to be a time of unparalleled innovation and freedom of choice, the reality is that architectural styles and forms are often the seductive packaging and repachaging of the same, proven, marketable concepts.  The speed with which 'radical' designs by celebrity architects achieve acceptance and popularity demonstrates that formal innovation has itself become an important commodity.  However, beneath the cloak of radicalism, the conventions of existing building typologies and programs, with all their comforting familiarity, still rule-and sell.  What is desperately needed today are approaches to architecture that can free its potential to transform our ways of thinking and acting."  -Lebbeus Woods, New York, April 2008 

"We live in a time in which contemporary architectural culture has nearly surrendered itslef to the pervasive circumstances of global economies and the imperatives of their accelerating markets, technologies and development.  Architectural culture is, undoubtedly, growing more and more global, generic, and market driven."  -Brett Steele, London, April 2008

"By believing passionately in something that does not exist, we create it.  The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired." 

-Franz Kafka

The above passages affirm the following ideas about the state of contemporary architecture :

1]  Architecture, in order to be built, must acquiesce to market forces.

2]  The majority of 'architects' have become mere aestheticians, space planners, or information managers.

3]  High-profile architects, having once retreated into the academy, are designing works that seem radical, but are actually completely normative, from a use, construction processes, contractual, or economic standpoint.  The spatial gymnastics on the roof or facade serves as a mask, enshrouding a normative, proven process.

How can we overcome these failings as a profession?

1]  By embracing banality.  Contractual apparatuses, fee structures, design and procurement schedules et al. need to be examined with the same fervour applied to other academic pursuits.  If we can engage market forces intelligently, then we will have renewed freedoms.

2]  By remarrying intelligent tectonics to human occupation, to use, thereby re-engaging form.  We must stop fetishizing the tools and put them to work.  

If we can transform our profession, by attempting these tasks, daunting though they may be, then we will have the ability tp push forward radical, progressive architectural form and ideas while combating dilution by the market and refusing overt, pervasive, unethical commercialization.