At the Biennale Architettura 2012, on the wall beside the beautiful original pencil drawings he exhibited, Rafael Moneo included some text on the theme of Common Ground which we found both moving and memorable. We were therefore very pleased when his response to our theme was to focus on a written statement about FREESPACE.
The idea of a ‘tablet’ on the wall matched by a ‘tablet’ on the floor, immediately brings to mind sacred spaces where memorials are placed and people or events are remembered in stone. This apparently modest gesture displays the authority of such an accomplished architect who can conjure up moments in architectural history with such a deft touch. The inclusion of his Murcia Town Hall project inscribed on the floor panel, again, in one project, touches on all the values we express in our FREESPACE manifesto. This project, together with many others by Moneo, has influenced, inspired and shown the way to many generations of architects. His presence in the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, as always, teaches us a lesson in restraint, in thoughtfulness, in making space to contemplate and be still. This brings to mind Laurent Beaudouin who describes architecture “as a machine for slowing time down”.
YF+SMcN
Rafael Moneo, Arquitecto
Freespace