Art is an essential part of all exceptional architecture.
Humans have always been both rational and creative creatures. A balance between linear and functional thinking and the creative side of our minds is a healthy one. Buildings benefit from both elements of the human mind.
Essential aspects of the built environment are derived from excellent engineering. The structure, the way the building is heated and cooled, the way natural light infuses a project and the manner in which indoor environments are connected to their outdoor surroundings all involve an aspect of engineering and linear thinking. But, there is also a place for creative thinking in the way these systems manifest themselves and the way that resulting structures are adorned.
Some would say that architecture is the ultimate art. During the renaissance, human proportions and ideas about rhythm and color infused great works of architecture. Cultures throughout the world deployed creative thinking to enhance the built environment. From Shinto Shrines to First Nation Long Houses; from Egyptian and Mayan pyramids to ancient cave paintings, creative expressions have always been a part of our built environment.
In our fast paced world today, Art in Architecture is sometimes neglected or forgotten, but many projects choose to integrate art as an essential element. The one percent for art program in the northwest public sector has been effective in this regard. So too, the pressure of the market place combined with a creative mind set frequently results in the inclusion of art in the private sector.
At times, art and architecture are blended in an impressive way. The Libraries for All program in Seattle facilitated the creation of both types of art: Building as Art and Art as building enhancement. One could argue that the Seattle Main Library by Rem Koolhaas is a piece of art in itself. At Capitol Hill Library, Johnston Architects working with Iole Alessandrini combined a light infused green lattice with the shape of the building. Other examples of building as art in Seattle include the Saint Ignatius Chapel by Steven Holl, the Museum of Pop Culture by Frank Gehry and the new Aquarium addition by LMN.
The importance of these moments in our built environment cannot be over estimated. Each building enhances its neighborhood and also brings people together to experience great buildings and spaces.
Art that enhances a building can be a great solution to achieving a balance between the rational and the creative.
At the Winthrop Library, in a culture scarred by wild fire Tori Karpenko installed a piece formed of a burned tree stump, helping visitors grasp the impact of fire on both the human environment and the natural one.
The interior of this tree holds a base that reflects the age rings of the original and is appropriately sized for young guests to occupy.
Also at the Winthrop Library, Hannah Viano developed art that became the doors between off hours meeting rooms and the library proper.
At the Edmonds Library a giant light bright designed and built by Johnston Architects brings tactile expression to the experience of technology in the childrens area.
At the foot of 24th Street in Ballard, a statue of “Octo-Woman”, homage to the Pacific Giant Octopus by Native American artist Jeffrey Veregge will soon grace a Storm Water Management facility.
Throughout the Northwest artists have been hired to build murals, develop sculptures and in general enhance our built environment. These examples enhance our physical environment and the public dialog, but they are also important opportunities for emerging and established artists. This support for our creatives is essential to a vibrant culture.
Art in this context is more than just creative expression. Whether art is applied to the building or an integral part of architectural expression, it binds our varied cultures together in a way that is nurturing and thought provoking.
