Identity Matters. Architecture between individualism and homologation

Author: Riccardo Salvi
Publisher: Franco Angeli Edizioni
Printed in Italy
Date: June 2014
ISBN: 9788891706553
Softcover, 176 pages

Technological development and the cultural breakdown of national borders — sometimes metaphorical, sometimes real — have led to a leveling of design methods and their outcomes. As a result, it has become almost meaningless to discuss architecture solely in terms of its territorial and geographical identity. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that certain national mentalities persist within the globalized cultural landscape.

Consider, for example, some works by Herzog & de Meuron. Beyond their varying formal expressions and global success, these projects are marked by professional pragmatism, respect for place, attention to scale, rigor, and meticulous detail. These qualities clearly reflect the typical value system and intellectual traits associated with the Swiss cultural context, particularly the German-speaking region.

Starting from this observation, we sought to explore—through field research—the opinions of several leading architects, regarded as prototypes of conceptual approaches, regarding the influence of local cultural characteristics on architectural production methods.