Thursday 1 October 2009

Anthroposophy Architecture

Potentially the home of all the arts, architecture aims to be the unifying element, creating an artistic environment in which human qualities and activities are supported. The challenge is to design a classroom, office, supermarket or airport in such a way that, in addition to providing the necessary material means, the building imparts a sense for the spiritual striving of the community using the building.
Out of such intentions, the organic style has developed and its influence is increasingly seen in mainstream design.



[Above] Botton Village Church which was an award winner by Camphill Architects.

One of the most famous contemporary buildings by an anthroposophical architect is ING House, an ING Bank building in Amsterdam, which was designed by Amsterdam-based Meyer and Van Schooten Architects. This building has been given many awards for its ecological design and approach to a self-sustaining ecology as an autonomous building.

1 comment:

  1. Hello Andrew,
    I have my doubts whether Meyer and Van Schooten Architects would see themselves as anthroposophical architects. Certainly their ING Bank pictured above is probably the antithesis of an anthroposophically oriented building.There is however another Bank, NMB (ING) bank in Zuidoost, Amsterdam,designed by Alberts & Van Huut (see link below), which is often referred to and being admired as a very successful anthroposophically (as well as ecologically) inspired design.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amsterdam_Zuidoost_Ton_Alberts_02_PM07.jpg

    ReplyDelete