Interview in the nora brochure
"Material and authenticity in contemporary architecture"
-Editor Dr. Dietmar Danner - architectsmind
17 architects from top-class architectural firms were interviewed on the subject of
"Materials as a formative factor in architecture" and asked themselves the question
and asked themselves the question "Authenticity vs. fake"?
Excerpt from the interview:
Titus Bernhard...
... about the material memoryWhen it comes to materials, the subconscious plays a very important role. People have traditional experiences with certain materials, which are sometimes passed on from generation to generation. It's about images, atmosphere, emotions and moods that you take with you. With wood, it's not just about how it looks, but also and especially how it feels, its feel, its smell, etc. ... It is also a natural material. ... It is also a natural building material that has been used in all cultures for thousands of years, and you can feel that. These things are values that only natural materials can have.
... about authenticity
First of all, every material should be authentic per se - regardless of whether it's a natural product, stone, wood or plastic. You have to consider what effect it should have, what function it should have and what its purpose is.
... about the new desire to experiment
For many years, we had maintained and refined a traditional, rather classic-modern design approach, in something like the way it was developed from the teachings of modernism: Wood is real, and granite is real. We have moved away from this, or rather we have opened up and adopted a different attitude towards new ideas and forms, without giving up the quality of consistency, a certain timelessness. We are interested in new things and now play with the possibilities that technology offers us. We also have a new sensuality and enjoy experimenting.
...about the credibility of manufacturers
We don't believe everything the manufacturers tell us. A lot of it is profiteering, and a lot of it is not ecologically clean and is only brought onto the market for reasons of profit. This is a particular problem in the insulation industry. We want to avoid "plastic-based" external thermal insulation composite systems wherever possible. In this respect, the question of whether we believe in everything is of course justified. No, we don't, we are critical. There is an aesthetic line, but there is also a need to question materials in terms of ecology, sustainability and health.