Understanding Minimalist Architecture
Minimalist architecture is concerned with minimizing the use of ornaments and grandiose designs in the structures. It started way back in 1950s as a reaction to the emergence of commercialized styles of architecture that pops up everywhere. It originated from Scandinavia and Japan with the idea of “less is more”.
It makes use of the space as a feature and uses basic shapes and lines that are neat and can play with light resulting to an elegant outcome. Another feature of minimalism is the set-up of things with multiple uses. An example is a floor equipped with a heating unit that forms part of the room and at the same time, warms it.
Minimalist architecture is sometimes argued to be a cold architecture, but for advocates of this type, they find it more welcoming, relaxing and free from clutter. Depending on how you plan it, minimalist architecture can be boring, but if used properly, it can be elegant and at the same time, inviting.
Minimalism is an architectural style that manifests of a utilitarian function of using the basic geometrical forms like the cubes, or the cylinder. It encourages the use of limited spaces to come up with original designs and features. It may be classified as pseudo-minimalism or a hyper minimalism depending on the degree of positiveness.
Advocates of this type of architecture include Alvar Siza, John Pawson, Lugdwig Mies van der Rohe, Tadao Ando, Eduardo Souto De Mouro, Yoshi Tanigushi, Richard Gluckman, Vincent Van Duysen, Alberto Campo Baeza, and Dieter Rams among others.
An example of this architecture is the Azuma House in Osaka. It is small house built by Tadao Ando. Another is the service entrance of Los Clubes in Mexico City, the Thermal Bath in Canton, the De Blas House in Madrid as built by Alberto Baeza, the Pemigotti Apartment in Milano as built by Fronzoni, the Neuemdorf house in Mallorca by Claudio Silvestrin, and the Tilty Barn in Tilty Hill as built by John Pawson. Other structures of this type are the Alcanena House in Torres novas constructed by Eduardo Souto De Mouro and the Nicole Farhi Boutique in New York by Michael Gabellini.
Basically, minimalist architecture is founded on the principle of simplicity and making do with what is available. It involves the principle of knowing your highest priorities for architectural requirements and using the least materials to achieve them. It is more concerned with the internal content of the structure. It is like setting your goal to a small scale but not sacrificing the requirements you need to meet. GP
Posted in Minimalist Architecture on September 21, 2008 - 11:35 pm by admin |
