Architects you admire - My Architect (2003) Discussion

[–] maccoinnich 19 years ago

Oooh... Gaudi and CRM are both wonderful. True iconoclasts. Luckily I live less than an hour away from Glasgow, so have seen many of Mackintosh's buildings.

Louis Kahn, of course totally different, is also brilliant. The way he uses concrete is beautiful - if only the other architects of the era had all been that good then perhaps concrete wouldn't have such a bad reputation. For good contemporary use, see Miralles' new Scottish Parliament - the garden lobby is one of the best spaces I've ever been in.

Other selected architects I like: Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvar Aalto, Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, Richard Murphy (if you live outside Scotland, he's not exactly famous...)

Can't stand: Daniel Libeskind, Frank Gehry (okay, sometimes his stuff is kind of cool, but overall, it's the first look rather than the sustained examination that's cool), Norman Foster, Future Systems

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[–] star_cinnamon 19 years ago

you're so lucky to live not far from glasgow. i was there once but just for a night but i will go back soon and see CRM buildings

personally i love ornament - i am not too crazy about stark lines and geometric shapes, so a lot of the modernist architecture is wasted on me. i like some of frank lloyd right and louis kahn. i really like the different perspectives seen in their work but they wouldnt be my favourites.

art nouveau is my favourite period. it is wonderful - romantic and whimsical. le corbusier, although i admire his innovation i think he stripped away the character of a building. i know ppl will disagree with me but i guess i'm just an old-fashioned girl!

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[–] PercnipityCeasy 19 years ago

Wow, there's been some good names mentioned already!! I can't wair until 2020 (or earlier!) when Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will be finished. It was originally begun in about 1883, Gaudi himself living on the construction site until he died tragically in a streetcar accident. It will be the largest religious complex ever built.

I have studied some books on Macintosh, Pei, Moshe Safdie, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, and Le Corbusier among other notable architects of the last 100 years.

Also read a less-than-technical book called "Breaking Ground" by Daniel Liebskind. In it he tells about his parents who survived the holacaust etc. and how he originally wanted to be an artist or musician (he was a child prodigy at accordian!) I love his creations, though he might be lumped in with Gehrry who seems to be a sculptor working on a grand scale rather than an architect.

Try Shin Takamatsu and Tadao Ando for a view to Japan.

In a back issue of 'Border Crossings', the author argues that Mies was the most spiritual and pure of the modernists; this being his inspriration. FLW's (inspiration) from 'the ground', and Le Corbusier's 'from the body'.

I am finding it difficult to decide who I have more sympathy for...

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[–] renzopiano 19 years ago

well some great names have already appeared so i'll just try to explain what i like instead of argumenting with you alll (coz i agrre with everything you said )

gaudi is just mind blowing . foster is efficient . van der rohe is clinical.

renzo piano is close to the ground .gehry is flamboyant .

told you i was mis representing (interpreting) architecture lol

just seen le corbusier ' works in marseille ; and let just say you better want to keep the vision of his construction you got from reading books and nice picture from the analysts.
it really is a dreadful sight

but my personal choice is shigeru ban ,a japanese guy building the pompidou 2 in my town

i'll also throw oscar niemeyer coz he's partly misunderstood and misrepresented by some of his less than perfect realisation

hope the thread goes on !

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[–] gkgk 19 years ago

I've learned so much about the art of architecture through this documentary... I didn't see before the need of art in a building (not that I didn't wish it was there), now I realize that a building makes a statement no matter what...Above all, what I realize is that no medium of art can express something more ugly or more beautiful on as grand of a scale as architecture.

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[–] nedwong2000 19 years ago

I don't care for pop architecture or "starchitecture" - stuff designed solely for wow factor. They include works by guys like Gehry, Koolhaas, and the like. A bit too narcissic.

I love "spiritual" architecture. The works of Ando, Gaudi, and Kahn are really transcendent. They require no context other than that of the most fundamental and universal of the human spirit.

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[–] LazyCrazy 19 years ago

Everyone should love Louis Sullivan if they admire modern architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright's work.

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[–] proterozoic 18 years ago

Disagree with you on Koolhaas, at least. If you look into his design philosophy, what he does is approach every project by radically rethinking what the building does and how it does that, by defying tradition and essentially redesigning a functional space from scratch (Seattle Public Library, the "Tube" at Illinois Tech, CCTV HQ in Beijing, Wyly Theater in Dallas). He does almost the exact opposite of what an architect may be expected to do in designing a given building, and in doing that, manages to make the project work in ways that nobody thought it would - that's why he's a true architecture great, and not just a showoff.

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[–] nbashara 18 years ago

Honestly....in order to truly appreciate architecture, you must study the implications and theories behind a building, and fully understand an architect's design ideology. I am currently doing my Masters in Architecture, so I've been doing a lot intensive studying on both contemporary architects, and archtiects of the past. A lot of you mentioned Gaudi as awesome, and noted Koolhaas as pop/narcisstic? In actuallity, Rem Koolhaas is one of the greatest architects of our time with truly relevant and well thought out projects. Although Gaudi did manage some structurally complex buildings, they are pretty God-awful to look at, and are extremely literal representations of his concepts. One truly awesome architect you guys should check out is Carlo Scarpa....and hello ZAHA HADID....the most prolific and dynamic woman architect of all time. And yes, Louis Khan is genius, and if you didn't think so before, how about now after you watched "My Architect"???

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[–] star_cinnamon 18 years ago

Although Gaudi did manage some structurally complex buildings, they are pretty God-awful to look at, and are extremely literal representations of his concepts.

I think you either love or hate Gaudi. Personally i think he was a genius who was a century ahead of his time (ergonomics, structure). I think his buildings are beautiful and whimsical, but i can understand how they wouldnt be to everyone's taste. But i believe he pushed the boundaries of architecture and the modern organic architects have him to be grateful for.

extremely literal representations of his concepts

gaudi's inspiration was nature and he blatantly uses bones, bats, flowers, etc in his buidings but it works and wasnt done before. he created a whole universe in his creations and you saying that just makes you sound pretentious. sorry :)

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[–] nbashara 18 years ago

"gaudi's inspiration was nature and he blatantly uses bones, bats, flowers, etc in his buidings but it works and wasnt done before. he created a whole universe in his creations and you saying that just makes you sound pretentious. sorry :)"

Actually, the blatant use of bones, flowers, etc is considered extremely literal....is the definition of it - look up the definition of literal if you are confused :)

Also,

"But i believe he pushed the boundaries of architecture and the modern organic architects have him to be grateful for."

- sorry to sound pretentious again, but there is no such thing as a modern organic architect....the Arts and Crafts movement may be what you are referring to, but that was at the turn of the 20thC. The modern movement rejected any kind of ornamentation, etc, and came to fruition after/during both World Wars.

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[–] star_cinnamon 18 years ago

Actually, the blatant use of bones, flowers, etc is considered extremely literal....is the definition of it - look up the definition of literal if you are confused :)

Yes it is literal but it does sound really pretentious for a student to knock a master. You may dislike Gaudi's creations but surely you can appreciate his place in the history of architecture. [ disclaimer: Gaudi is my hero and I take it very personally when someone knocks his work]

sorry to sound pretentious again, but there is no such thing as a modern organic architect....the Arts and Crafts movement may be what you are referring to, but that was at the turn of the 20thC. The modern movement rejected any kind of ornamentation, etc, and came to fruition after/during both World Wars.

I am referring to such architects as Future Systems who I consider organic and are very much modern. Organic doesnt have to involve ornamentation. Frank Lloyd Wright was also an organic architect.

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[–] star_cinnamon 18 years ago

Please can someone tell me how to appreciate Gehry. I've tried but I just dont get his buildings.

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[–] proterozoic 18 years ago

I can't believe none of you mentioned Santiago Calatrava - the guy's a god!

If we're talking old-school, then Gaudi, Le Corbusier, Paul Rudolph, Eero Saarinen, Frank Lloyd Wright of course. If we're talking contemporary, I'm into Kisho Kurokawa, Frank Gehry (his lecture at Yale was one of the most amazing experiences, I'm happy I snatched an autograph), Calatrava, Zaha Hadid.

I.M. Pei normally doesn't move me much, although the Miho Museum is brilliant.

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[–] snowbart 17 years ago

I think Calatrava makes trash. Always impressing shapes in white metal. Boring and never in any relationship with the surroundings. It's too easy to make that kind off architecture.

Anyway, I think most contemporary architects produce crap. Most buildings seem to be made solemnly to impress people. If you filter out every architect who only likes to achieve that, there won't be many others left. Thus my list of favorite architects is awfully short.

I'd like to include Tadao Ando, Peter Zumthor, Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. That would be about it.

Here I would like to add that Rem koolhaas is very good at writing books and Urban planning. His architecture an sich is not anywhere near Ando, Mies and Corbusier though the public space it creates is.

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[–] proterozoic 18 years ago

Oh, and Rem Koolhaas.

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[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ettubrute85 18 years ago

My Favorites:

Steven Holl
Sam Mockbee
Herzog and deMeuron
Shui Endo
Francesco Borromini
Norman Foster
Richard Meier

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] buvas2000 18 years ago

Rem Koolhas & OMA

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[–] charlotte_m 18 years ago

This really makes sense! Koolhaas for sure, H & DeMeuron. Personally, I think the new Pritzker Prize Mendes da Rocha is really good. Less known but brilliant: K Shinhoara (especially his first houses.

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[–] laurencescotti 18 years ago

The new Louiville building being built; Museum Plaza, is one of the biggest mistakes EVER!!!

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[–] elk-run 17 years ago

Alvar Aalto is the one that broke the mold. He is the bridge between the modernists and all that came after. He created beautiful buildings that don't make sense as to why they are beautiful. They just are.

To the one who knocked Calatrava, it's not about how his buildings look in photos, it's how they feel in person. The linear gallery that faces Lake Michigan is one of the most sublime spaces I have ever been in. Very Stanley Kubrick-like (this is a film-site afterall.) Even the parking garage is great.

For an architect-designer who gets overlooked in the present, Charles Eames is about as good as it gets. His total integration of arcitecture, furnishings, objects, etc., is unrivaled. He makes FLlW look absolutely stilted.

For fans of both architecture and film (and you wouldn't be here if you weren't), there is a Frank Lloyd Wright connection. Anne Baxter of All About Eve and Ten Commandments fame (what a hottie!) is FLlw's granddaughter and Nicholas Ray (Director of Rebel Without a Cause) was an apprentice under Wright. The colors and compositions in Rebel show this influence, especially the original ending with the closing oculus scene at the planetarium.

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[–] keen_loon 17 years ago

I think most of the architects which have been mentioned are great.

Others which I'd add would be Jorn Utzon (sydney opera house) - his Bagsvaerd church in Copenhagen - which i had the opportunity to see in 06, was most inspiring- even to someone non religious like me.

Also, Glenn Murcutt, a pioneering Australian architect who wpon the pritzker prize in 2002. his works are of such purely Australian quality its amazing. As a one man show and a huge waiting list hes surely one of the most skillful architects in the world today.

Ive seen some of Zaha Hadids work, a museum i saw in scandinavia was quite cool. Although i cant comment apart from photos i quite like her long linear forms.

I also saw Calatravas twisting torso in Malmo, Sweden. Even though i respected it, i didnt like it as much - i guess i just found it a little unsettling!

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