2018_04_27_ARQ_thomas_weaver

"One of the paradoxes of architecture is that, despite the fact that it is defined as a language, very few architects have been recognized for their writing." Thus began Thomas Weaver, publisher at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, began his lecture entitled "Writing not typing". Weaver visited the School of Architecture University of Navarra with the goal to present writing tips to students.

The also writer and professor of History of Architecture made a presentation with technical and polemic material based on literary quotations, explaining in detail several authors. One of the examples was Vitruvius, author of "De architectura", a sentimental lyricist as well as Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the masters of 20th century architecture. There are also "more narcissistic" ones, such as the Swiss Jacques Herzog and Pierre De Meuron. "In fact, in the few analytical moments, even architects recognize that this Degree of vanity is what defines them as architects," assured the publisher on the lecture.

Le Corbusier, an example of an architect and a good writer

Weaver noted in his exhibition that "one of the enduring paradoxes of architecture is that, for a discipline that has often been presented to us as a language, very few architects have shown any subject of skill to write."

At lecture he recalled that Le Corbusier is the literary savior of architecture. Le Corbusier published 79 books, wrote 511 articles, edited 55 magazines and produced the script for 13 documentaries and 20 radio programs.

Le Corbusier's "Vers une architecture "is considered a literary canon. "It is the only work of architectural literature that will be recognized among the essential architecture of the 20th century," said Reyner Banham, British architecture critic. This testimonial was written on the back cover of all English editions of the book "Vers une architecture".

During the lecture Thomas Weaver gave tips for an enjoyable reading. The Briton acknowledged that, although he is not an architect, what he likes is the appearance of objects, photos, drawings and dynamic texts. He suggested that inserts, holes in the pages, envelopes, foldouts or tabs can be used to give more dynamism to a book on architecture. After explaining his method at work he explained that "the texts describe and the images situate".

Thomas Weaver concluded by stating that it is possible to survive in a world where literature and architecture coexist.

 

See the complete lecture