QUESTION TIME
uestiontime
This month’s question:What is it that enables a building to become timeless?
Nick Collins
Timeless architecture is almost impossible to define. Everyone from the world’s greatest architects to the man on the street will have their own views and favourite examples of buildings that are timeless. Perhaps timelessness could be classified as buildings that are flexible enough to accommodate changing use, such as Norman Foster’s Sainsbury Centre, but is this just longevity? Another definition might be bold design that makes a statement, such as Denys Ladsun’s National Theatre, but is this just significance? Here, our panel try to put their finger on the magic quality that they believe makes a building timeless?
ARCHITECTURAL DIRECTOR, BARTON WILLMORE
Timeless architecture can be achieved by being simple and original, such as Foster’s Renault Distribution Centre, or by reflecting its era, culture and technology, such as Richard Rogers’ Lloyds Building. I think the greater question is whether the idea of timeless architecture is outdated? A modern interpretation of a timeless building is often a building that has a wow factor, whether that is the Olympic Velodrome by Hopkins Architects, or Zaha Hadid’s striking Aquatic Centre currently promoting the 2012 Olympics. Modern architecture often celebrates the innovation and technology of the era we are in, but is that enough to become timeless?
Modern buildings face a significant challenge - the highly reactive age we live in requires buildings to be instantly adaptable and responsive to a multitude of future technological and environmental requirements. This often results in
throwaway buildings that are overhauled or even demolished after only a few decades in service. Contemporary architecture also faces another challenge in being compared to historic designs. For example, how does the Shard measure up to the iconic grace of nearby St Paul’s?
I would define timelessness as not being affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion and innovation. Therefore, the timeless
18 | Architects Choice |
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element must come from the higher principles of design that created the work, not the building itself. If the building itself is to be timeless, it must also be flexible and of high quality, as it must be capable of retaining the essence of good design principles within this robustness over time, otherwise it will have changed beyond all recognition. Timeless architecture then is not a ‘thing’ that can be achieved by ticking a list of boxes or meeting certain guidelines or something that can be specified by the client as part of the brief, although the strength of the client’s patronage and willingness to
and the essence of their design. The essence of design is key. For the modern designer or architect it’s no longer enough just to be original. In the words of Mies Van Der Rohe: “It’s better to be good than original.”
Karl Renner PARTNER, CLARKE RENNER ARCHITECTS
It was never a surprise that the Manhattan Indians should have sold their island for a few glass beads. It seems to be inbuilt that humans respond to glitter, trinkets and the allure of the latest fad, while anything of real substance goes unnoticed.
“Timeless architecture is not a ‘thing’ that can be achieved by ticking a list of boxes.”
produce something special is often a key requirement to creating something timeless. Instead, it is a combination of many elements: simplicity; scale; proportion; site influence; purpose; purity; innovation; technology; significance and longevity. If architecture is designed with sound fundamental ideas and concepts, then the building should be able to consistently demonstrate this good design despite any changes and future influences and therefore become timeless.
The aforementioned Olympic buildings, due to their very nature, will no doubt undergo change and be adapted in the future, but may well become considered timeless due to their representation of the era in which they were created
At the same time, conversely, to older eyes, the past is what’s to be cherished. This is why buildings get demolished just as they have become unfashionable for one lot, but haven’t yet attained the lovable or ‘classic’ status demanded by the others. A rubbly fate almost
consumed St Pancras Station, in a time when the word ‘Victorian’ was always followed by ‘monstrosity’. Now the word ‘gem’ is used. It’s a question of how generations rewrite the narrative of history. Currently, the British Library is
underestimated by the punters; but its time will come. And every time it looks like the South Bank Arts Centre is about to be trashed, a recession comes along and it escapes. I think it’s probably
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