November 3, 2010, Dominican Day of Architecture, is left open the X International Architecture Biennale in Santo Domingo, these were the thoughts that I read. OR
When in 1986 some , then, young architects of a group called New Architecture, decided to make the First Biennial of Architecture in Santo Domingo, dedicated to Guillermo Gonzalez, few people, including Architects, knew the work of the now recognized as the Father of Modern Architecture Dominican. The model that served as reference was the Architecture Biennale Quito.
We had done two events: "Contemporary Architecture in the Republic Dominican, in House Theatre in 1981 "in homage to architect Manolito Baquero and" Architecture '83 in the Dominican Republic "at the Hispanic Cultural Center who led Pedro Vergés. We had broken the tradition of silence as to present the works of the Dominican Architects and built a space for discussion about the issues not only of Architecture and Urban Dominicans, if not on the social problems of our country.
early 80's some of our earlier published critical architectural works that were harshly disqualified in our Alma Mater, but were welcomed openly by the authors of the works which we commented. Later we were more than two years publishing a piece of architecture and today we publish our comments in the press and magazines. In 1988, Emilio reminds us in beautiful writing that gives us today, we got on the eve of the celebration of the Second ADB is dedicated to the architect, humanist and patron, José Antonio Caro, who this year marks the centenary of his birth and for management of Architect Rafael Tomas Hernandez, that figure caring, stable and counselor, as described by the architect Eugenio Perez Montas, the decree entered on November 3, when the birth of Guillermo Gonzalez, as Day Dominican Architecture.
this review because I now young architects and students, with few exceptions, not know this history, not interested in the social relationship of architecture and have taken over a critique that meets and 31 years and is being done by the same actors at the time. I do not mean to chronic markedly elitist and architectural aesthetic is today.
In some ways this is a sign that the Dominican society is wrong.
Our country has a schizophrenic balance between wealth and poverty. I always say that we are a paleo society - technological, because while a few enjoy all the latest technology, the vast majority of the population lives in extreme poverty, in a kind of contemporary Paleolithic. And this is despite the manipulated figures and the vaunted economic progress. Poverty is aggravated by drug trafficking, corrupt and corrupting politics with weak justice and total insecurity. Academies, full of masters and PHD, have taken a quantum leap in terms of vocational training but have failed to convey this important aspect is the social sensitivity, the fact of the virtual absence of social projects in this sample confirms this biennial .. . The emergence of the internet, so indispensable to all life issues would contemporary, has undermined the ability to read and writing, which has become, through the BB or iPhone, a kind morse code for specialized.
And these situations we must face from all scenarios and all the resources we can use.
X BiASD This constitutes the majority of the Biennale, a majority which led has reached the hands of the Society Architects of the Dominican Republic and within it the hands of Erwin Cott who with their tireless work has achieved what could be considered the official of the Biennial is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the return of the original home Biennial, the Museum of Modern Art who so generously has received.
Here I want to acknowledge the team that has made this Bienal: Aixa Weber, Leyda Brea, Architect CODIA Mosque, Franc Ortega, Joseph Guzman and Ray Vasquez-THE-American who with his team of students has completed the installation of the biennial exhibition of confrontation.
The tenth BiASD edition is devoted to three architects I admire and respect, representing three generations of Dominican Modern Architecture: Kookie Batista, who appreciate, respect and consider one of the great architects of this country, the only Santiaguero that active in almost all events of Architecture that is made in the capital, Eduardo Selman, who was my professor of design and who learned in his workshop, designing in the real world, and Oscar Imbert, gray hair on his head and in their projects, who has managed to demonstrate that the local culture and architectural landmark is valid, but even in an era that is beginning to deal with sustainability and future. Honor honor, this has been the currency of the GNA and the SARD and certainly feel honored, I feel particularly honored, to recognize these outstanding architects who think they are also my friends, our friends.
finish calling the new generation, Generation X or Generation 2.0, as best describing themselves, so that be integrated into the debate by the improvement of our nation, for the reorganization of our society, the best architecture for all and not only for the wealthy. That face our society with a critical eye and the environment that is built, or destroyed, and identify new solutions to old problems forever.
I know you know these old problems and you know what to do, but as he said the last of the samurai, Yukio Mishima: "Knowing and doing nothing is the same as not knowing."
Omar Rancier,
Dean Faculty of Architecture and Arts, UNPHU
0 comments:
Post a Comment