Idea PikaPika XIII “10 Ideas without answer. The evolution of the façade as an excuse” with Xavier Ferrés i Padró at Trespa Design Centre of Barcelona.
On June 20, 2013 the IDEAPIKAPIKA event took place at the Trespa Design Centre located in the District of el Born of Barcelona. On this occasion we were accompanied by Xavier Ferrés i Padro and his Conference “10 Ideas without answer. The evolution of the façade as an excuse”
At Grup Idea, we help our clients sell with imagination, and therefore, we like to ask ourselves questions and share them. We are aware, more and more that the important thing is not to have answers, but questions and know who can answer them… And sometimes, the solution is so simple, like changing question…
That is why; we were accompanied by Xavier Ferrés. He helped us think and reflect on some of the concepts, that too often we take for granted…
But… how to present Xavier Ferrés? If we introduce him as architect, master in technology of building, international expert in design of light façades, the truth is that we fall short…
We could speak of Jean Nouvel, Herzog & De Meuron, Toyo Ito, Zaha Hadid, David Chipperfield, Richard Rogers,… o de Rafael Moneo, Carlos Lamela, Carles Ferrater, Carme Pinós, Jose Luis Mateo, Eduard Gascón and TAC architects. But we will not do it!
We could talk about his work teaching as a professor and director of the master in design and architecture schools (Escola Massana, Elisava, UPC, EMU, UPM, UPV/EHU,…), about his articles or his more than 100 lectures at schools and congress conferences… but we will not do it either !
This would be the easy and traditional way of presentation, and with the help of “Mr Google” it is very easy to get: www.ferresarquitectos.com
His work stems from a very simple idea, merge with the need for specialization required by avant-garde architecture, which seeks to provide architects and their partners with high level solutions to realize next-generation light facades. The common denominator, always revolves around a philosophy of work in which consultants must provide solutions to improve the global project, during the entire process and not once it is finish, to resolve it constructively.
But it would be interesting to present Xavi with a single word. The other day, talking in his Studio, I had It clear… Xavi is PASSION!
Passion is the key, for him, is a way of life and without it none of what he explained to us would make sense
This will be one of the key words that he gave us. No matter what we do, we have to do it with passion.
Through 10 questions around his Know How in facades, Xavier Ferrés proposed to us how to ask questions, how to search for answers or simply how and when to search for someone who can answer them:
1. Everything that does no add, subtracts.
Or the order of the factors does alter the product.
2. Pyramid of Maslow, and envelopes as if there were living beings.
Do not invert the priority levels…
3. Mistakes are the evidence of the limits of the possible.
If the process is consistent
4. 25 milestones in the evolution of a technique in 25 years
Faster than it looks.
5. How to tame the beast
Drawing by hand.
6. The curtain wall killed the facade
Or at least it took it to the ICU, because of excesses
7. Icons without materiality are images without soul
Is the packaging a matter of fashion or trend?
8. The facade as information support has many centuries.
And we think we are modern
9. From Marbeuf´s garage to the Apple Store
80 years later history repeats itself and also 4 years later.
10. Now what?
Xavier Ferrés showed us there is a great difference between multidisciplinary teams, interdisciplinary and transdiciplinares teams:
Multidisciplinary: Various disciplines concur and are juxtaposed in such ways that the results or approaches of each one are influenced or modified by the others.
Interdisciplinary: Disciplines coordinated in such a way that the results or approaches of each one are influenced or modified by others.
Transdisciplinary: Process or project formulated with the concurrence of various disciplines integrated in such a way that not only are the results or approaches of each one influenced or modified by the others, but the very disciplinary experts correct their approaches in the light of the debate.
He also showed us the importance of putting aside the infographics in the creative phase and how to “tame the beast” through freehand drawing hand, using sketches as a creative tool:
“A sketch is not a final drawing. It is an essential part of the design process, serves to explore ideas and concepts and, above all, is a very personal message.
It serves to remember what we see, imagine what we created, to set emotions, thoughts and ideas, as well as to stimulate the creation and perception.
Drawing, we see, understand, assimilate, integrate, imagine, express and, ultimately, build. It is the typical way to communicate ideas and is a way of expression agile. It is the manifestation of thought and an essential part of the communication. For this reason, drawing facilitates the exploration, facilitates the evolution of the process and evaluation of the decisions.”
Finally he offered us 10 keywords:
- Rationality
- Order
- Methodology
- Reflection
- Self-reliance
- Transdisciplinarity
- Sensitivity
- Integration
- R & D in a timely
- Passion