Chapter eleven starts with Roark opening his new office. It’s described as a large open space with great views above the city and a view of the Hudson river off in the distance. When Keating comes to visit him he describes the place as modest but to me it sounds pretty impressive. Keating’s inner thoughts show anger and resentment for Roarks opportunity. Roark shuns the associations and clubs of architecture because he sees no real purpose in those groups other than to pat each other on the back and perpetuate how important they are. They are really only important to each other. On the door of Roarks office it says Howard Roark Architect. This is perceived but the powers that be but to Roark I don’t think he means anything by it. To him he has education, tools, and a client. What else would an Architect really need?
Roark is sitting on a hill near the house with Heller one afternoon and Roark describes the house in a beautiful way. Saying how the floor plan is the first consideration and the outside of the house is shaped by the needs of the interior. He also makes references to the fake buildings that are still being made. With pillars that support nothing. After he describes and compares his work with others it makes his seem to have so much more integrity.
Roark’s friend Mike finds his way to work for Roark on the Heller house. They have one of those great conversations that where both are so confident and understand each other so well that they is hardly any reason to speak at all.
After the Heller house is completed it is ignored by the publications, ridiculed by the clubs of good ole boys, and laughed at by the neighbors. It seems that society wasn’t ready for this building but I hoped Toohey would see it’s importance and beauty but even his column was silent about the Heller house.
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