Maintaining Culture, or Denying Change?
People often see change as essential because it keeps things from being stale. However, keeping an identity that is seen through time gives an ambiance to a place. Some see change as a great way to revitalize and bring in new ideas. Other places like Charleston see preservation is their way to create identity. This type of regionalism keeps places alive and thriving. It makes something specific about a region that cant be duplicated anywhere else in the world. You may can get close but it wont be authentic. The authenticity is key to architecture.
How can
architecture be authentic? For me, it is knowing that if I were to try to place
this somewhere else, would it be the same? Would the sun filtering through the
windows in the evening be the same? Will the summer breeze on the piazza overlooking
a garden feel as refreshing? All the small things that become moments in
architecture are what I see as critical regionalism. The things that make a place and its architecture
one of a kind.
Great perspective Alex! I agree that a lot of these structures feel more permanent and authentic due to their identity. As the town and people around these buildings continue to change, the style never feels out of place and it will always feel like a home or sanctuary.
ReplyDeleteHey Alex,
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, I love Charleston and the what the historical preservationist have done to preserve architecture, but to a certain extent.... I have never worked on a Charleston project, but I always hear the challenges it is working with HP, especially when pertaining to innovational architecture or as Frampton states "Avant Gardist". I think that there is a beauty between historical buildings and modern architecture, Barcelona is a perfect example of that.
Charleston comes to mind for me as well when thinking about critical regionalism. Maybe because it’s all around us when we’re there in the preservation of the buildings, the culture, and the history. It all tells a story of a time that once was and of a people who walked the same paths centuries earlier. From these people and their sheer need to survive the humid summers, we can understand the design of the single house and its large windows and deep porches giving us a better understanding for how to design today in such areas.
ReplyDeleteThe preservation of a region's identity can create an authentic and unique ambiance that cannot be replicated elsewhere. The small details that make a place special are critical to creating meaningful architecture.
ReplyDelete