Gene Hopkins |
Gene Hopkins is an architect who is focusing on the conservation. He talked about the difficulties in conservation design. For instance, conservation architect has a totally different "site" from that the a general architects has. The site is a building which was designed by another architect, and now conservation architect has to "re-design" it rather than "restoring" it. On the other hand, the conservation architect has to dance with another architect. Furthermore, some materials can not be found now, so the conservation architect has to figure out which substitute should be used and how to add new space and programs in the old design.
Gene was also the president of AIA (American Institute of Architects), and Gene mentioned that the AIA should be like a library for architects in US, even for architects in the whole world. Moreover, the AIA not only provides architects the information but also the assists architects in running a firm. Not like the association in Taiwan, the relationship between AIA and architects is close and well-developed. The architects in Taiwan need a platform like AIA to share information and experience, and they can help each other to run the firm on the platform. For example, mega firms can release the small cases to young architects, and a small firm can co-op with other firms to complete a bigger project. In Taiwan, big firms take most projects because clients only know those famous architect firms. Therefore, young architects can only work on the interior design cases, or some spacial installation case. The architect association should be able to solve this problem, it should be responsible for educating clients and designate the small projects to young, small architecture firms. Young architecture firm does not have many resources and employees to take care of the business. So, I think it would be good if we have a architect association which can address this issue.
Jen Maigret & Maria Arquero (MAde Studio) |
Jen & Maria's project is about lines which is a fundamental element in architecture. Jen showed us their project which used lines to define space and create endless opportunities. In the lecture, Jen quoted Isamu Noguchi's article to describe their concept of design. Interestingly, Isamu Noguchi mentioned that he walked through a bridge from home to school everyday when he was a kid, and the "line" (bridge) connecting two points, home and school, offered him a lot of chance to appreciate the scenes of his home town. Though it is a coincidence and the meaning of the line to Isamu Noguchi is not similar to that of Jen and Maria's, however, a simple line actually can create endless opportunities for people and define a space. Kandinsky has a famous book: Point and Line to Plane, which describe the power of lines and how lines can define the space in a painting. Sometimes, simple geometry is more powerful than the complex form and pure geometry may offer more imagination space for viewers.
Playful Horizon, MAde Studio, Photo Credit : Adam Smith | www.adamsmithstudio.com
Besides the design, Jen and Maria talked about the budget of their projects. Usually they only can get low budget projects, but in contrast, low budget projects offer designers to exhibit their ability of design including the ability of solving the budget problem. Moreover, low budget project can offer architect more constrains and sometimes it is easier for architects to design. So, I think it is good for young architects to get low budget projects and hence get more chance to demonstrate themselves.
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