Comments on: Guggenheim side effects and the Architects’ originality obsession

By: Décroissance et [ou ?] architecture ? « MNE Bordeaux Aquitaine

Décroissance et [ou ?] architecture ? « MNE Bordeaux Aquitaine — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:27:45 +0000

[...] Bien sur, notre système capitaliste en agonie, essaye d’appliquer aux idéaux écologiques les mêmes notions de croissance, soit de surconsommation – Louis nous parlait de technocratie – : c’est comme-ça qu’on obtient les villes à consommations zéro dans le désert ou les architectures spectacles. [...]

By: CTRLZ architectures » Archive » Architecture de la décroissance…

CTRLZ architectures » Archive » Architecture de la décroissance… — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:45:21 +0000

By: Les entretiens de complexitys : #4 Concetta Sangrigoli et l’urbanisme 2.0, en fin… :: complexitys

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:29:29 +0000

[...] Concetta est une de ces architectes qui aiment se situer à mi-chemin entre plusieurs domaines. Elle propose une approche mutli-facette de l’intervention architecturale. Elle voit l’architecte comme un non-spécialiste qui coordonne les métiers plus tectoniques, qui ne peuvent pas se limiter au domaine de la construction – voir le mouvement #thinkark. C’est pourquoi elle travaille avec des sociologues, des specialistes des medias et, bien sur, avec les citoyens. Pour elle, “l’architecture est la recherche de solutions simples à des problèmes complexes”, une definition qui a toujours été mis en avant dans le discours teorique de l’agence Ecosistema Urbano, que nous avions déjà mentionné ici. [...]

By: Les entretiens de complexitys : #3 Jacques Famery et ces “machins à habiter” :: complexitys

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:32:01 +0000

[...] phrase nous provoque toute une liste infinie de références. D’abord notre discours sur les “effets secondaires Guggenheim”, mais en général aussi tout ce mouvement d’avangarde qui se développe en ce moment en [...]

By: Les entretiens de complexitys: Hugh Dutton contre le “branding” de l’architecture :: complexitys

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:36:41 +0000

[...] Il “trouve qu’on devrait être plus humble, faire son travail…faire des belles choses”, une phrase qui m’amène à reporter ci-dessous deux citations importantes qui nous ont été offertes respectivement par Ethel et JMER73 dans un de nos derniers post: [...]

By: JMER73

JMER73 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:59:52 +0000

Great post, and i totally agree. The idea of an architect as a prima donna (Fanciful, impulsive and god-likely-untouchable in many cases, always obliged to espectacular originality no matter the cost) is something this proffesion has suffered for a long time. “Architecture is the new R’n'R”, i remember reading… and suddenly we all wanted to be the Jonas Brothers…with a black Prada outfit.

I guess the worst and most difficult part is making this obvious to politicians, who are still eager to have “A Gehry”, “A Foster” or “A Hadid” in the perverse idea that this would earn them win after win and enough popularity to stay in charge (a politician main work, as you know). Arhitecture becoming this way an excellent background for a photo-call on the inaguration day… and basically not much more. Made for the people, without the people.

I liked Ethel’s quote. I have one too, it’s from John Ford, who when asked by Truffaut about his moviemaking achievements said:

“I never touhght of my work in terms like “Art” or “This is so huge, it’s mindblowing” or that short of things. For me, it has always been a hard job. One that i very much enjoy, and that’s all”

By: Rodrigo Medina

Rodrigo Medina — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:34:42 +0000

Hey guys another excellent post totally agree with what is being said here.I think there is the same problem with the word innovation which is commonly thought as something that has to be original or imperatively new,which personally I think its absurd innovation was to do with the level of benefit that an idea brings to people therefore for example constructions systems that maybe considered old fashion for 1st World countries could represent a real innovation in the 3rd world,Thats why I think architects have to stop wanting to be original and start doing architecture that really matter to people.

By the way the footbridge its very cool!!

By: immaginoteca

immaginoteca — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:00:39 +0000

Ethel,
I would like to thank you very much.
We really appreciate your support.

We especially like the words “dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion”: it will be one of the main topic of the upcoming interview with Hugh Dutton speaking about the importance of humility in architecture.

I think that we architects we have a lot to say today and as you mention, we just have to give us the chance…

By: Ethel Baraona Pohl

Ethel Baraona Pohl — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:18:10 +0000

I have not more to say that I completely agree with you. It’s time to forget the idea of the star-architect and re-think architecture as it always have been.

Frank lloys Wright used to say “I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen”

So, we architects just have to give ourself a chance to work hard in a more human and sensible architecture.