I often hear of people acting in designing mode, or he/she is having a day in production mode; and I don’t like it.

It seems that more and more people are simplifying their behaviour into a pattern that is recognizable of a computer. It appears that we are simplifying the complexity of ‘us’ and converting it, or reducing it into a binary language.

I see this happening in architecture. People want modern houses, character homes, minimalistic, eclectic, energy efficient, classic and so on.

It doesn’t feel right for me to simplify and summarize the complexity of the built environment into categories, the design into disciplines, our living into behavioural mode.

Look at the cities around the world that make us feel good, these are the ones where human functions are not segregated into patronized activities, these are the one where you don’t perceive the clash between the external envelope of the building, its landscape, and its interiors.

I prefer to keep dreaming without boundaries, to live in a city where I can buy an orange walking through a market while going for a coffee in a little café at the corner of the building where a friend of mine lives two stories above the street, watching people passing by while he is having breakfast… (A specific memory of a cold morning during winter 1998 in the centre of Amsterdam).

I design with no boundaries and I run an architecture practice that is not design lead, construction lead, sustainably lead, or multidisciplinary and so on….I design feeling the complexity of living and the complexity of the impact of the built environment; a successful project is when everyone involved in the project contributes with their own personal experience and professional knowledge.

Built environment, in my opinion, shoud be free from an overly controlling trend.

It should celebrate life, its magic, and its unpredactibility.

Imperfection is what makes beauty approachable.

I prefer to be in a small medieval village, rather than in a very tidy and very straight boulevard.

For simple geometries seem to be revealing themselves too quick and too soon, I challenge the temptation of feeling in control and I rather chase the complexity of beauty.

Architecture, a shapeless monster which pervades and influences our lives.

Binds us, excites us, nervous and consoles.

The variation to the theme, the counterpoint ...these are tools used in music but little understood in architecture.

Creating spaces that reveal themselves referring to the archetype of which the contents have been revised to be more attractive and talented.

Architecture is for the benefit of communities, the enjoyment of a successful space is not only for the people living inside that space.

As developer, a land owner could think that built a poorly designed building could be a better investment and, unfortunately, in some cases he might be right, particularly inn a short term vision. Where the need of office spaces is very high you might not have good gain in investing in good design.

The power of historic architecture is in being alive. What it has resisted the time, it is the building that has given some sort of sense to its life, engaging human beings.

Spaces that create atmosphere, inspire emotional responses. Architecture is a matter of commitment to research into the many levels of human being perception.

The middle-ages architecture has been called ‘junk architecture’ a few decades ago, because the buildings were mostly constructed without any plan, no references, no cohesiveness. Today these places are justifiably celebrated as a rich emotional environment and ‘cultural’ heritage.

You don't go to an art gallery without expecting to be Inspired, engaged, challenged.

Nostalgia often has been judged as a constrain for the Architect.

I disagree. It requires a certain strength, but being able to celebrate nostalgia as one of the deepest feeling of human beings is important for personal fulfillment.

After Christchurch earthquakes there are many people questioning how to deal with damaged historic buildings.

There is not a straight forward answer. I would suggest a critical approach based on understanding how in the past the humanity have dealt with their historical heritage.

Architects have the obligation of understanding spaces and how people live in these!

Building are not object dropped into the landscape or a city. Any designed object is part of a big picture: the environment we are living in, i.e. natural environment, built environment, social relations....

It is not about beauty, aesthetic, utility....
architecture is about the organism we are living in

Not every stroke of brush is a piece of art on a canvas, the collectivity of strokes, the composition of them is the Art Work.

Not all the buildings are going to be inspiring, but the town will be if architects will work towards best quality, instead of best money, and if citizens appreciate this rising their expectation.

Art is about ideas, is about experiences
ASK TO ARCHITECTURE THE SAME!

Art and Architecture are visions and they will bring capital to the city in the long term.

The city has gone, you cannot go back!