Chipperfield.
GENERAL COMMENTS: “The Modern Movement and to some degree contemporary architecture takes a certain energy from discontinuity …We can say that ideologically the modern movement has died, but there are still remnants of this ideology which are about breaking with the past abd that architecture is sort of a tool to create visions of what the future might be…”
”..I think architectural rhetoric is dangerous. That’s why you have to look at the work and closely evaluate it.”
“…Architecture is much more limited in its materiality and in its technology than we would like to imagine. Therefore buildings are never as radical as we would like to believe they are (!!!)..”
“…I am looking for changes in a much narrower horizon. I tend to look at those things that seem meaningful.”
“…I’m not convinced that everything needs to be questioned all the time. Some things need to be confirmed.”
“…this office is normally engaged in trying to find ideas based on this process of confirmation, in the process of trying to identify commonly held values, themes which seem to mean something.”
“…what becomes fascinating to me culturally and physically is not what is different about everything, but rather what is the same about everything.”
“…yet…in the end, you know this has straight walls, this has curved columns. This has straight ones…There is a danger that we are only part of an æsthetic style. Such conversation has very small boundaries.So I’m nervous about fashion talk. If you are not careful, you over-exaggerate the power that you have.”
“…I do think that we should look t othings we enjoy and that appeal to us one way or another. Innovation and shock is one, but I also think that recognition, reassuranc, comfort and delight - things which are much more difficult.
They are much less dramatic.
..I have a feeling now that architecture is becoming increasingly motivated by the requirement to create new imagery.”
“…Again because I’m not an extravagant genius, if I look for my strengths, I would say taht I am more interested in quiet and affirmative and sort of solid values, which I feel comfortable with myself.”
“…I think there are two ways operating as an architect. One is to break expectations, to break through in a very individual way. The other is to be a little more consensus driven- to push forward in away that you might take people with you, not just in general, but the actual people around you ( my comment: this is the test ground i guess).”
“…The work of our practice has been brought up on the fact that we have worked in very different physical and cultural locations where the role of the architect isn’t just to somehow deliver the personal project, but to give shape and accept the restrictions that are imposed by the cultural context.”
“…I don’t reject those restrictions. Maybe again it’s a sign of weakness, not to be able to g oabove them and leave them and to say , “I’m an important architect, I have a very strong image and I have a big dream and I can do these things and therefore you have to do it.” I don’t operate that way.”
On HINTER DEM GIESSHAUS ” …The programme of the building maintains the concept of articulated normality. The requirements of gallery spaces are not complicated, large loft-like spaces are proposed, daylight is supplied through large window openings. The sequence of gallery spaces porvides a high degree of flexibility, whilst maintaining a certain determination in terms of space and daylight. This approach ensures a nearly industrial quality to the building…The judicious articulation of a number of large windows allows the building to exploit its unique position.”
