Critical Regionalists can thrive as Outsiders
Let’s use Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works as an example. He trained under Kenneth Frampton at Columbia. Now, he is a well known practicing Critical Regionalist who typically adheres to the Pacific Northwest vernacular of wood siding, accentuated roof overhangs, etc. Most importantly, he knows how to adapt his design language to the appropriate context.
I think Allied Work’s prized project, the Clyfford Still Museum, is a good example of effective Critical Regionalism done by an outside architect.
Located in downtown Denver, the museum embraces the local spirit, climate, Colorado vernacular, etc. Allied Works uses cast in place concrete because it’s economical and familiar to the area: the contractors are well versed in concrete construction. Board-formed concrete creates a highly texturized surface on the exterior walls. The harsh Denver sunlight casts stark shadows on the organic facades, creating a dance of light versus shadow throughout the day. The austere facades also have the versatility to thrive aesthetically during the snowy Denver winters.
With a limited budget, Cloepfil leveraged concrete’s low cost and regional familiarity to create a work of architecture that feels of the place.
In general critique, I think Critical Regionalists need to expand their reach beyond projects for the elite and need to start to apply their rigor to underserved communities that require holistic architecture to provide spaces for regeneration.
I have a tough time feeling 'okay' with outside architects doing work that either means a lot to a certain culture or is going to be an 'icon' in the downtown of an area. There are so many Starchitects that get away with this by hiring a local architect, but in reality the local architect just gets the project built; they don't necessarily bring any additional insight because the Starchitect "knows best". I am not familiar with the Denver project, but I appreciate your example and I, myself still question whether this application of concrete really does represent Denver the best.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Taylor's comment: I don't think it is a question of if an outsider can build for a local culture but whether or not an outside architect even wants to build for a local culture or if he just wants to make an iconic building for the sake of form. Architects like Alvaro Siza or Alvar Aalto who are building in locations where they did not necessarily grow up are still taking into consideration everything that comes with the site, the climate and local traditions all while being "outsiders"
ReplyDeleteIn response to all of this, I do not think all "starkitecture" is bad, although the term is extremely over used. Today, the power of an architect creating something people want to travel to has huge impacts both positive and negative. I think one of the more powerful concepts is the amount of jobs and pay that is created from a piece of architecture. Not considering the construction side, the people that work at a museum of this magnitude are honored to work here, and I guarantee they also see a higher amount of pay due to the popularity of the museum.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that. What I understood is that designing following the ideas of critical regionalism is a skill. Thus, it does not matter whether the architect is local or not.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Cody. I think starchitects are more likely to ignore contextual needs or circumstances in favor of their branded styles, but in theory they those styles could morph in response to the region as well, which would be very interesting to see.
I don't think that there is anything wrong with designing a building to be iconic, thats what some buildings need. A museum in downtown Denver is not absorbing local foot traffic as frequently as it is tourist foot traffic. I would think that the museum and city want to attract outsiders to visit the museum, so make it iconic if thats what it takes. Iconic can still be vernacular. In this case, I don't think it is some iconic out of place building, I think this design blends with the local vernacular perfectly fine, especially after understanding the choices of materials, textures, local construction methods, etc. I am interested to know how Allied Works was selected for this project. Someone found their work to be appealing, so they got the job. In the end, the client should make this ultimate decision on who their architect is, and if local isn't who they want then so be it.
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