The Shapeless Monster
Architecture, a shapeless monster which pervades and influences our lives.
Binds us, excites us, nervous and consoles.
Architecture, a shapeless monster which pervades and influences our lives.
Binds us, excites us, nervous and consoles.
The variation to the theme, the counterpoint... these are tools used in music but little understood in architecture.
Creating spaces that reveal themselves referring to the archetype of which the contents have been revised to be more attractive and talented.
Architecture is for the benefit of communities, the enjoyment of a successful space is not only for the people living within its walls.
Witnessed too many times, a land owner can think that constructing a poorly designed building could be a better investment and, unfortunately, in some cases he might be right, particularly in a short term vision. Where the need of office spaces is very high you might not have good gain in investing in good design.
The power of historic architecture is in being alive. Through its resistance to the demise of time, it is the building that has given some sort of sense to its life, engaging human beings.
Spaces that create atmosphere, inspire emotional responses. Architecture is a matter of commitment to research into the many levels of human being perception.
The middle-ages architecture has been called ‘junk architecture’ a few decades ago, because the buildings were mostly constructed without any plan, no references, no cohesiveness. Today these places are justifiably celebrated as a rich emotional environment and ‘cultural’ heritage.
You don't go to an art gallery without expecting to be Inspired, engaged, challenged.
Nostalgia often has been judged as a constrain for the Architect.
I disagree. It requires a certain strength, but being able to celebrate nostalgia as one of the deepest feelings of human beings is important for personal fulfillment.
After Christchurch earthquakes there are many people questioning how to deal with damaged historic buildings.
There is not a straight forward answer. I would suggest a critical approach based on understanding how in the past the humanity have dealt with their historical heritage.
Architects have the obligation of understanding spaces and how people live in these!
Building are not object dropped into the landscape or a city. Any designed object is part of a big picture: the environment we are living in, i.e. natural environment, built environment, social relations....