Interview with:Louis Sauer [louissauer]
ARCHITECTURE
 | What is your specialization in architecture? Market-rate low-rise high-density housing and urban design at the scale of the neighborhood. |
| Is there a web page or blog where one could see something of your work? |
| What is it for you a good architectural design? Most vernacular housing - that is: buildings that are 1) easy to use by many different kinds of people, 2) are constructed with simple materials, 3) allow changes to be made easily, 4) have a building prototype that allows repetition, 5) a fenestration pattern that individually is not distinctive but 6) is interesting when seen in multiples. |
| What era of architecture most fascinates you? Late Roman housing; especially Pompeii. |
| List the name of a famous building which you don't care for. Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water |
| What hardware and software do you use that you deem as indispensable? Wordprocessing |
| In which city do you live or work and why? Melbourne Australia. I was born in Oak Park (Chicago) IL and after high school - lived in Greencastle IN, Baumholder Germany, Lambertville NJ, Rome, Naples and Venice Italy, Philadelphia PA, Pittsburgh PA, Cambridge MA, Boulder CO, migrated to Montreal Canada where I became a Canadian citizen, and after retirement moved to Australia (permanent resident) because my wife wanted to return. |
| Do you work with other architects? How is the team set up? I colaborated only once with another architect and then only for construction documents. |
| What do you think of competitions? What types of competitions do you normally compete in? During my years as a practitioner, I rarely entered design competitions because I think its a waste of time unless you know the particulars of how the jurors will be making decisions - one does not normally know this. Of the competitions I did enter, I won them all. |
| Mantaining the signature of a building, how is the identity of the surroundings respected? The context for architecture is always significant. |
| Which architects, past or present, do you admire? Most architects have done something which is admirable. I most admire the unknown designers who partook in the creation of vernacular architecture |
| In your professional philosophy, what comes first, function or form? Both. Function and form are intrinsically intertwined. |
| What will the single-family home of 2050 be like? Very, very small except for the new tyrants who will live in fortresses. |
| For you, which new materials provoke the most interest? I am not interested in materials as materials. |
| Bioclimactic architecture, domotic systems...do you think we are approaching a profound revolution in architecture? Yes. The profession will slowly die because of its insolence in disregarding the world's changing climate, economy and governance. |
| In the development of a project, do you feel closer to the client or to the public as a whole who will use the final product? Once again a stupid question. Both |
| The pharahons built pyramids, and bankers skyscrapers: will architecture always be a symbol of power? Yes |
| Imagine your ideal house. Where would it be? What would it be like? It would be a earth house - completely self energy sustainable. |
| Can one copy and still be original? It depends on the degree of copying. Its silly to have to invent new building prototypes for buildings whose uses have already been created. |
| Where is the balance between deeply-rooted architecture and that which responds to its particular era? All architecture responds to a particular era. |
| Spectacular architecture: do you believe that buildings are becoming more and more media phenomena? Yes. Capitalism and its marketplaces loves ego-centric architects. Difference sells because people seek their identity in externalities |
| What motto would you like to see inscribed at the entrance of the university's department of architecture? To be is our goal. |
| What would be your dream project at this moment? Every opportunity to shape the physical environment in ways more useful/beautiful is a dream project. |
| Who is your favourite artist? Cimabue & Giotto |
| Which websites about architecture do you frequently visit? |
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808 visits Whohub
Louis Sauer
Melboourne Australia
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95720 interviews created
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