complexitiesandcontradictions

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hillside sanctuary ~ hoedemaker pfeiffer | photos © kevin scott

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“Architects can no longer afford to be intimidated by the puritanically moral language of orthodox Modern architecture. I like elements which are hybrid rather than “pure,” compromising rather than “clean,” distorted rather than “straightforward,” ambiguous rather than "articulated,” perverse as well as impersonal, boring as well as “interesting,” conventional rather than “designed,” accommodating rather than excluding, redundant rather than simple, vestigial as well as innovating, inconsistent and equivocal rather than direct and clear. I am for messy vitality over obvious unity. I include the non sequitur and proclaim the duality.”

— Robert Venturi, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture

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Inside the Bibliotheca Laurenziana, Florence

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Villa Mairea

A collage of materials amongst the trunks of countless birch trees in the Finnish landscape, the Villa Mairea built by Alvar Aalto in 1939 is a significant dwelling that marks a transition from traditional to modern architecture. Built as a guest house and rural retreat for Harry and Maire Gullichsen, Aalto was given permission to experiment with his thoughts and styles, which becomes clear when studying the strangely cohesive residence.

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VILLA MAIREA DE ALVAR AALTO, 1937-38

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Villa Mairea is a villa, guest-house, and rural retreat designed and built by the Finnishmodernist architect Alvar Aalto for Harry and Maire Gullichsen in Noormarkku, Finland. The building was constructed in 1938–1939.

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Lutz Bacher, The Present Moment, 2014

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Vincent Fecteau, Untitled, 2014. Installation photo by Amanda Kirkpatrick.

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Jason Dodge, A tourmaline and a ruby inside of an owl

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Tauba Auerbach, Gnomon/Wave Fulgurite I.I, 2013

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Ken Price, Doola, 2011

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Giacometti on the coffee table, 1949

via http://www.jordanstein.com/project/the-glass-house/

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Long time, no see Peter. That great one in front looks awfully familiar. Thanks again.

Peter Zangrillo / black and white stoneware / 2011

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Chiesa dell’Autostrada del Sole by Giovanni Michelucci.

Photos by World-3.

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Fire Station No. 4, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. Columbus, IN.