Parallels: Modern Design Mimics Historic Architecture

[Brigitte Martin]

The above image is taken from a designboom article about a new auditorium design in Madrid. (Image by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal)

 

izaskun chinchilla’s design seeks to bring new life to the building hosting casa decor 2017 — a historic residence that dates back to the early 1900s. ‘the aesthetic fascination for ruinous places, inhabited with provisional means, has today a new sense and a new validity,’ says the architect. ‘the work of an architect or contemporary architect in europe is fundamentally oriented to the transformation of existing buildings: we already have the infrastructure, but our needs evolve daily.’

When I saw the above image on designboom I was immediately reminded of a Gothic cathedral ceiling, specifically the vaulted ceilings inside the Cologne cathedral (Koelner Dom) in Germany because I am familiar with it:

And the way the Madrid auditorium was set up only emphasizes the church-like character:

(Image by miguel de guzmán / imagen subliminal)

Compare that to the inside of the Cologne cathedral:

Photo source: https://www.theroamingboomers.com/amawaterways-exploring-the-cologn...

Architecture is one of my constant sources of inspiration and one of my favorite contemporary metalsmiths is therefore Boston based Donna Veverka:

Other interesting examples around the same theme:

Wim Delvoye - ABSOLUTELY DO take a look at that website!

Joshua Ryan DeMonte - Also: ABSOLUTELY LOOK at that website!

The incomparable Stephen Saracino!

There are, of course, many more examples of this out there, these few here don't even scratch the surface. What have you seen? Please post your examples of either architecturally inspired work or other thematic parallels you find interesting in the comment section. Have at it. Looking forward.

Brigitte / Editor

[Brigitte Martin]

Thank you, Dauvit. Yes on Vicki!!

[The Justified Sinner]

My own work steals lavishly from history, having had my head turned by The Canning Jewel: 

This led to me creating "Future Legend", a brooch based on the David Bowie song of the same name from the "Diamond Dogs" album: 

Love, Wim Devoye's work and your post immediately makes me think of Vicki Amberly-Smith: