Fragment
The Appeal of Accumulative Architecture
and Urban Planning
I have summoned up the courage to do something
that is thought to be impossible: to approach the
objects of my own discipline — architecture, cities
and landscapes — with an open mind. I cannot re-
ally open my mind to these objects anymore, I know
too much about them. This does not apply to my
profession alone; bakers, publicans and prime min-
isters have the same problem. It takes beginning
architecture students at the Faculty of Architecture
at Delft University of Technology just two weeks to
lose their innocence. Within 14 days, they are stuck
on a track towards a horizon beyond their reach
that they will follow for the rest of their lives. The
guileless question that accompanies my doing the
impossible is: ‘Which cities, villages or landscapes
would most people want to visit, most likely in the
context of a holiday?’ Overwhelmingly, these are
cities, villages or landscapes that have been around
for some time. Places where several generations
have lived their lives, adding buildings with respect
for the beauty already there; where owners have
again and again overhauled buildings, respectfully,
fearlessly and attentive to demands of their own
time. And the buildings bear the signs of time, and
these give them their charm, their life.
fragment of
TOWARDS AN ARCHITECTURE
OF ACCUMULATION
– Arjan Hebly
×
Thuiswinkel Waarborg