It’s in human nature to aspire for greatness. No one can argue with the fact that at some point in our life, we wanted to be somebody. We want to leave a legacy for the future generation to remember us. Ideally, this may drive us to do the best with what we have or make the best of a certain situation. This urge drives the engineer to build the longest bridge; or the scientist to study the farthest points of the universe; or the racer to break speed records. This could also be the driving force for designers to stretch their imagination and create new forms and structures, whether in the field of fashion, art, or even architecture.
This desire for greatness and commemoration motivates some designers and architects not to be satisfied by simplicity and conventionality. They have to make a statement. They want people to notice and acknowledge them and their work. They want to stir the imagination. As the greatest expression of self, whether of the architect or the client who engaged the architect, it is the structures and creations that we leave behind that reveal volumes about one’s mind, temperament, and taste. These become a concrete, visible legacy that could last several lifetimes and influence several other lives.
With current technological advances and the wide array of materials to choose from, the challenge to express an original idea and state one’s individuality has become easier. As seen in Dubai’s Burj al-Arab or China’s National Olympic Stadium, for example, the kind of structures now being built has as yet never been seen elsewhere. The ideas which germinated as a vision are now turning into reality.
In contrast, the preferred building style today in our country is still within the conventional norm. We remain steadfast to the minimalist, the anonymous, and the traditional; and sometimes follow the classic and international styles. However, other countries have started on a new era of the spectacular maximalist lines. Foreign architects and owners have dared to focus on individualistic design, defining their personality and preferences in their buildings. This maximalist concept will stand out, wherever it is built, but especially when set amid the usual “safe” designs we have today. The Maximalist Design is always unique and personalized, often making use of cutting-edge technology, made possible by technological advances in hydraulics, air conditioning, lighting, heating, and sound and thermal insulation. The fantastic forms hinge on the innovative use of materials, such as steel, glass, and plastics.
Imagine what the very original Gaudi would be building, if he was alive today. Designers like Frank Geary, as well as a number of architects who have already mastered the rules are now reinventing them. They are setting a trend, reshaping the landscape with structures that are not just grand, but more on the spectacular and, at times, scandalous. According to the book, “MXM Maximalist Houses” by Encarna Castillo, the philosophy is not that of Louie Sullivan’s “form following function”, but rather that of Architect Bernard Tschumi’s “form following fantasy”. It is the kind of building worthy of the superhero, Iron Man.
The time of structures only seen in sci-fi movies has finally come. I’m excited that it’s happening within my lifetime.
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