SPACE December 2024 (No. 685)
Invisible Barn (2015) ©stpmj
Dissolving Arch (2016) ©stpmj
Architectural designs are a result of various tangible and definite (restrictive) constraints. The floor area of a building is determined by the size of the site and building coverage ratio, the number of floors or height by the zoning district, the location of parking entrances by primary road access, the main entrance by transportation and pedestrian movements, the size of its core by the purpose and scale of internal spaces, the size and positioning of openings by the building’s orientation or view, and the façade materials by its surrounding landscape. These are the basic conditions that are generally considered during design. They are ‘loose’ conditions that can be influenced by the architect’s arbitrary or habitual preferences, or the client’s personal opinions. Design approaches through these fundamental constraints have high possibilities of creating styles similar to other buildings.
We aim to go beyond the aforementioned and seek more ‘rigorous and convincing’ constraints (variants) that reflect architect’s new perspectives and ideas. These conditions are derived from the discovery of unique characteristics in the surrounding environment, from programmes and spatial types designed for users, from structural rationality, from sentiments and possibilities of materials, from socio-cultural phenomenon, from environmental functions and climate change, and from schedule and budget management. These constraints (variants) are what fundamentally differentiates projects and builds narratives that resonate with the public, going beyond the mere satisfaction of the architect’s and client’s personal preferences.
We appreciate architecture that asserts new perspectives. Statement(al) architecture is neither ambiguous nor simply silent. It maintains a clear and consistent attitude, even amidst controversy.
The discussions that statement(al) architecture provoke go beyond the quality of the building itself; they are about ideas that have been proven through numerous trial and error in other modes (methods) of thinking. This architecture does not worship habits that have been practiced without question for a long time. Instead, it focuses on observing all phenomena around it with curiosity and close attent...
