Architecture as sculpture

There is a lot of debate in the architecture community about architecture reading as sculpture- basically if buildings that have a sculptural look to them can be accepted as true architecture or as art. I think that categorizing architecture like this limits architectural design. If architecture truly is art as much as science then why would it matter whether designers choose to be more artistic or systematic?



Personal inclination is often confused with architectural validity. Claiming to like or dislike Frank Gehry's Walt Disney concert hall has nothing to do with it being architecture.
I think it's wonderful to grow up in a world where architects like Frank Gehry (architect of pic above), Santiago calatrava (architect of first pic below) or the craziness known to Dubai (second pic below) exist. The possiblities of design are endless, but they are all part of the beautiful diversity architecture creates.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dubai-architecture.info/TheWorldDubai-custom%3Bsize_796,485.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm&h=485&w=795&sz=90&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=Jf9ON-6W8Tp1ZM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddubai%2Barchitecture%2Bdubai%2Bworld%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dcom.google:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

Personally I am more into systems than the big bang effect; what material the architect chooses to use, how materials go together, the visual, tactile or experiential qualities of the space, the size, proportions or geometry the architect chooses to work with e.t.c. Which all add up to how the space is built, how it looks and how it feels.

That's the reason i love work by Tadao Ando ( Japanese architect-link and pic below), David Adjaye (African Architect- second and third link and second pic below)and KPMB (canadian firm- last link below and last pics) among many others...

http://www.andotadao.org/
http://www.adjaye.com/docs/david.html
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dezeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/editstudio-29.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/16/photographer-shoots-his-own-house-eds-shed-by-david-adjaye/&h=300&w=449&sz=66&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=BAbvgRkc1RomgM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddavid%2Badjaye%2Bhouses%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dcom.google:en-US:official%26sa%3DG
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kpmb.com/images/up_images/up-11b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kpmb.com/index.asp%3Fnavid%3D30%26fid1%3D12%26fid2%3D14&h=400&w=888&sz=121&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=rxgFDSo3hAIFIM:&tbnh=66&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3DKPMB%2BArchitects%2BYoung%2BCentre%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BPerforming%2BArts%2B(YCPA)%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dcom.google:en-US:official%26sa%3DN







I think I am starting to overdo it with the pics :), my next blogs will have fewer pics but include other links for you guys to follow should you be interested...