“
I had my idea, I sent it to her, she liked it, and she came up with her idea, reacted to my idea, then I offered to abandon my idea and to do only hers, and she said, ‘No, please stay.’ So, the result is really about two things — there is a line, which is mine, and a dot, which is hers… Louise’s installation is more about the burning and the aggression, and my installation is more about the life and the emotions [of the victims].”
-Peter Zumthor
When asked about the inspiration behind
Steilneset memorial.
It's interesting to note how two artists were inspired by different emotions while designing this memorial. Built in memory of 91 people suspected of witchcraft, burnt alive in the seventeenth-century Finnmark Witchcraft Trials, the Steilneset Memorial rests along the coastline of the Barents Sea in Vardø, Norway, it is built on the site assumed to be the execution ground.
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| -there's a line, which is mine, and a dot which is hers.... |
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| Memorial on the execution ground where 91 people were burned at the stake, Norway |
Peter Zumthor designed a silk cocoon with 91 windows with a bulb hanging above each window representing life and memory of each person accused of witchcraft. Louise designed a glass box with a steel chair with burning fire. Overlooking this burning chair are oval mirrors reflecting the fire and symbolizing accusatory authorities.
Same incident but different representations. One celebrating life while one condemning authority for ending that life. One design problem can have many solutions and these solutions depend upon the designer's beliefs, aspirations, ability to respond to context, the way they look at life, social upbringing that they've had, and the fire or passion they possess for life. Similarly, the viewers also respond to these design solutions from their own perspective. Depending on their mindset, they either respond favourably or unfavourably to a particular design solution.
So, what makes a building worth remembering? People viewing it from their own set of viewing glasses and still liking it? Interesting question.
For two people to enjoy something together they must speak the same language. The language of emotions, beliefs, individuality so on and so forth. A popular writer in India had described in her book about a juicy bite of an apple in the fresh Himalayan air at 10,000 ft. Simple juicy bite, but, she and her partner, both felt something different about that moment. They made a pact to share with each other every magical moment they experienced. This feeling of being connected is the language that creates inspiring moments in our lives.
Similarly, a building to have that magic connection with people, must speak the language that people understand. A language formed by vocabulary of different architectural elements. The structure of this language mostly depends on the architect and the time when it is built. Let's look at some examples of buildings that speak this language. These buildings have become the most visited buildings in the world. Here, we're not talking about the architectural styles but the overall impact.
Buildings that speak the language of power.
Churches were designed to exude power and people understood this language. If you Google most popular structures, there will be at least one church. The language of power is the most easily understood language. It gives stability, someone to look up to and blame if things don't go right.
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| St Paul's Cathedral, London |
Buildings that speak the language of technology.
I have a thing for technology. Buildings that shine and look like it must have taken lot of structural calculations to build, make my eyes sparkle. I'm sure there are millions who reciprocate the same sparkle for technology.
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| Capital Gate building with its 18 deg incline to West - Abu Dhabi |
Buildings that speak the language of money.
After churches lost their shine of the past, the new power is not religion but money. Wealthiest, tallest, costliest will always attract attention. Money can turn desert into an oasis of technology in no time.
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| Burj Khalifa - Dubai |
Buildings that speak the language of innovation.
Louvre Pyramid, Paris is to my mind the most innovative building design of recent times. It preserves the sanctity of a beautiful old heritage structure yet makes it exciting to explore what it offers in terms of function. It breaks the notion that a building must have walls and must occupy 3-dimensional space above ground. The
Seed Cathedral is one more such example where one goes beyond 'cliche'd imagination of what the building should look like. In both cases very innovative use of material.
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| The Seed Cathedral, UK Pavilion 2010, Shanghai, China |
Buildings that speak the language of emotion.
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| The Putins at the Taj |
People love stories, specially the romantic kind. It is quite fascinating to walk amongst the ruins and imagine what the life must have been like in olden times. The
Taj Mahal, Agra, one of the finest and well-preserved examples of Mughal architecture has that charm which attracts millions of people. It has fueled many a stories of undying love. Its almost mandatory in the 'been-there-done-that' list for couples' to click pictures in front of this monument of love. Even the Obamas, the Clintons and the Putins of the world couldn't resist it.
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| The Taj Mahal, Agra, India |
Buildings that speak the language of change.
Just when the world thinks that buildings should conform to a style, an idea comes along and forces us to change that perception. It makes us rethink about our likes and dislikes, questions our beliefs and changes the way we think about buildings.
Le Corbusier is one such architect who along with many others like Mies Van De Rohe, Alvar Alto, spoke about changing perceptions, and then emerged the new modern architecture.
Buildings that speak the language of rebellion.
Shrug off the norms of '
form follows function'. Here the form really dominates, functions follow suit. Buildings that defy the laws of physics are the new show-stoppers.
Zaha Hadid's buildings speak the language of change but the vocabulary is rebellious and structure quite radical.
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| Nuragic and Contemporary Art Museum by Zaha Hadid, Caligary, Italy |
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| Defying Gravity, Pass Museum, Austria |
The
Taj Mahal and the
Steilneset Memorial, both built to remember life, set 350 years apart, speak the language of emotion. People will go to see both buildings and come back feeling connected with the incidents which happened 350 years ago. These buildings will tell their stories for generations to come.
Additional Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steilneset_Memorial
http://www.arch2o.com/steilneset-memorial-peter-zumthor-louise-bourgeois/arch2o-steilneset-memorial-peter-zumthor-louise-bourgeois-23/
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/01/03/steilneset-memorial-by-peter-zumthor-and-louise-bourgeois/
http://www.varanger.com/index.php?lang=eng&cid=actors&aid=51
http://inhabitat.com/construction-complete-on-the-uks-stunning-seed-cathedral/
http://archidialog.com/2012/02/12/zaha-hadid-and-the-mechanics-of-inspiration/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal
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