#deararchitecture

[akindofarchitect]

Architectural Model.

Rojkind Arquitectos

Nestlé Labs@Qro. MX

[akindofarchitect]

Architectural Model.

Rojkind Arquitectos

Nestlé Labs@Qro. MX

[akindofarchitect]

Architectural Model.

Rojkind Arquitectos

Nestlé Labs@Qro. MX

[akindofarchitect]

Architectural Model.

Rojkind Arquitectos

Nestlé Labs@Qro. MX

[akindofarchitect]

Architectural Model. 

Rojkind Arquitectos

Nestlé Labs@Qro. MX

[artbykla]

Dear Architecture,

No, that is not your true name. We assigned you this title, but you were here long before your name. You embodied space since the conception of space, and today I ask you to hold space for my voice, where I may speak in part for you.

In the frame of our evolution, you were first a feeling and necessity. Environment. Shelter. Our tribes ventured into new lands, and withdrew into their home base. Groups traced this pendulum between wanderlust and nostalgia along environments, making your presence known.

Meaning was found in you, in us shaping you. A power laid dormant in your essence; we found it, awakened it. One could recreate a sacred experience through arranged walls. Those who wielded your power were as gods.

A door opens. Societies catapulted into advancement. Within that space made of what would be, ancillary spaces built what is, directing what will come. Places of study, work, meeting all stepped forward, a tapestry of interplay with the established home for body and spirit. The next step in mankind would strike a balance among places.

But we missed the point. We saw prosperity as the strings linking society, not the results. As such, lines were drawn, functions divided, and the pillars of our society separated from each other. Upper class did not mingle with lower class. Push them apart. Schools of thought fractured. Chemistry could not coexist with politics could not coexist with psychology could not coexist with planning.  Your spaces reflected our society. Strings between such spaces stretched too thin, and as time wore on, the weavings unraveled. All moved apart to more efficient rigidity, while we stunted our growth to feed the machine for profit.

Imagination suffered a greater death. We severed our souls’ needs from our world needs. Alone, creative expression cannibalizes itself until rendered untranslatable to the outside world, casting the soul farther into futility. Those pulling imagination forward lack effective space-making skills, and potential temples of brilliance only crumble at the details, poor design alienating visitors within these failed spaces. Or we deface mediocre boxes in cheap art-mimicry, neither masking the other's shortcomings.

All this time, your true power hid away, forgotten by even the space-makers themselves. You were meant to show us our culture in all dimensions, that we may join in something greater than ourselves and propel our existence. Let us rewrite the architecture of our collective minds. Let us find the point where the visceral and the exacting intertwine, change the weaving, continuing our evolution together. Give focus to our energies and wonder to our purpose. Embrace that tension between, learn to dance upon that line in creation. And in that dance, we will build you higher and higher, master solutions to ever-more complex questions, and in doing so, learn all your names and all you encompass, all our names in relation to you.

Until then,

Your Architect

[writingarchitecture]

dear architecture

Dear architecture,

It took a while for me to I like you. I read about your achievements in awe – I look at you and I it is clear that through time you have taken a stand and offered perspective. Your inheritance is undoubtedly visual. I see now how great histories are formed around you while you have been part of society’s fears, hopes & dreams.  

So what do you ask of me? A young architect in practice today? I use technology and connect virtually with others – I am linked to a computer that has become vital for almost any assignment. I learn to produce attractive images –still or moving – in order to assist the client better “visualize” the project. I research through digital sources of inspiration that have allowed clients to “craft” their dreams while we – as designers – use it to expand our mindset. All of which have undoubtedly resulted in a positive evolution in the field.

But what happens to our ability to converse? It seems that the architect’s ability to understand a client’s aspirations through dialogue are often replaced by online research & investigation. There are times where as designers we tend to become addicted to a beautiful representation through an image or an animation of you, dear architecture that we sometimes fail to truly listen what is needed. In a time where the Internet has helped us generate new ideas it may be that it is time to address how it can introduce the grounds for dialogue. For example if we think of a community project the architect could embrace social media in order to welcome feedback from a larger audience and explore their idea further. One can form an opinion on ones daily routine & interests, if they allow for some time to simply follow their twitter account. Crowd-funding can be a source of a plethora of small scale – large impact such as social housing. 

As I previously expressed, it is my opinion that we live in highly visual times – the question is whether as architects we have the ability to adapt without losing our humane nature. At times I enjoy looking back at past biennale themes – as I believe they introduce a stance of the time we live in. And I remember, back to basics? Political? People centric? They are all intriguing ideas that engage in a three-dimensional dialogue between the visitor and you, dear architecture. I believe that communication should be next, don’t you?

 Thank you for listening.

[tottoportfolio]

DEAR ARCHITECTURE 2015 participant at 'Dear Architecture' compatition by Blank Space Project. Essay and illustration. Read it here: http://issuu.com/tottodanirakkay/docs/30156-letter