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.
Elizabeth DillerRead
We try to make buildings last long and be resilient but also be not so idiosyncratic that they can't change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Buildings should be durable yet flexible to future changes.
This quote emphasizes the balance that architects must strike between creating structures that are both enduring and adaptable. While resilience and longevity are important for buildings, they must also maintain enough versatility to undergo transformations, ensuring they remain functional and relevant over time in a changing environment.
Themes
ArchitectureDurabilityAdaptabilityDesignBuildings
In practice
Example use cases
During a presentation on sustainable architecture, this quote could emphasize the importance of flexibility in design.
More from Elizabeth Diller
All quotes βAside from keeping the rain out and producing some usable space, architecture is nothing but a special-effects machine that delights and disturbs the senses.
Elizabeth DillerRead
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The criteria for architecture after the tsunami is humbleness
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Architects design buildings; that's what we do, so we have to go with the flow; and, even though I'm still an old Leftie, global capitalism does have its good side. It's broken down barriers - the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union - it's raised a lot of people up economically, and for architects, it has meant that we can work around the world.
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One cannot make architecture without studying the condition of life in the city
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