We try to make buildings last long and be resilient but also be not so idiosyncratic that they can't change.
Elizabeth DillerRead
We're always taught that we're building for permanence, but why? I like the idea of a prosthetic architecture! When a section is removed, the building readjusts its weight distribution, like a living body.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that buildings and structures can be dynamic and adaptable, rather than fixed and permanent.
Elizabeth Diller highlights the concept of 'prosthetic architecture', which embraces the idea that structures should evolve and adapt rather than strive for unchanging permanence. This perspective allows architecture to be viewed as a living entity that can adjust and reconfigure itself, akin to how a body responds to change or loss, promoting flexibility and resilience in design.
Themes
ArchitectureAdaptabilityPermanenceDesignDynamics
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire debate in an architecture class about the future of building design.
More from Elizabeth Diller
All quotes →Aside from keeping the rain out and producing some usable space, architecture is nothing but a special-effects machine that delights and disturbs the senses.
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