First things first –
thoughts on architecture
“And then I shall come to you, a boundless
drop to a boundless ocean.” [1]
-taken from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
This is quite lengthy so read, only if you must. :) This is an 11-page design manifesto we had to submit back in college. I thought of posting this so that I'll be able to compare it with the unwritten design manifesto in my current practice. Let's see how far we've come shall we?
Such is the relationship
between Architecture and I – the boundless ocean where freedom and experience are
combined, to which I shall belong. There really is no need for further ado in this
introduction; I speak for no one but myself. I am a student of Architecture and
I always will be as long as I choose to traverse this path. I doubt that I will
deviate soon for I have found in Architecture such personal fulfillment and
also, personal insecurities. Boundless, I describe my craft, for freedom comes
with the limitations – gravity, finances, clients, etc. A great architect
defies them all, but surely with respect. For an architect thrives in innovation,
in surpassing the norm; we are not just bricoleurs[2]
so to speak. We do not stay within our environment, nor do we remain within
a system of creating. It is in these natural limits imposed on us that we find
numerous possibilities to innovate. They are not really limitations, in fact,
they are seeds from which some of the best ideas and truly great architecture
arises. Weren’t the skyscrapers of today built due to the limitation in land?
Weren’t the bridges constructed due to the limitation of the sea? Wasn’t
aluminum developed massively due to iron’s corrosion?
We are “engineers”
enabled to construct, to structure, and to design with empathy (tectonics).[3] We
are creators, makers, builders, innovators and many other descriptions
possible. We are architects.
…mastery
of execution obviously stands for “construction” in our terminology, while
technical knowledge may be related to “structure,” and static-aesthetic
sensitivity to empathy and thus to “tectonics.” [4]
Voila! – a designer’s
intuition
Ingenuity
Corpus
Magni Ingenii Viri Philippi Brunelleschi
Fiorentini
(“Here
lies the body of the great ingenious man
Filippo
Brunelleschi of Florence”)[5]
- excerpt from Brunelleschi’s Dome
How
a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
Who am I to speak of
ingenuity without mentioning Filippo Brunelleschi and his famous Santa Maria
del Fiore dome? The first dome ever to be built without wooden centering and
scaffoldings, made out of brickwork in a time where high-flying machinery are
not yet available[6].
With a span and height that was only rivaled recently and by technologically
developed materials, I was fascinated by this dome ever since my Arch 18 class.
Brunelleschi was different, he was a genius! That was why when I was given the
chance to read Brunelleschi’s Dome I
took it albeit it took me a long time to read and finish. It was a book that
even my younger sister read, asking me all the time how he managed to do the
oxen-hoist and the various other contraptions he made. Answers to which I
really didn’t know and thus I had to settle for the typical excuse of “Look it
up in the dictionary or the encyclopedia.” But true to my sister’s
typical one-word expressions per book, Brunelleschi truly is “Fascinating!” He
set out, as the author claims, in redefining architecture, in turning it from
one of the lowest ranked art, a manual labor profession, into a
highly-acclaimed, richly cultured one. His
dome is an architect’s dream, probably not all, but it is mine. The level of
ingenuity he exhibited, I could only hope and pray to come into my life.
Creativity
“This
is my design, my work, my lab where detailed and fearless experimentation
abound for the mastery of my craft.” [7]
- taken from Spatial Construx Ed Calma’s Architectural Origami
by Ed Calma, BluPrint
Magazine Volume 4 2001
Experimentation is
truly an architect’s gift, for every project, every design idea is an adventure
in itself. If one stops in experimenting and exploring, creativity is limited.
And that is one thing an architect should avoid; for creativity is what sets us
apart from the engineers.
Creativity brings
the art and the aesthetics into play, for when we design, it’s as if we’ve
actually been there. It’s as if we have actually roamed the place and
scrutinized it over for details. Our imaginations are awry, yet logical. Practical
as we are, we dare to dream of heights never reached, details never used
before, and layouts never practiced. The ideas never stop, the illusions
continue even if sometimes it becomes too much. I strive to develop my
creativity further, to break out of the box every now and then; even if it’s as
simple as changing my style of writing or tone for that matter just to try out
another voice inside me. Or changing a rendering technique I always use in
favor a new supposedly more exciting one and hopefully, it will work for me as
well. But change is not always welcome though it’s good for creativity.
Sometimes too much creativity sacrifices my hopeful excellence as the learning
curve always steps in before the mastery comes.
Excellence
Noun
– the quality and state of being outstanding and superior.[8]
- definition taken
from Microsoft Encarta Dictionary Tools 2004 CD edition
I really didn’t plan
on including this one as I know that it will be purely based on my opinion but
I realized that I feel quite strongly about this, thus, my opinion counts.
Excellence for me is almost synonymous to quality. I believe that you cannot
excel without quality – to be the best, you have to work hard for it. I don’t
believe in the easy way as it had almost always never worked for me. It is
through the hard way that I learned most of the things I know now. I wouldn’t
choose big and structural for the phase 3 activity if I believed otherwise.
Knowing that it will be hard and that there will be sacrifices add to the
challenge of the activity. As of this writing, phase 3 is not yet even halfway
done and there will be sacrifices made. But I know that the end will justify
the means and that the feeling of satisfaction we will get will be more than
enough for the sacrifices we made.
I also believe that
the desire for excellence comes from within, same as with quality. One can be
good yet never really great without this innate desire to excel. I am not one
of those people. I want to excel. I want to be great. Good is never enough in Architecture.
“Remember,
there is no room for mediocrity in the practice and service of Architecture.”
- Architect J.R.
Pangilinan, one of my very first professors in the College
Inspiration
“The
most talented designers don’t copy what they admire but manage somehow to
absorb it, to pull its essence into themselves and distill it into their own
creative work. What they love becomes a part of them.”[9]
- excerpt from How the Legendary Designers of the Past Inspire
the Best Designs of Today by Paul Goldberger, Architectural Digest January
2001
Every little thing
around us offers inspiration – from the trees to a fence to a rock. From the
works of Sir Christopher Wren to Lord Norman Foster and to various other
contemporary architects, our “muse” seems to be right at hand. No one can
really say that their work is entirely original as even great designers admit
to being inspired by their fellow designers’ work at times. This was discussed
in the article How the Legendary
Designers of the Past Inspire the Best Designs of Today where each one of the designers paid homage
to the inspiration behind some of their greatest works. After all, where else
can we draw greatness but from the great?
Personally, I think
it’s okay to be inspired by the designs of others as long as you give credit
and at the same time, ensure that you are drawing inspiration only and not
copying. Infusing the inspired design with your own sense of style assures this
goal. It can also be hard to draw inspiration from such great designs as you’d
have to do them justice by studying them carefully, like if you’re trying to
recreate the look and feel of a certain architect for your clients. This was
done really quite successfully by Ed Calma in the Bellavista, Eirvin and Josephine Knox’s home in Punta Fuego. Its
geometric structure draws inspirations from various styles of the favorite
architects of the owners. Bellavista, which
means “beautiful landscape or view” or “sight to behold” in Italian is the
aptly chosen moniker for the house that truly showcases a breathtaking design
that stands out from the other “villas” in the village, thus, proving that it
truly is a “sight to behold.”[10]
“Aside
from the Mexican architect Legoretta, the styles of Luis Barragan, Italian Gae
Aulenti and Americans John Lautner and Richard Meier are also evident in the
Bellavista.”[11]
Technology – marvels
and mishaps
Renzo
Piano
“Le
Corbusier’s idea of design as a patient search is correct. It is not patience
as in just waiting, but rather of everyday letting something happen so that the
scheme grows a little bit.”[12]
- excerpt from an Interview with Renzo Piano by Peter
Buchanan, UNESCO Laboratory-workshop at Vesima, Genoa, towards the end of 1993
Renzo Piano talked
about resisting being pigeon-holed. He also talked about his personal history
in connection with his approach to Architecture. Coming from a family of
builders, the desire for making has always been natural to him. Looking at his
high-flying structures and “high-tech” designs, I thought of the beauty brought
about by technology. His structures wouldn’t have reached its glory had it not
been for the technological advancements of today. It is what enables him to
develop his spaces and master them; it is what gives him the power to span long
distances and devise roofing structures that are not typical in construction.
Technology advances
the world, speeds it up. It introduces new products, new materials, new
building construction methods that enable architects like us to dream of such
high-tech structures. It is through technology that we are able to reveal most
of our construction joints in our building systems. It is through technology
that we are able to build on water and off cliffs. Technology is a tool for us
designers to use in the advancement of our designs. It is another limitation
that we continually surpass.
Technology
is a mode of revealing. Technology comes to presence in the realm where
revealing and unconcealment take place, where alētheia,
truth, happens.[13]
But
of course, Frank Lloyd Wright
“Concrete
is a plastic material – susceptible to the impress of the imagination which (if
moulded in pieces) is permanent, noble, beautiful – cheap.”[14]
- taken from Frank Lloyd Wright by Naomi Stungo
A discussion on
Architecture, I believe cannot be complete without Frank Lloyd Wright. He is
one of the few architects I know and love. His designs make me believe in
organic architecture and the immense capabilities that we can do with nature.
Falling Water of course is my primary example. Cliché as it may be for Falling
Water has been used over and over again when citing a Frank Lloyd Wright
example, but I think that this is where he was really able to fuse together
nature and the built environment. However, no matter how great he may be, his
designs are not without technical flaws for there are leaks in his buildings
and Falling Water was being shored up at the time of writing of Frank Lloyd Wright before it literally
falls into the water[15].
“Fallingwater
is a great blessing – one of the greatest blessings to be experienced here on
earth, I think nothing yet ever equaled the co-ordination (and) sympathetic
expression or the great principle of repose where forest and stream and rock
and all the elements of structure are combined so quietly that really you
listen not to any noise whatsoever although the music of the stream is there.
But you listen to Fallingwater the way you listen to the quiet of the country.”[16]
- FLW to his
students
Even with flaws,
Frank Lloyd Wright still serves as an inspiration for me. The way he uses his
materials is very honest, he stays true to them. His developmental schemes
impress upon me in the same way that Brunelleschi’s dome did. Fascinating,
truly; intriguing, absolutely. They are but two of the few
architects I deeply admire, aside from Renzo Piano, and myself of course.
Modern Natural – a
design philosophy
“In
a world dominated by technology, nature has never seemed more alluring.”[17]
- excerpt from Modern Natural by Ros Byam Shaw
Nature exudes a
classic elegance that I absolutely love. It is this book that pivoted me to
pursue a design philosophy grounded in nature but contemporary in design – a
mixture of technology and the natural materials around us. Technology as a tool
for the utilization of the natural matter on earth for it is through technology
that wood is preserved, that stone is cut more easily, and for them to be
transported more safely. It also allows for a more streamlined, minimalist look
that is also a great influence in my designs. I believe in minimalism, but not
utter minimalism. One truly extraordinary design can surpass a thousand forged
in mediocrity. Like a face that launched a thousand ships. Less is more.
Again, quality and
excellence comes to play. Modern natural as a design philosophy does not allow
for sloppiness. Nature’s finest elements should be treated with utmost care and
respect, just like every client we shall hereby serve. For the very best, that
is all I’d love to produce. And my belief in the contemporary as well as the
traditional, fused together in modern natural will continually guide me in my
quest for excellence not only in practice but also in the service called
Architecture.
“I
think Nature should be spelled with a capital ‘N,’ not because nature is God
but because all that we can learn of God we will learn from the body of God,
which we call nature.”[18]
Who am I? – a final
verdict
This
ain’t over till I say it is.
This manifesto may be
long-winded already, filled with quotations in every sub-topic, quotations in
various sub-topic endings. But you see I love to quote. These little tidbits
called quotations can sometimes impart far more in me than numerous paragraphs.
I remember them quite easily after all. This, I believe, is what Architecture
should be about. Architecture need not be complex. It should be a story that
can easily be read by thousands, even millions. I don’t think it necessary for
a marvel to continue being a marvel because you cannot know anything about it
although some of the greatest architectural creations in the world can only be
deciphered by the architects themselves. True greatness and ingenuity lies in
the ability of being translatable but at the same time out of reach from the
common mind. Architecture is such service. It bridges the gap between the users
and the buildings. We are middle men that help our clients in communicating
effectively with their spaces. Our complex theories and designs we translate
into livable space that is quite simply understood by those we serve. An enigma
considering it takes so long to build something, while it takes only a matter
of minutes, or maybe days, to get accustomed to a space. Human beings are
adaptable after all. We live and build where we can in order to survive.
This has been a
journey for me. All this talk about Architecture and yet, you may ask, “Who are
you?” Who am I really? Who is Katsy? Read my manifesto again if you still do
not know. Because all I know at this point is that I am a student of
Architecture and always will be as long as I continue to traverse this path. I
doubt that I will deviate soon for I have found in Architecture such personal
fulfillment and also, personal insecurities. Boundless, I describe my craft.
No
limits, Jonathan? he thought, and he smiled. His race to learn had begun.[19]
- Fletcher Seagull from
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by
Richard Bach
__________________________________________________________
Bibliography
Bach, Richard
Jonathan
Livingston Seagull
(New York, 1973)
Buchanan, Peter
Interview
with Renzo Piano
Vesima, Genoa,
1993 (Arch 41 Supplemental Readings,
2004)
Calma, Ed
Spatial
Construx
(BluPrint Magazine Philippines,
Vol. 4 2001)
Gibran, Kahlil
The
Prophet (Great
Britain, 1980)
Goldberger, Paul
How
the Legendary Designers of the Past Inspire the Best Designs of Today (Architectural
Digest USA,
January 2001)
Heidegger, Martin
The
Question Concerning Technology (Arch 41 Readings,
2004)
King, Ross
Brunelleschi’s
Dome
(Great Britain,
2000)
Levi-Strauss, Claude
The
Science of Concrete
(Arch 41 Readings,
2004)
Microsoft Encarta
Excellence definition
(Microsoft Encarta Dictionary Tools 2004)
Sekler, Eduard
Structure,
Construction and Tectonics
(Arch 41 Readings 2004)
Shaw, Ros Byam
Modern
Natural
(United Kingdom, 2000)
Stungo, Naomi
Frank
Lloyd Wright (Hong
Kong, 1999)
Torrente, Chiquit
Know
Landing
(BluPrint Magazine Philippines,
Volume 5 2004)
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