Newcastle Station Clock

Newcastle Station Clock

Monday 30 April 2012

Why I'm Unhappy About the Direction We're Going Through Time

First off, let me say that I wasn't sure where to write this. At first I had planned to write it on my own website alongside other serious architectural theory (plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug plug). And certainly, much of the thought behind it is quite serious. On the other hand, as I thought it through I realised that I wouldn't be able to refrain from a ridiculously opinionated conclusion. So I decided it probably belongs here instead - particularly seeing as the conclusion has a nasty habit of being the part that people remember about a piece of writing. Anyway, onwards...

Wednesday 4 April 2012

WOW... Pritzker Atones for Last Year

Readers may remember that a little over a year ago, Archiendo writers were less than impressed with the Pritzker Prize jury as they selected Eduardo Souto de Moura for the biggest prize in architecture. But it seems they have spectacularly corrected themselves with this year's laureate, Chinese architect Wang Shu. The official press release can be seen here.

The designs of this 'young' architect (he is 48) come perhaps as close as it is possible to be to Archiendo's prototype*: the attention paid to historical and cultural continuity is striking; his designs seem to privilege experience rather than focusing on being photogenic; and he is a big fan of reusing materials. What's more, he seems to have a completely natural feel for a certain breed of humanist architecture, which he shows with his pearls of wisdom peppered throughout this article on Dezeen. So without further ado, lets have a look at some of the designs he has been rewarded for.