During our 10-month stay in Freiburg-im-Breisgau, FRIAS Scientific Coordinator Dr. Britta KÜST kindly invited me (accompanying spouse of a FRIAS Fellow) to propose a topic of conversation according to the usual format adopted : a 10¨ exposé followed by 20¨ of interrogative debate amongst learned folk of inquisitive mind.
In researching the Architecture of Freiburg-im-Breisgau, I had noticed that different epochs (medieval, industrial 19th C. etc.) had developed distinct manners of nomenclature, either poetic, functional or of other genre, by which local buildings came to be durably identified. Such terminology thus ‘speaks volumes’.
A case ‘in point’ : Swiss architect Heinrich Degelo’s remodeling of the former 1978 Universitätsbibliothek (partially demolished, core structures being retained), hailed locally as very Spitz, daring and innovative, seemed the ideal ‘conversation piece’.
To illustrate my own idea, namely that the building might be referred to as Origamibau, I pieced together a 3D sketch model from printed sheet paper.
I also pointed out the striking resemblance of Degelo’s slipped fenestration rhythm with a 1925 work (above) by Lyonel Feininger, 90 years previous. A simple demonstration that the medium of Architecture is relatively slow in integrating precursive avant-garde aesthetics….
Hence the question of ‘originality’ (which obsesses designers and their legal representations) is clearly ill-advised, and ultimately beside the point. Kein Spitz, doch.
Touché, Walter B., you can stick with your ‘aura’.
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