Comentarios sobre Arquitetura: ECO-Architecture III

2 June 2010

ECO-Architecture III

ECO-Architecture III - third International Conference on Harmonization Between Architecture and Nature - happened last 10th to 14th April. Professora Maria Lúcia Malard and I participated of that event, presenting a paper which becomes a chapter of the book issued by WIT. The book contains most of the papers presented in the Eco-Architecture 2010 conference. Previous editions, that were very successful were held previously in the New Forest, UK, in 2006 and the Algarve, Portugal in 2008 and demonstrated the importance of a forum like this to discuss the characteristics and challenges of such architectural vision.

According to the WIT site, "Eco-Architecture implies a new approach to the design process intended to harmonise its products with nature. This involves ideas such as minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, taking into account the amount required during the extraction and transportation of materials, their fabrication, assembly, building erection, maintenance and eventual future recycling. Presentations in the conference were related to topics like building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, ecological and cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, quantifying sustainability in architecture, resources and rehabilitation, and issues from education, research and practice. Case studies from different places around the world were also presented."

Our chapter is ready for download in this link.

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Bem-vindo

Over the years, I realized that architecture is a fascinating field, much more than I imagined 20 years ago, when I graduated.

However, I believe that today architecture is in constant threaten. Whether because of the insensitivity of usury - which multiplies bad buildings, either because ignorance - with the acceptance of bad buildings everyday, and either because a pompous theoretical approach, or an unrealistic relativism in the theories - a simple analysis shows that there are many enemies of Architecture.

And they all profoundly hate Architecture to the point of diminishing its value, trying to transmute your story in a game of words and bureaucratic rules, reducing the importance of individual experience with the space and art. These enemies try to reduce the architecture only to symbolize a coercive power over the citizen, in public buildings and corporate ones, and to encourage conformity in the housing plans.

Somewhat widespread, ignorance and poverty of spirit have been attacking the inspiration and ingenuity in architecture. Those are the two most ruthless enemies, and I have no doubt that it is within universities where they pervade.

Meanwhile, outside, there is no way out, between the heroics or cosmopolitanism flamboyant, nor the alleged genius of the exceptions in poor countries or the so called alternative attitudes. Both categories are not a real life - they are just a pose.

There is also a false scientific attitude that seeks to reduce the dimensions of humane architecture to present it as simply result of calculation, comfort and efficiency. Naively, many who enjoy studying architecture eventually accepts the false oversimplification that the scientific spirit has to offer. They forget, however, that architecture is a matter that has thousands of years on earth, against the precarious 400 old years of modern scientific thought.

One way to counter these enemies - and perhaps much more effective than simply designing and constructing buildings for our own enjoyment or curriculum - is to study and discuss what is the architecture and teach this, preserving the space for debate their meaning and significance. This education, oriented for aspects of teaching about the individual and collective space can reflect objectively on ours citizens and our country's life, reflecting on how they will make decisions about their buildings and their environment.

In this sense, to support the battle for Architecture, in this blog you will find some texts and other materials geared for education. Welcome, and please, participate.

Sheffield,

April 12, 2008.

Comentarios sobre Arquitetura

2 June 2010

ECO-Architecture III

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