Miquel Lacasta on 'Simplejidad' and Álvaro Siza's 1998 IberFad Win Over Gehry
Miquel Lacasta explores a new concept called 'Simplejidad,' or simplexity, which connects complexity and simplicity in a complementary way, influenced by General Systems Theory, dialectics, and design principles. This notion encourages architects to develop solutions that are both elegant and straightforward, tackling the various economic, legal, social, environmental, and cultural issues in their projects. He points to the 1998 IberFad awards, where Álvaro Siza's Santa María church in Marco de Canaveses, Portugal, beat Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The jury, which included figures like Norman Cinnamond and Carme Pinós, praised Siza for blending simplicity with complexity. Lacasta critiques the trend of unsuccessful starchitecture, asserting that true architecture should effectively cater to urban and human needs.
Key facts
- Miquel Lacasta discusses the concept of 'Simplejidad' (simplexity) in architecture.
- Simplejidad is an emerging theory based on General Systems Theory, dialectics, and design.
- On June 11, 1998, the IberFad jury awarded Álvaro Siza's Santa María church in Marco de Canaveses, Portugal, the IberFad prize over Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
- The IberFad jury included Norman Cinnamond, Mercè Zazurca, Pepe Cortés, Lourdes Humet, Carles Llop, Carme Pinós, Ignacio Rubiño, and Federico Soriano.
- The jury described Siza's work as representing a moment of freedom and ambiguity where simplicity and complexity lead to the sublime.
- Lacasta notes that the Guggenheim Bilbao had the desired effect of reactivating Bilbao's estuary.
- Lacasta criticizes the proliferation of failed urban regeneration projects inspired by the 'Bilbao effect.'
- The article references Jeffrey Kluger's book 'Simplexity' (2008) and Norman Cinnamond's statements in El País (June 12, 1998).
Entities
Artists
- Miquel Lacasta
- Álvaro Siza
- Frank Gehry
- Alejandro de la Sota
- Duccio Malagamba
Institutions
- IberFad
- FAD (Fomento de las Artes y el Diseño)
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Locations
- Marco de Canaveses
- Portugal
- Bilbao
- Spain
Sources
- Veredes —