Skies That Tell Lies

Perhaps the most fascinating and perverse entity within Tropical Islands Resort outside of Berlin is the large image of the sky, suspended above the central pool. Big, bold, and vibrant blue, such a sky has likely not even been seen on the brightest and most perfect of days. In trying for perfection, in presenting the idea of temperate weather all day every day through over-saturated tones and a perfect distribution of billowy clouds, the sign mocks the sky and yet does not realize that the beauty of a perfect day is the respite it provides from those less perfect. Man constructs this sign with the idea that what people want is perfection, and that when they can not obtain that in the natural world, a false, artificial world is more than ample. 

I think in many regards, the Tropical Islands Resort suffers from the same problems that plague architectural renderings. When we present projects, we show this perfectly crafted image, the "money shot" with blue skies, intensely green foliage, and perhaps a few birds gliding in the upper right corner to balance out the frame. The scale figures who walk among our projects are always trim and fit, well groomed, smiling. We do not show the rain, the fog, the gray and muddy days, nor do we represent humanity in all of its forms, old and young, tall and short, fat and thin, laughing and crying. The complexity of places, the complexity of interactions and emotions and the ordinary days, is forgotten, much like the signage of Tropical Islands seems to forget that not every day is all blue skies and sunshine. In striving for perfection, the artificial lacks the nuance and variance that make places, humanity, and architecture significant.

Tropical Islands Photograph

Berlin, Germany

Lakeside Hotel and Spa Rendering

Saarland, Germany