“Perspectives on Matter: The Truth of Making Between Architecture and Art” by Diasen, with Steven Holl
Architectural and artistic innovations presented at the event
Rome, 1 July 2024 – New visions and innovations in art and architecture were presented on Thursday 27 June 2024 at the event “Perspectives on Matter: The Truth of Making Between Architecture and Art” organised by Diasen, with the participation of Steven Holl, one of the most influential and innovative architects of our time.
The event, held in the striking Acquario Romano, home of the Order of Architects of Rome, brought together more than 400 architects, designers, artists, journalists and enthusiasts for a meeting devoted to the relationship between art, architecture and materials with some of the leading figures in architectural design and construction.
In his talk, Diego Mingarelli, President of Diasen, stressed that materials must express something more than form and aesthetics: they must have a soul, be alive and active, going beyond the idea of an inert matter that bears on a project and its construction without any dynamism. To frame the subject with energy, Mingarelli revisited and updated the three foundations of the Vitruvian vision, enriched by the very current theme of sustainability: Firmitas – timeless materials that combine durability, lightness and strength; Utilitas – because they must meet people’s needs in terms of thermal and acoustic comfort and resistance to fire and natural phenomena; Venustas – to express beauty, order and harmony, recovering the idea that what is beautiful is also good; Sustainability – for the bond with nature that generates wellbeing and creates the conditions for biophilic architecture.
“The dynamic link between matter, life and wellbeing underpins every choice we make.” said Diego Mingarelli “The materials we select are not just building elements, because choosing them changes the very nature of the building, restoring wellbeing and improving the liveability of spaces. The symbiosis of technique, beauty and function, and overcoming the divide between performance and aesthetics, enhance an evolved idea of living and dwelling, creating solutions that put people back at the centre of architectural design. Without forgetting sustainability, an essential value: natural materials and innovative technologies allow us to build environmentally respectful buildings, reducing environmental impact and ensuring a better future for generations to come.”
The architect Mino Caggiula, a student of Steven Holl, to whom he addressed affectionate words of thanks for his teaching, spoke about the legacy handed down by his mentor and how their relationship has shaped his design vision and the evolution of his professional concept. Quoting Goethe, “We are shaped and moulded by what we love”, he presented some of his projects, in which the importance of proportion, continuous research into materials and the skilful use of elements such as water and light are the key to his work, together with constant renewal and a constant thirst for new knowledge, in order to keep an open state of mind in a constantly evolving world, where the hybridisation of different disciplines is integrated into a holistic vision.
The event closed with Steven Holl’s lecture, entitled “Art Drives Architecture”, which explored how art can inspire, guide and shape architectural production and the design of buildings. The imperative approach at the heart of Holl’s address shows how art influences and guides contemporary architecture, opening up new perspectives and challenges for the future of design and sustainability, with a deep understanding of light, space and materials. And Holl dwelt on the concept of light, the fundamental element that brings architectural spaces to life, a force that shapes and transforms, creating unique atmospheres and sensations. It is through light that buildings breathe and interact with their surroundings, revealing their beauty and depth.
His talk retraced the collaborations between Steven Holl Architects and artists within the studio’s international design practice. The selected projects include Walter De Maria for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, United States, 2007); Vito Acconci for Storefront for Art and Architecture (New York, United States, 1993); Jessica Lang for “Tesseracts of Time: A Dance for Architecture” (United States, 2015); and, more recently, Agnieszka Kurant for the winning competition project for EXPO Albania (Tirana, Albania, ongoing).
The event was introduced and moderated by Walter Mariotti, Editorial Director of Domus, the event’s media partner.
