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Masterpieces

caramelhighrise

An interesting topic came up at work today that I personally haven’t given much thought… masterpieces. Not arguably Sagrada Familia or the Pantheon, but our own. Some questions that came to mind…

What was your masterpiece, if you have one? Does it change to whatever your current favorite project is at the moment?

If you want to have one someday, what kind of project would you want it to be?

Or as someone argued today, is talking about masterpieces overrated or cliche now? Maybe we just need to consider whatever we’re working on as our most important work.

 
Sep 17, 21 1:33 pm
caramelhighrise

That last one… maybe not overrated or cliche, but more distracting, irrelevant.

Sep 17, 21 1:34 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

We peaked at Sagrada.  It's been a steady nose dive since.


Sep 17, 21 2:11 pm  · 
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∑ π ∓ √ ∞

Booo! I expect more from our maple syrup guzzling, brethren to the north.

Sep 17, 21 2:15 pm  · 
1  · 
Non Sequitur

Sorry, been bisy.

May I submit the only relevant thing to happen to architecture since sagrada... is Safdie' Habitat?  Yes, yes I shall.

Sep 17, 21 2:17 pm  · 
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archanonymous

Le Corbusier has entered the chat.

Sep 17, 21 4:18 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

...and promptly left.

Sep 17, 21 4:38 pm  · 
 · 
∑ π ∓ √ ∞

YO YO YO! PJ in da [glass]hizzy!

Sep 17, 21 5:36 pm  · 
1  · 
archanonymous

As far as "complete thoughts" expressed architecturally, it's hard to beat this:


Sep 17, 21 5:48 pm  · 
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archanonymous

Or this:


Sep 17, 21 5:50 pm  · 
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archanonymous

I don't work for myself, so no masterpieces in that sense. I've done a few really good projects though.

Sep 17, 21 2:36 pm  · 
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I think even if I did work for myself I wouldn't considered anything I've done/will do as a masterpiece. I always see room for improvement.

Sep 17, 21 3:33 pm  · 
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caramelhighrise

I figured someone would say that. We tend to only see the mistakes in our work.

Sep 17, 21 3:47 pm  · 
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archanonymous

That's an interesting way to look at it. I don't have a single project where I wouldn't do things a bit differently if I could do them again.

Sep 17, 21 4:13 pm  · 
1  · 

I simply view all of my own work as ::meh:: and figure a more talented architect could do better.

Sep 21, 21 10:56 am  · 
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randomised

My next project will be my masterpiece, I’ll get it right this time, right?

Sep 17, 21 3:54 pm  · 
3  · 

Steven Holl put Guy Fieri's hair on the Hamsun Museum, but it is still one of my favorite buildings

Sep 17, 21 3:57 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

better his hair than his shirt.

Sep 17, 21 4:08 pm  · 
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nabrU

The Natural History Museum (London) is a masterpiece of architecture.

Sep 17, 21 6:37 pm  · 
1  · 
,,,,

Architecture a language and an art form.


1. Wall house 2 (poetics)


2. The first set of renderings (only) for the Obama library. (semantics)


3. House ll (syntax)

Sep 17, 21 7:23 pm  · 
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,,,,

Only my opinion of course.

Sep 17, 21 7:33 pm  · 
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atelier nobody

I think it's useful to consider the historical meaning of the term "masterpiece" - it is the piece done by a journeyman to earn the title "master." It should, therefore, represent the best work of a journeyman, but a master should continually strive to do better, to "push the envelope" of what can be done.

Sep 20, 21 11:55 pm  · 
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archanonymous

Huh, thanks for dropping that knowledge - never thought of the historical meaning, only how it is considered now. 


Also clarifies for me what my "masterpiece" was - the project where I went from an apprentice to an architect.

Sep 21, 21 10:01 am  · 
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sameolddoctor

Let me just point out how UN-WOKE the term "Master-pieces" is. Cancel it !!!

Sep 21, 21 10:31 am  · 
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archanonymous

I assume this is supposed to be sarcastic/ funny but it isn't.

Sep 21, 21 12:28 pm  · 
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Thayer-D

Naumkeag is a minor masterpiece, depending on one's taste.

Sep 22, 21 8:59 am  · 
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