What if architecture could change the world?
In 2015 I travelled to Denmark to see with my own eyes the contemporary architecture that was then regarded as iconic. Works by BIG, COBE, 3XN and MVRDV were compulsory stops on a route around the country. The most interesting thing, however, turned out to be the experience of the city that Copenhagen had become and still is today. Metro, buses, water trams. An extensive network of cycle paths, with bridges across the canals reserved for bicycles alone. And a phenomenon I had not seen anywhere else until then: a complete reversal of the hierarchy of who matters most in the movement around a city. A veritable flood of cyclists took over the streets, while cars seemed a little lost. And then there were the specially designated pedestrian zones, surrounded by cycle paths.
It was in Copenhagen that I experienced how crossing a cycle path at a marked crossing is governed by the same rules as crossing a road with car traffic. There, cycling is not a seasonal fashion but a way of life, and the bicycle is an entirely legitimate means of transport. An equally interesting experience was the chance to walk among Danish government buildings. Located in the centre of Copenhagen, by the canals, they are part of the city and do not form fenced-off enclaves.
I came across them by chance, following a well-used pedestrian route, one of whose greatest attractions is Cirkelbroen, designed by Studio Olafur Eliasson. I also could not miss a visit to the Danish Architecture Center, where, somewhat luckily, I caught an exhibition presenting the Norwegian giant, the practice Snøhetta. Among building models, drawings and presentation boards, I found a part of the exhibition that particularly intrigued me. On display were material samples produced by the practice in its own workshop. My attention was caught in particular by some very interesting experiments with wood. These included perforations, attempts to create relief-like patterns, and more.
The visit to the DAC ended in the gift shop where, while searching the shelves and racks, I noticed one of the T-shirts on display. The shirt itself, apart from being black, that is, ideal for most architects, was nothing special in terms of form. An ordinary T-shirt. What interested me was the slogan printed on it. “What if architecture could change the world?” This question does not presume a leading role for architecture and architects in the field of changing the world. For the better, I assume. Its open formula and message can be an inspiration for exploration. Exploration in the field of spatial planning, architecture, material solutions and innovation. In my case, this sparse slogan became an ordering principle and a kind of signpost. One I return to every time I look for the key to solving a design problem in front of me. From my perspective, the essence of the profession is the search for the right answers to questions. And sometimes also the posing of questions that provoke discussion about how one might change the world for the better.
This text is written by an architect active in the profession. It therefore cannot be read as a manifesto of a theoretical or philosophical character. The text is a collection of reflections on topics that matter to the author. Their source is my own architectural practice, discussions with other architects, in particular Adam and Maria, my colleagues at the FAAB studio, and with specialists from various fields, study trips, and the analysis of specialist literature. Each subject is illustrated by an example of a project carried out by FAAB, for a specific Investor or in the form of a conceptual project.
