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Saturday, January 26, 2013
Quote of the Day - Daniel Libeskind Tells the Future
It sometimes feels as if cities like Paris and Venice have been coated with formaldehyde and turned into museums. The old formulas of ‘respecting context’ won’t work. We must create a new context and puncture past beauty with raw, powerful contemporary architecture—buildings that shock and amaze and bring out the romance of relics of Victorian and ancient times. It was once true that the palace, Palladian villas, and churches were architectural, while the other structures in a city were just buildings. But I think the art of architecture is ready to come out in every single structure we erect. -
He does have a way with words. If only he would quit his day job and become a writer.
More from V&V:
The Modernist Disease: Cogito Ego Sum
This your museum on drugs & These are your museums on drugs
January 26, 2013 in Architecture, Culture, Current Affairs, Quote of the Day, Urbanism | Permalink
Comments
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Renzo Piano, responding to critics of his glass tower in Torino, said they were "afraid of the future." How is it that these architects think that their ideas and "the future" are the same thing? Maybe because there are enough people in positions of power that agree with them, but those of us with other ideas need to come up with a better offensive strategy or the future will be theirs.
Posted by: Steven Semes at Jan 27, 2013 4:03:47 AM
^
Exactly, why does Piano think he gets to determine what the future is?
This part of Danny's blab was interesting:
"We must create a new context and puncture past beauty with raw, powerful contemporary architecture—buildings that shock and amaze and bring out the romance of relics of Victorian and ancient times."
So Danny, did you just admit it's beyond your capability to create NEW buildings that are romantic and beautiful? Do you only know how to shock like a teenager and depend on the old Victorian buildings to serve as the contrasting parents? What happens when the whole city is made of teenagers - like Dubai or the average commercial strip - will anyone notice them?
Posted by: Marc at Jan 27, 2013 3:16:03 PM
Libeskind can't help but put his foot in his mouth, most commonly when he's trying desperately to sound erudite. Here's the buffoon responding to an interviewer's simple question, "Who do you design for?".
Daniel Libeskind: "Every building that is good is not addressed to the public, that they walk around and find themselves to be comfortable. It is addressed to those who are unborn, in both senses: of the past and in the future. I think that is who they address and that is what makes them important. To that extent, every human being is really unborn."
If only Mr. Libeskind was unborn ...... Aaahhhh ....
Posted by: Walter at Jan 27, 2013 4:18:00 PM
Here's another chestnut from the little wunderkind.
"How do I know what to design? I listen to the stones. I sense the faces around me. I am inspired by light, sound, invisible spirits, a distinct sense of place, a respect for history." Daniel Libeskind
Whooaahh ....Did he really say "a distinct sense of place, a respect for history"? Does he know what these terms mean?
How do you tell when Libeskind is talking total BS? .... (Hint: his lips are moving.)
Posted by: Ricardo at Jan 28, 2013 10:02:14 AM
Daniel Libeskind's capacity to look and sound stupid on such a consistent basis is truly remarkable. To produce ugliness on the scale of Toronto's ROM (a.k.a. 'The Crystal'), even once would be quite an achievement. To do it every time? .... Well, that takes a special skill, fortunately a rarely occurring one.
Posted by: Annette at Feb 10, 2013 8:24:42 AM
