135-150

Architectural synthesis in a historic environment

Αρχιτεκτονική / Architecture

• Κωνσταντινίδου, Ελένη

The following text attempts to bring to light the questions raised by the issue of modern architectural interventions in areas with a particular architectural and historic character. These questions evolve around the means and the kind of interventions, their relation to the place and its specific character, the methodology followed in the inscription of modern architecture in the historic environment.The problem with integration, meaning the interrelation between the architectural creation and its environment, natural and man-made, is a demanding and complex one. The primary goal is to protect and preserve architectural heritage. At the same time, the place is alive; it must develop, evolve and be enhanced. We are looking for a way to connect the past with the present, not by arbitrarily detaching its form nor by imitating it, but through cooperation, oppositional correlation, and the development of a dialectic relationship with the specific area.The study of this issue presupposes an understanding of the architectural character and the identity of the historic environment, the analysis of its features and the identification of the rules governing its composition. The qualities of space which must definitely be signalized or transformed and constitute the “raw material” for the formulation of the modern architectural creation, are mainly related to the internal, “deep structure” of space.The creation of synthetic principles and of the main concept includes an ensemble of parameters, facts, relations, necessities. Form is born through this synergy. When the discussion concerns a historic environment, what we are looking for is the manner in which “new” architecture will interpret the structural elements of space, the manner in which it will refer and be based on the principles governing it and imposing their terms on the synthesis.As this study will show, the effective integration of the contemporary architectural creation does not finally depend on loyally adhering to “rules”, nor are there any directives linking past and present. It mainly relates to the quality of the architectural proposal and is, finally, a matter of “good” architecture.

• Arts

• Τέχνη

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