CUBE
05.04.02 - 31.05.02
Swiss architects create buildings of outstanding quality; their work is admired and respected throughout the world. In April 2002 CUBE hosted the exhibition A Matter of Art - Contemporary Architecture in Switzerland, curated by Jacques Lucan. The exhibition accompanies Lucan's book by the same title, which is concerned with exploring architecture as an art form. A Matter of Art - Contemporary Architecture in Switzerland was first shown at the Swiss Cultural Center in Paris (04/05 - 01/06/01). The project disseminates sixteen buildings constructed between 1997 and 2000. Obviously, choices were made in selecting the subject matter, the goal being not to provide a definitive documentation of Swiss Architecture, but rather a subjective interpretation of cutting-edge contemporary architecture.
"Artistic is indeed the right term," asserts Lucan. He argues that the reason why contemporary Swiss architecture has aroused so much interest is because "it projects the notion of architecture as an art form. That is, whilst the buildings selected are rooted in legible, functional and contextual givens, they are also designed to be appreciated in themselves." Within the exhibition a number of themes (materials, new simplicity, architecture/nature and the logic of plans) are presented in parallel with the key players in the contemporary arena of Swiss architecture (notably Herzog & de Meuron, Diener & Diener, Miroslav Sik – ‘analogous architecture’ – and Peter Zumthor).
Images:
Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Meinrad Morger, Heinrich Degelo and Christian Kerez, 2000
05.04.02 - 31.05.02
Swiss architects create buildings of outstanding quality; their work is admired and respected throughout the world. In April 2002 CUBE hosted the exhibition A Matter of Art - Contemporary Architecture in Switzerland, curated by Jacques Lucan. The exhibition accompanies Lucan's book by the same title, which is concerned with exploring architecture as an art form. A Matter of Art - Contemporary Architecture in Switzerland was first shown at the Swiss Cultural Center in Paris (04/05 - 01/06/01). The project disseminates sixteen buildings constructed between 1997 and 2000. Obviously, choices were made in selecting the subject matter, the goal being not to provide a definitive documentation of Swiss Architecture, but rather a subjective interpretation of cutting-edge contemporary architecture.
"The development of Swiss architecture cannot be explained in mere linear fashion, nor can it be postulated that it bears homogenous national features. Rather, it should be understood as a sequence or sharing of 'moments' that often correspond to cultural traditions tied to geographical or linguistic areas. Over the past several years it has become abundantly clear that the architecture of German-speaking Switzerland has taken on preponderant proportions, with several remarkable buildings being spawned in the canton of Graubünden. The question is whether these successive 'moments' can be compared to cycles," states Jacques Lucan.
The first issue to tackle, he argues, is whether contemporary Swiss architecture shares common characteristics. On the one hand, there seems to be a fascination in Switzerland with 'local' architecture as a response to specific environments, to contextual data and to a quest for identity; on the other hand, the international acclaim enjoyed by a number of Swiss architects and the attention accorded to contemporary Swiss architecture, in professional reviews and other publications, would suggest that geographical boundaries have been transcended and that an artistic dimension has come into play.
"Artistic is indeed the right term," asserts Lucan. He argues that the reason why contemporary Swiss architecture has aroused so much interest is because "it projects the notion of architecture as an art form. That is, whilst the buildings selected are rooted in legible, functional and contextual givens, they are also designed to be appreciated in themselves." Within the exhibition a number of themes (materials, new simplicity, architecture/nature and the logic of plans) are presented in parallel with the key players in the contemporary arena of Swiss architecture (notably Herzog & de Meuron, Diener & Diener, Miroslav Sik – ‘analogous architecture’ – and Peter Zumthor).
Images:
Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Meinrad Morger, Heinrich Degelo and Christian Kerez, 2000
Footbridge, Jürg Conzett, 1997-99
School, Paspels by Valerio Olgiati, 1996-98
Migros Shop, Luzern, Diener&Diener, 1995-2000.
School, Paspels by Valerio Olgiati, 1996-98
Migros Shop, Luzern, Diener&Diener, 1995-2000.