31.10.2024

Child in the well?

Building design

Firstly, there are always two sides, and everyone is responsible for their own side. And: everyone is responsible for their own success. Anyone who wants to move little, undertake little or invest little, or is convinced that their investments would make more sense elsewhere, should not be surprised if success does not materialize. Secondly: A trade fair is […]

Firstly, there are always two sides, and everyone is responsible for their own side. And: everyone is responsible for their own success. Anyone who wants to move little, undertake little or invest little, or is convinced that their investments would make more sense elsewhere, should not be surprised if success does not materialize. Secondly, a trade fair is a rather simple event. Supply and demand have to be right; it’s a marketplace. And here, as there, it’s not the venue itself, it’s the suppliers.

Take Stone+tec in Nuremberg! There were exhibitors there who were more than satisfied: The natural stone dealers with their diverse, sometimes completely new range of materials, the machine, tool and building material manufacturers with developments that can help every craft business to master its future and, last but not least, those suppliers who want to offer ideas and concept for the public space cemetery instead of imported off-the-shelf stones. These exhibitors were successful. For these exhibitors, this trade fair offers a unique forum every two years, a marketplace that can hardly be surpassed. This trade fair is made for these companies. That was one side of it. Companies that spoke of success, profitable discussions and a lot of confidence.

The other side was characterized by self-indulgent pessimism, the familiar lament “everything used to be better” and a lack of insight into the fact that you can only sell what makes sense for potential customers and is presented in a customer-oriented way. Anyone who only shows 30 x 30 cm stone crumbs instead of creative ideas and real solutions made of local stone for qualified craftsmen, who only exhibits photos of almost museum-ready natural stone facades instead of concepts for architecture made of stone and who believes that the customers of this trade fair are not his customers, this trade fair is the wrong marketplace for him, even if his participation is sweetened by the organizers with a prize as a bonus.

What applies to the houses also applies to the signs. For those who believe that the cemetery of tomorrow must look just as unspeakable as the cemetery of today thanks to meaningless, imported mass-produced goods, a trade fair for future-oriented craftsmen is not the right place. However, for those who do not understand this principle, it is of little use to simply change the marketplace. The principle remains the same there too.

In the upcoming STEIN in July.

20.01.2025

Design

A monument in granite

Building design

An archaic-looking monument stands in the heart of New York. Embedded in a park, granite weighing several tons forms a memorial space in memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his speech on the four freedoms.

Photo/©Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park/Iwan Baan

Almost a year ago, the time had come: the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park was opened to the public. The designs were drawn up in 1973 and 1974, but due to Kahn’s death and numerous other unfavorable circumstances, they have not yet been implemented. Now, forty years later, the stone testimony of granite blocks weighing tons sits enthroned at the tip of Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York. With millimeter precision, huge granite blocks form an atmospheric space, behind whose walls the skyline of the mega-city is relegated to secondary importance. Instead, the view is of the river, the bridge and the sky. In a tapering park, the visitor is led through avenues and withdrawn from the hustle and bustle of the city. Their attention is automatically drawn to the monument to the speech made by President Roosevelt on the eve of America’s entry into the war in 1941, in which he argued about the moral preconditions for military intervention.

Photo/© Rober Schäfer

Thirty blocks of granite, 3.70 meters high and weighing 36 tons each, are positioned on the north, west and east sides of the platform to create a memorial space measuring just 18 square meters and lined with granite slabs. This opens to the south side to unfold the magnificent panorama of the East River in front of the President’s words carved in stone.

Photo/©Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park/Iwan Baan

Louis Kahn chose the granite for the monument himself. The stone had to be as pure as possible – without inclusions – and have an absolutely homogeneous surface. The architect attached particular importance to the stone surface not being veined in order to achieve the most glistening white-grey surface possible. This is why he ultimately chose the granite from Mount Airy in North Carolina. This quarry is the largest surface quarry in the world. The granite blocks and granite slabs were left as rough as possible in accordance with Louis Kahn’s specifications and were therefore not reworked or only minimally reworked.

Read more about the “Four Freedoms Memorial” in STEIN 5/2014.
You can find out more about Franklin T. Roosevelt, his presidency and his famous speech on the “Four Freedoms” on the “Digital Resource” website of the Four Freedom Park at fdr4freedoms.org.

22.10.2024

#KitchenInspiration

A pink corner

Building design

Neuhāusl Hunal Architects have created a pink corner in a small first floor apartment in Prague. The founder of Studio U/U commissioned the office to redesign the apartment. In one room, the kitchen dominates together with a multifunctional podium that serves as a bed, storage room, library, changing room and bench. With its pink color, it is the highlight and invites you to cook!

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