The Self-understanding of Space, the Silence of Architecture

written by Aleš Vodopivec

 

Each time I am to present my work, I find myself in trouble. Architecture is largely autobiographic, and speaking about oneself is not easy. After all, we do not expect painters to explain their works. In fact, Matisse once said to his pupils that painters must cut off their own tongue. Because they are not entitled to any other form of expression but by brush. However abstract the architecture is, it can and must speak for itself. About its relation to the world we live in, for example. About our understanding of tradition. About respect for nature. About tranquillity and silence. About life and death. It would even seem that something is wrong with architecture that needs to be verbally explained. Otherwise, our work has no real meaning.