|
This article is dedicated to one of the great pioneers of Bio-architecture, Architect Ugo Sasso, who lost his life in a tragic accident in Venezuela earlier this year on the 9th January 2009.
I was fortunate to be able to attend one of his lectures last year, held at Masseria Foragno near Ostuni.
His brilliant mind; he has taken with him; his memory will live on.
Quality is independent to Quantity
Architecture of the Pugliese countryside is seeing a renewed and economically welcomed revival with due recognition given to the unique rural historical buildings by the Brindisi and Bari councils. By the same token, the Pugliese people, native to this most original of regions of Italy; have come to realise the riches of the architectural history they have on their doorstep, that for the last 50 years have remained ashamedly unacknowledged.
Presidente Nazionale of INBAR (Instituto Nazionale Bioarchitettura), Ugo Sasso, gave a descriptive and entertaining account of his world of architecture at the meeting of the “Edilizia Sostenibile”, (Sustainable Building Construction), held 27th June 2008 at the Masseria Foragno, Ostuni; drawing upon his unique experience; enabling us, students, architects and interested parties; to understand in a simulation of ideas; a world of architecture from an enlightened and distinctively poignant perspective.
It has not gone without notice that “Americans and English; have come to Puglia because they believe the quality of life is better here than their home country,” This is an underlined statement
made by the expert in his field, Sasso; who with furrowed brow may have appreciated the importance if this many years ago whilst his attentive audience may only have just come to recognise its significance in the development of the region of Puglia.
What do we understand by quality?
“Measuring quality of life is independent to quantity”, repeated Sasso, several times during his discourse of architecture, “You see a child with 20 toys or a child with one toy; does one child have a better quality of life than the other?”
Sasso continued with his real life translation of the architectural environment with a contrast of wines, one of his many passions. Having tasted an excellent wine, he asked the producer what made this particular wine exceptional; how come it was evidently superior in quality to the other? The producer said, it had low acidity and of course no chemicals were used, just mother nature's intervention was involved in the production. Making a comparison with another wine; he took the bottle and saw the listed ingredients and he noted it had added chemicals to produce this particular wine of what he considered to be of lesser quality.
So as Sasso explained; more does not necessarily mean it is any better. Two wine producers, working side by side, neighbouring territories, producing two totally different quality wines.
Sasso continued this most pleasurable of lectures to his audience saying; “Quality is not born from quantity! But born from relationships with people.....Take a young couple in total adoration of each other. Their relationship is not born on the quantity of years they have shared their love but the quality of the relationship itself.”
Buildings themselves have roots in space and time. Architecture builds the bridge between the place a building is sited and the people; with whom we have the opportunity to incorporate ecologically sustainable products to enhance our sociological existence. But there is a need for balance as it is without foundation if we produce the most ecological space that does not promote the wellness of the people within.
Sasso covered so many subjects in this short but uninterrupted brief; that you were left wanting more. He just gave your pallet a taste of the food to come.
He concluded by saying that when we go abroad, to Paris or Berlin or Venice, we go to a place. A place or a space that has been architecturally created that although it has been transformed by new buildings, it still remains the same. He mentioned Ostuni in this context, as a town under transformation and development with architectural influence but essentially its roots remain the same.
The cities of Puglia are far behind major cities like Paris or London; 40 maybe 50 years has been suggested; but having benefited from the grace of knowledge and experience; we are able to teach our visitors from abroad the “wellness” of our region whilst keeping its roots firmly in position, transforming it not changing it; progressing but not losing sight of its roots, thus maintaining that simple notion that the investors from abroad have brought to the Pugliese and the authorities of Puglia......they are here for a better quality of life.
Architects and homeowners have a responsibility to demonstrate to society the importance of ethical investment, to incorporate comforts of modern times with respect to tradition; to the preservation of our historical heritage whilst communicating aesthetics, art and beauty with practicalities. A house is a mechanical organism that needs to be compatible with our health and the resources available, making it a sustainable entity engaging us in quality of life.
Too often there is a delinquency in responsibility that erroneously equates quantity with a life that
furnishes us with quality. Quite simply we consume too much energy and this can not be maintained.
Interplan, via Michele Imperiali, 203 - 72021 Francavilla Fontana -Br Tel: + 39 0831 815 849 www.bioarchitecttura.it
Last update : 06-04-2009 22:25
|
(0 vote)
