BUT DOES ARCHITECTURE REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE
CITIES EFFICIENTLY?
Architecture is really a very important factor, but we also have to
understand how to ‘move’ architecture. Ratan Tata of Tata Group, a
colleague from the Pritzker Jury, told me that he believed that
architecture had an incredible role in pacifying societies. This is
an important thing right now. When we talk about sustainability,
energy or energy efficiency, we have to keep in mind that energy is
a part of human energy too. It is a part of our feelings, and that
kind of energy is the one that, I believe, architecture can
investigate, and act upon more effectively.
THE WORDS OF GEORGE SANTAYANA ARE REMARKABLE. HE SAID,
“THOSE WHO DO NOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT
IT.”
I agree. Sometimes we believe that technology is every- thing. This
has been happening in recent years when people were condemning
iconic architecture, only looking for sustainable projects. Solving
everything with technology is very valuable – but that is not all.
There are many subtle things in the realm of architecture. We not
only need to understand the fantastic new possibilities, but also
to be intelligent and draw from our past discipline to make good
decisions.
HOW CAN CITIES ACCOMMODATE MORE INHABITANTS WITHOUT
DESTROYING THE VERY QUALITIES THAT MADE THEM ATTRACTIVE IN THE
FIRST PLACE? HOW CAN CITIES OFFER MORE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
OPPORTUNITY?
That is not easy. In our current exhibition at the Enric Miralles
Foundation “Happiness and Architecture. The Not-That-Tall EMBT
buildings and their public space. From Barcelona to the rest of the
world” we have analyzed the possibilities of huge buildings
interacting with social space or public space. If you have very big
buildings with big construction, then this is more
difficult.However with design you can describe very well how to
make this interaction with the public space. That’s why we were
talking before about the difference between Asian cities and
European cities. In China they ask me, “We have to learn from you
to make buildings and cities.” I reply, “We don’t have a formula
because we cannot apply our formula to you. You have so many more
people, much bigger dimensions. We have never tried that.” It is a
challenge.
WE NEED TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN’T REPLICATE
EACH OTHER.
We can apply criteria. Of course, some situations are totally new,
so we don’t know whether we will be able to solve them and whether
our usual way of acting is still suffi Architecture has to work out
a lot. However this is a social problem involving every discipline,
not only ours.
TAKE LONDON, FOR EXAMPLE. HOW DO YOU EMPHASIZE THIS CITY IN
SOLVING FUTURE PROBLEMS?
The Greater London area stretches out far, consisting less of
individually constructed houses. In comparison, Barcelona is more
crammed. It is a different approach, obviously. London became very
dense and expensive. This is a problem that we, as architects, can
only solve to a small extent. We understand the rules of the
market, and it is the market that is creating this. However, at the
same time, we can do something. For example, last year, we gave the
Pritzker Prize to Alejandro Aravena, because he demonstrated that
he could delve into the topic of South America and study the
housing difficulties of people who can afford very little. He
understood that in most of South America self-built houses could be
on the way. He spoke at universities and tried to convince
politicians that they should put government programs in place.
These, for example, could allow for a part of the house to be built
with the help of public funding. Another part could be self-built
by the inhabitants. These are small solutions, and so simple, but
in order to make them happen you first need to collaborate with the
university to convince the public, before your work as an
architect. It is a longer process.
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES OF GETTING ACADEMIC PLANNERS,
THEORISTS, THEOLO- GISTS, DEMOGRAPHERS, POLITICIANS, DEVELOPERS,
ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS AND ENGINEERS TALKING WITH EACH
OTHER?
Usually I love to have an occasion, for example, a big competition
where different professions are gathered. We are currently involved
in a competition for a project in Milan’s former train yards. These
spaces are becoming very important since they tend to be central.
For us architects, the best way to approach a proposal was to call
sociologists or demographers who understand the society in
different ways. This is fundamental because then we understand the
bigger picture, and then we can respond better. I get a lot of
satisfaction from competitions when talking to friends or experts
from other professions, for example, museum curators, people from
the world of theatre, artists, engineers, energy experts or
sociologists. I like it a lot because then I learn.