2348. Seaside. Krier Cottage

 

Dear Tamu,

"Authentic architecture is not the

incarnation of the spirit of the age

but the spirit, full stop."

(Léon Krier)

Best regards,

R

2310. Berlin. Kammermusiksaal

Queridos Jose, Paula y Juanlu,

"La arquitectura debe proponernos la creación de 

relaciones nuevas entre el hombre, el espacio y la

técnica." (Hans Scharoun) 

Un abrazo,

R

2247. Noisy-Le-Grand Seine Saint Denis. Esiee Engineering School.

 

Dear Lucy,

"Architecture should not be closed on itself, with 

its back to the context. It should always be in

resonance with the environment, whether natural

or urban." (Dominique Perrault)

Regards,

R

2187. Tate Gallery. The Clore Gallery for the Turner Collection

 

Dear Edward,

"I believe that the theory of functionalism has been 

the biggest contributor to the progress of architecture

in our century (XX)." (James Stirling)

Regards,

R

2172. Uppsala. Stadsbiblioteket. Förhallen.

 

Dear Karin,

"If clients aren't satisfied with a proposal, then I

guess I should make it even better."

(Carl Nyrén)

Respectfully,

R

2161. Torre del Oro y Edificio Previsión Española. Sevilla

 

Dear Clara,

"The Previsión Española building should be viewed

as a work of architecture that respects its context yet,

above all, helps consolidate the city's structure,

defining the perimeter of what once had been the old 

city" (Rafael Moneo)

Respectfully,

R

1927. Nemausus I, Nîmes

 

Dear David,

 "A good room, for just about everybody, means a big

room. A good apartment, above all else, means a big

apartment" (Jean Nouvel)

Best regards,

R

1882. Fundación César Manrique

 

Mamá,

La casa museo de César Manrique en Haría en la
Isla de Lanzarote fue construida por Manrique 
partiendo de unas ruinas de una vieja granja en 
este mágico lugar que recuerda un paisaje lunar.

Un beso.
R

1850. Institute du Monde Arabe, Paris

Dear Michel,

"Each new situation requires a new architecture"
(Jean Nouvel)

Regards,
R

1322. L'Institut international de l'innovation et de la prospective. Poitiers

Dear Antoine,

The Baha'i House of Worship was built by Fariborz Sahba
in New Delhi (India) in 1986, and the Innovation and Foresight International Institute by Denis Laming in Poitiers (France), a year later in 1987. Both buildings were clearly inspired by the form of a lotus flower. The first one closed and the latest opened.

Regards,
R

1101. The Menil Collection

Caro Gio,

"Architecture is about illusion and symbolism, semantics,
and the art of telling stories." (Renzo Piano)

Saluti,
R

897. Valencia. Palau de la Musica

  

Querida Patricia,

"Mientras un pintor pinta solo un cuadro, el músico y el
arquitecto no pueden hacerlo solos y tienen que explicar
a otros cómo lo tienen que realizar. Por eso yo digo que
la partitura y el plano son artes que se dan la mano".
(José María García de Paredes)

Un abrazo,
R

895. Montecatini Terme.

Dear Carlo,

"Architecture for architects is wrong, it breaks the
continuity of architectural history. Architecture is not for
architects. it's for the public" (Paolo Portoghesi)

Sincerely,
R

739. Institut du Monde Arabe. Le patio de nuit

Querida Cristina,

Gracias por tu hermosa postal de Paris. Esta imagen
me hace evocar algunos de los versos de Jorge Luis
Borges, especialmente aquellos que dicen que el
patio es el declive por el cual se derrama el cielo en
la casa. Aqui te lo mando completo para que lo
disfrutes:

Patio

Con la tarde
se cansaron los dos o tres colores del patio.

Esta noche, la luna, el claro círculo,
no domina su espacio.
Patio, cielo encauzado.

El patio es el declive
por el cual se derrama el cielo en la casa.

Serena,
la eternidad espera en la encrucijada de estrellas.

Grato es vivir en la amistad oscura
de un zaguán, de una parra y de un aljibe.

(Jorge Luis Borges)

Mil besos,
R

253. Netherlands Dance Theatre. The Hague

Dear Zoe,

In my opinion Madelon should have worked in this
space to add more of her "circular thinking". I know
her largest painting is on the stage tower, but that is
outside. When I was in there last night and saw the
wonderful dancers performing I couldn't stop myself
imagining the scene of the "Flagrant Delit". Then the
famous buildings were also dancing in the walls...

Regards.
R

68. Institut du Monde Arabe. Fumoir

Dear Joel,

This is an interior view of the Institut du Monde Arabe
in Paris, designed by J. Nouvel in 1987.
The electronically controlled sun-shading diaphragms
are a sort of high-tech versions of the traditional Arab
screens.

Hope you're doing well.
R