Aires Mateus
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Aires Mateus' work captivates its spectator at first sight with the impeccable images of the volumes under the sunlight, sprinkled with symbolism and the charms of austere geometry. However, as someone dives deeper in the philosophy behind their work, he can discover that the two Portuguese architects are far beyond the first impression. Whether agreeing or not with its content, Aires Mateus file a clear and concrete manifesto on what they believe architecture is and how we live with it.
The driving force of everything and the beginning for Aires Mateus is the idea. As they say, planning begins by recording all the problems and questions that give rise to the need for architecture. *1 Thus the idea is born.
Key article of the manifesto: the architectural work is a field of research and experimentation. The projects are divided into creation and continuity projects depending on their contribution to this perpetual research. The first are the ones that introduce an architectural concern, the second, those that due to some limitations in the nature of the project request a more specialized solution (this mentality is really exciting as is the freedom that it implies).
But one can wonder; how would we live in these architectural experiments? The aim of such a process would be to create eloquent spaces, with a unique identity that intend to fascinate through unparalleled spatial experiences and sensations. The question is how a unique space promotes the well-being and personalities of its inhabitants and visitors, as it would be desirable, particularly in the case of residential projects. It is remarkable that Aires Mateus declare that houses tend to be creation projects. *1 Perhaps the responses lie in the experience of the inhabitants of such "creative" house projects. *2
Whatever the idea the architect-creator wants to express, the way we perceive and experience architecture is usually an abstract feeling and, very often, this feeling stands apart from the original motives of the former. This gap that may stem from many causes and perhaps failures throughout the whole architectural process, from the first conception to the realization of a project, is an unresolved question that seeks answers.
Aires Mateus respond to that emphasizing the permanence of the idea. Their work tends to be unprogrammatic, with uniform textures and materials, an obsession with the white color *3 and emboding archetypal patterns that invoke the collective unconscious. *1 These are the tools Aires Mateus use to preserve the original idea in their built creations, which not surprisingly are reminiscent of living diagrams, idealized and untainted, rather than buildings in an ordinary corrosive reality. Quoting Aires Mateus, "although architecture is not really eternal, the principle it is subjected to can be eternal. Basically, the sort of permanence that interests us, is the permanence of the idea". *1
At the same time, however, architecture does not cease to be a container of life, "a support for life, a structure that frames it, that makes it possible and desirable." *1The built architecture as an experimental process and full of unexplored aspects is a beautiful concept that nevertheless entails risks.
In an optimistic scenario, Aires Mateus choose to highlight the issues that each project, its past, its environment, the program it will host and give life and body to ideas concerning how we live in / around / with architecture. Ideally, concerning how we perceive the world. More ideally, how we perceive life.
In a more pessimistic scenario, it is not difficult to imagine that Aires Mateus' projects are perhaps more of a nice image on a front page than experiential architecture. A scenario that is justified by the fact that their work is seldom photographed flooded with people, rather than with lonely figures that attribute atmosphere and photographic excellence to them? But again, "is beauty a forbidden word?" *1
In any case, Aires Mateus stand out for their need to initiate a problematic about the importance of architecture in human life and perception. Their work, pioneer and suspiciously beautiful, does not cease to confirm this theory.
Annita Douka
The driving force of everything and the beginning for Aires Mateus is the idea. As they say, planning begins by recording all the problems and questions that give rise to the need for architecture. *1 Thus the idea is born.
Key article of the manifesto: the architectural work is a field of research and experimentation. The projects are divided into creation and continuity projects depending on their contribution to this perpetual research. The first are the ones that introduce an architectural concern, the second, those that due to some limitations in the nature of the project request a more specialized solution (this mentality is really exciting as is the freedom that it implies).
But one can wonder; how would we live in these architectural experiments? The aim of such a process would be to create eloquent spaces, with a unique identity that intend to fascinate through unparalleled spatial experiences and sensations. The question is how a unique space promotes the well-being and personalities of its inhabitants and visitors, as it would be desirable, particularly in the case of residential projects. It is remarkable that Aires Mateus declare that houses tend to be creation projects. *1 Perhaps the responses lie in the experience of the inhabitants of such "creative" house projects. *2
Whatever the idea the architect-creator wants to express, the way we perceive and experience architecture is usually an abstract feeling and, very often, this feeling stands apart from the original motives of the former. This gap that may stem from many causes and perhaps failures throughout the whole architectural process, from the first conception to the realization of a project, is an unresolved question that seeks answers.
Aires Mateus respond to that emphasizing the permanence of the idea. Their work tends to be unprogrammatic, with uniform textures and materials, an obsession with the white color *3 and emboding archetypal patterns that invoke the collective unconscious. *1 These are the tools Aires Mateus use to preserve the original idea in their built creations, which not surprisingly are reminiscent of living diagrams, idealized and untainted, rather than buildings in an ordinary corrosive reality. Quoting Aires Mateus, "although architecture is not really eternal, the principle it is subjected to can be eternal. Basically, the sort of permanence that interests us, is the permanence of the idea". *1
At the same time, however, architecture does not cease to be a container of life, "a support for life, a structure that frames it, that makes it possible and desirable." *1The built architecture as an experimental process and full of unexplored aspects is a beautiful concept that nevertheless entails risks.
In an optimistic scenario, Aires Mateus choose to highlight the issues that each project, its past, its environment, the program it will host and give life and body to ideas concerning how we live in / around / with architecture. Ideally, concerning how we perceive the world. More ideally, how we perceive life.
In a more pessimistic scenario, it is not difficult to imagine that Aires Mateus' projects are perhaps more of a nice image on a front page than experiential architecture. A scenario that is justified by the fact that their work is seldom photographed flooded with people, rather than with lonely figures that attribute atmosphere and photographic excellence to them? But again, "is beauty a forbidden word?" *1
In any case, Aires Mateus stand out for their need to initiate a problematic about the importance of architecture in human life and perception. Their work, pioneer and suspiciously beautiful, does not cease to confirm this theory.
Annita Douka
image copyrights @http://space72.blogspot.com
the house in Alenquer, Portugal (1999-2002) is designed in the remains of the existing stone house giving life to an eloquent open space in between, between the lines of the old and the new *1
Carvalho, Ricardo (2011, January). On the permanence of ideas. A conversation with Manuel and Frascisco Aires Mateus, p 6-20, El Croquis 154: Aires Mateus 2002-2011 |
*2
a greek example of experiencing life in "experimental" architecture, the house in Megara by Tense Architecture Network proves that experiments can introduce to a new way of living *3
interview with Manuel Aires Mateus from Equitone *4
interview with Francisco Aires Mateus from Archdaily |