CONCEPT MASHUP

John Pawson

Dieter Rams 

Jonathan Ive 

My concept mashup for building a school for architecture, was something I wanted to form from my own passion. I chose three people who inspire me in the field of architecture and design. John Pawson, Dieter Rams and Jonathan Ive, only one of whom is officially an architect, the others, designers. All set a high standard in design and have formed principles to abide to as creators of art and design. The elements which I believe define good architecture, and which I want to incorporate into my school of architecture. 

The Concept

Buildings fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. The defining qualities are about use: ease and simplicity. One wants architecture to be elemental… but on the other hand architecture demands beauty and aesthetics. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could detract from it.

So, the design must care beyond the functional imperative but so subtly and neutrally, to leave room for the user's self-expression. A house is definitely not organic, its very rectilinear but it has a very kind of geological quality through the materials it would be contradictory to make organic architecture when all in all the architecture is immediately deemed unnatural, it is made made itself. 

In summary. The design must be simple, unobtrusive, fulfilling its purpose, rectilinear in shape but poses a geological quality through materials to respect and pay homage to the  landscape and environment but carefully so not to mimic it. Architecture should not hide what it is by pretending to be something it isn’t, but rather pay respect the environment it sits in.

Articles:

John Pawson - 'In Conversation with John Pawson', Graham Clayton-Chance, 2011 - http://vimeo.com/19465262

Dieter Rams - 'Ten Principles of Good Design', written by Dieter Rams, 1970s-80s  - https://www.vitsoe.com/us/about/good-design

Jonathan Ive - 'Design Museum Interview', Design Museum, 2007 - http://designmuseum.org/design/jonathan-ive