"We must free ourselves from the sacralization of the social as 
the only reality and stop regarding as superfluous something so 
essential in human life and human relations as thought."
- Michel Foucault, French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas







Cafe, Amsterdam. 

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that 
will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."

- Saint Augustine, Latin philosopher and theologian from Roman Africa.









NYC high rise building.

"Curiosity begins as an act of tearing to pieces or analysis."

- Samuel Alexander, Australian-born British philosopher






Architecture. London, England

"There's no black and white situation. 
It's all part of life. Highs, lows, middles."

- Van Morrison, musician 








Guggenheim Museum of Art, NYC.

 

"As it enters the ear, does it come in like broken glass

or does it come in like honey?"

- Eddie Condon, musician

The Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto. Crystal extension by Michael Lee-Chin.  

"Color in certain places has the great value of making 

the outlines and structural planes seem more energetic."

- Antonio Gaudi, Spanish architect 

Casa Batlló, Barcelona, Spain. By Gaudi

"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion

when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers."

- Herbert Hover. 

Artists Handmade Houses, book. Photography by Don Freeman.

"And sometimes there is relief, sometimes there is new energy, and one stands up after it; till at last, someday, one perhaps doesn't stand up anymore, que soit, but that is nothing extraordinary, and I repeat, in my opinion, such is the common."

- Vincent van Gogh, Dutch post-impressionist artist

A theater made entirely out of straw and painted black. By Salto Architects, in Tallinn, Estonia.
Lasting from May to October 2011. It is a temporary building, operating for half a year, built for a specific purpose, programme and location.

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all 

the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

- Rumi, Persian poet

Escalier de la Maison Horta, Brusssels, Victor Horta, c. 1900.

"Purveyors of political correctness will, in the final analysis, not even allow others their judgments... They celebrate “difference,” but they will not allow people truly to be different -- to think differently, and to say what they think."

Mark Berley

Frank Lloyd Wright, architect

“If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.”

Amy Tan, American Author

Aligholi Agha Bath House by Farhang; Isfahan, Iran

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself." Hermann Hesse, German Swiss writer Chris lee and Kapil Gupta of Serie Architects have completed the design of a banquet hall in Mumbai, India. They converted a disused building from Mumbais colonial past into a new banquet hall with a restaurant and bar called “The Tote.” The design was inspired by avenue of trees in the site.

"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."

H.D. Thoreau, American author

 

“People have to really suffer before they can risk doing what they love” 
Chuck Palahniuk, author

Barcelona Pavilion designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1929

“Everything you can imagine is real” 
Pablo Picasso, Spanish artist




Senosiain Arquitectos. Nautilus Curved shell house design in Mexico.

“After a while you learn the subtle difference 
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul..."
J. L. Borges

“To remain as long as possible on the enigmatic, ambivalent and reversible side of thought” 

Jean Baudrillard, French sociologist



 

[Vitra Haus, by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron.]

“It is because humanity has never known where it was 

going that it has been able to find its way.” 

Oscar Wilde

[Stairs from a house in Kamiuma, designed by Kiyonobu Nakagame & Associates]

Introductions

For my love of architecture I decided to keep myself and probably the general blog reading public up to date about intriguing, innovative, creative, organic, stunning and confusing world of design and high craft. The quotes might not necessarily relate to the image, but hopefully will inspire and broaden your mind along with the visuals. Let's consider the philosophical meaning of architecture as it were.  

Architecture for me is visual representation and how it makes me feel. Even if I don't like the concept or genre, I can't help but feel an immense appreciation for its creation regardless.

It is historical, modern or coming together of history. 

It represents individuality, but also culture and context. 

It can be organic, minimalist, cultural, spiritual and more.

It is like the human body, multi-cellular, serving many purposes; with a necessary inherent structure.

It always represents and has meaning. 

It can be a source, a pathway, or a form of limbo. 

It can be looked at, interacted with, or kept at a distance.
It can be admired or criticized. 

It can...

Architecture is like poetry. Poetry was first oral and was movement for the ears. Architecture is like poetry for the eyes.

Sa'di's Tomb in Shiraz, Iran. Abu Mohammad Sharaf-o-ddin Moslehebne Abdollah 
known as Sa'di of Shiraz, renowned Iranian poem, born 606 A.D.