Architecture and Identity

IDENTITY and the search continues……

alvaro1518 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:26:59 +0000

After reading the above article as Noted Indian architect Charles Correa puts it,there are a lot of factors and layers to this quest for identity,it is a process that has multiple processes and factors involved,what i would like to state here is that why does some one talk about the question of identity in the context of this globalized world of architecture ,where we have reached a stage where you get materials cut in one part of the world and installed on site somewhere else,why the question of local?Through my several discussions with the concerned architects during the initial period of the research in Portugal ,what i felt is that to be global you nedd to go local first,that brings us to a simple equation GLOBAL=local.

This study here is in the search for a Portuguese identity in the emerging works of the country and if at all there is an identity and then it would deal with the hidden layers of what are its elements,forms etc.It intends to study projects from a set of criteria,it aims at studying how the current generation of emerging architects of Portugal are dealing with this whole phenomenon of globalization yet being sensitive to the area of intervention ,these will all be part of the findings,another important thing about identity in architecture and cultural identity of a place and a country as well is identity is dynamic and is in a constant state of change ,it evolving,transforming so its only over a period of time that one can come to some kind of a basis about this.

During different phases of social development, especially during the rapid growth stage when people are moving away from traditional forms of existence to the new, especially through different forms of occupation through the urbanisation of their work then there is a transformation and uprooting of their cultural values and this is expressed most visibly in their
aesthetic choices – and so there is a rapid, a neurotic phase. I’m not so sure that it is necessarily a good thing. It is a phase which we have to pass through, but as designers the big issue is how do we respond to this? Do we say this is authentic, therefore good, or do we say that right this is a phenomenon, this happens. How do we deal with it? The question of how to deal
with it is the beginning of the interaction between the phenomenon and the design process.

In the search for identity in architecture,there are two approaches to the problem One is the local approach, and the other one is the bigger, universal approach, the big and the small picture I think we spend too much time in looking at the small pictures,forgetting that there is a bigger picture somewhere.Architecture is but one of the manifestations of an artistic or cultural heritage. But it is destructable in time, that is, it is transitory.

Posted in About this Study

IDENTITY? What When How!

alvaro1518 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:52:01 +0000

What is identity? Firstly, it is a process, , and not a
‘Found’ object. It may be compared to the trail left by
Civilization as it moves through history. The trail is
The culture, or identity, of that civilization
Secondly, being a process, identity cannot be fabricated.
We develop our identity by tackling what we
Perceive to be our real problems. For instance, Europeans
Pioneered the industrial revolution, without
Worrying about their identity. They came out of it
All the richer for their efforts, while remaining French,
English or German.
Thirdly, identity is not a self-conscious thing we may
Talk about French logic, but the French are not trying
To be French-logical. They’re simply trying to be
Logical; it’s we who watch them and say, “That’s very
French”.
We find our identity by understanding ourselves, and
Our environment. Any attempt to short circuit this
Process of understanding, or to fabricate an identity,
Would be dangerous to us all. It would be manipulation,
A kind of signaling. A signal is quite distinct
from a symbol, for it implies a Pavlovian reaction, a
manipulated response In other words, one person
waves a flag whereupon everyone else jumps up and
salutes If an architect, after travelling around the
world, were to return to India, and attempt to reproduce
there a glass building he saw in Europe, he
would simply be transmitting signals. But if, on the
Other hand, he were to take the principles of architecture,
And apply them to a completely different set
Of materials, customs, climate and traditions, he
Might put up a contemporary building which isn’t all
Glass but which is very relevant to its locale.

Climate is a crucial determinant in this process. For
Instance, the question of whether a church should be
An enclosed box, or a mosque have a courtyard, would
Depend on where they were being built

(an extract from the seminar on architecture and identity held in Malasia 2005)

text by Charles Correa

image below ortuguese pavilion by ‘Alvaro Siza in Lisbon.

Posted in About this Study

Aldeia da Luz

alvaro1518 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:55:08 +0000

12th July 2009

A weekend drive arround the Alentejo on a sunny saturday morning,the drive commenced at 7am and we drove all the way to aldeia da luz ,a drive that took us almost 3 hours ,i was extremely excited about visiting this part of the Alentejo for all the pictures i had seen ,it seemed extremely beautiful,as we were driving past the most beautiful landscapes that i had ever seen,it seemed just so pure and beautiful,olive trees,sunflowers,cork tress,vineyards,i just didnt know in which direction to look,my eyes were in for a treat,as we slowly approached the aldeia da luz and my eyes set on this signboard in the picture,i knew i was not far from visiting the museu which i wanted so badly to visit and have a opinion about it.

Posted in Travels

Some Recent Pictures

alvaro1518 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:59:45 +0000

Leça da palmeira and Casa de chá by Álvaro Siza

visited on the 28th May 2009.

Posted in Photo Gallery

Habitar em Collectivo

alvaro1518 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:38:44 +0000

13th may 2009.

As a part of the study during my visit i attended some conferences that were dealing with these specific issues, one of these conferences was held at ISCTE in Lisboa,called Habitar em Collectivo,focussed on architecture in Portugal before the (SAAL) movement,this conference was held on the 13th of may in ISCTE/IUL,and coordinated by Prof Ana Vaz Milheiro,it also was the outcome of the work of the students of the fourth year architecture class of ISCTE/IUL,and after the conference was the exhibition which was inaugurated of their work during the class,besides this i also visited another exhibition of students from the same school of their visit to germany ,which involved a photographic exhibition and a book of their trip .This conference gave me a better understanding about architecture during that period and also gave me the opportunity to hear some of the great portuguese architects of yesteryear like pancho guedes and sergio fernandez present some of their projects.

Posted in About this Study

About this Study

alvaro1518 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:44:05 +0000

The purpose of this study is to see how contemporary young architects in the specific context of Portugal are responding to the issues of globalization and advancement of technology, yet being sensitive to their environment and the history of their country or region.

This project over the last 6months involved a study of the buildings of the emerging architects of Portugal, involving visits to their offices, the study of their projects and works through collection of available drawings,literature and also short talks held by me with them from May to August 2009.The fieldwork of this study has been completed and is in the stage of analysing the findings,representation and documentation.

Posted in About this Study

Recent events and articles..

alvaro1518 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:32:53 +0000

This section is to update people on recent events,exhibitions and articles

Posted in Recent events & articles

Areas of Study

alvaro1518 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:27:37 +0000

Building materials and technologies

I made a study on the use of different materials and the method of application in the buildings. In a time of rapid technological change and globalization of materials and building technologies, I was interested in seeing how traditions are – or are not – respected.

Site, Location and local culture of buildings or projected buildings

Here i studied how relevant the building is to its site, and if any design clues could be drawn from the immediate surroundings and the cultures of its inhabitants and its influence on the architects design.

Education (schooling) and culture of the architects

A study on the educational background and schools from where these architects have studied and what might be an influence on their work of a particular architect or a style of architecture.

Discussion of the way the buildings or projects tackle the identity issue.

I researched in the libraries of Portugal, as well as spoke to fellow architects and critics to see how architects of this generation are dealing with the issue of identity.
I.e. whether or not these buildings can be called distinctively Portuguese or not, or even if this issue makes any sense to contemporary architects and critics.

Posted in Areas of study

Guidance and support

alvaro1518 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:42:04 +0000

There are a few people who are a part and others who have been actively been supporting me with this study.

Prof Paulo Varela Gomes(Delegate Fundacao Oriente in India)
Prof Duarte Cabral de Mello(Professsor Faculdade de Arquitectura,Universidade Technica de Lisboa, FAUTL)
Prof Ana Vaz Milheiro(Professor ,ISCTE,Lisboa)
Fernando and Sergio Guerra(www.ultimas reportagens.com)

Posted in Guidance and Support

Visual Graphics

alvaro1518 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:37:31 +0000

This section involves my intepreation of the studies i infeered,it is still under process and any feedback is welcome.

Posted in Visual Graphics