1992
European Juxtapositions
Professors:
Vinko Penezić
Krešimir Rogina
Time:
August 1992
A gathering of young European architects was organized in Grožnjan for the fourth time, with the joint effort of Penezić & Rogina and Musical Youth.
The (European) juxtapositions were discussed at a round table for ten days. The participants from Croatia, Austria and the Netherlands eventually more or less agreed on the following:
- Juxtaposition is a special kind of RELATION between things
- It is an OPERATION or RESULT of some operation / other operations.
- The operation can be a CONSCIOUS method or an UNCONSCIOUS process.
- This can be explained by different models: hierarchical and kinetic
- In order to juxtapose something, you need TENSION, INNOVATION, RECOGNITION OF ELEMENTS, CONTRADICTION, independence of parts, dynamics. unexpectedness, ambiguity
- Usually it is not related to MIXING, ADDING, TRANSITIONALITY, DIVISION, REPETITION, counterpoint, contrast, dependence. fulfillment, dominance.
- Different levels of juxtaposition can be explained by some examples: War (killing) and Peace (ineffective reaction) in Europe; Social worker and artist in the person of an architect; (my) Cadillac in 1959 in front of (my) Villa Savoye (as a visualization of Nigel Whiteley's Both End attitude)
- According to some authors (Argan, Venturi, Rowe...) it is a characteristic tool of the MANNERIST period in architecture, which expresses the completely human desire to VIOLATE PERFECTION
- ...synthesis with the help of a paradox that brings conflicting possibilities into one focus... (Suzy Gablik on Rene Magritte)
- ...identity of various objects is confirmed; there is no relief or unequivocal pleasure for the eye, in the middle is a raw treat... (Colin Rowe on Le Corbusier)
Conclusion:
- Juxtaposition is not used as an answer, but as a question!
- We always use juxtaposition.
Among the proposed topics - questions, emptiness, kitsch, movement, philosophy... - one will be chosen for the next year, and the introduction to the discussion will be a year-long dynamic fax discussion of potential participants.
Grožnjan Summer School of Architecture
JMI CENTRE GROŽNJAN
Umberta Gorjana 2, 52429 Grožnjan, Croatia
groznjanschoolofarchitecture@gmail.com
