The connection between architecture and hand drawing is explored through the sketches of Wolf dPrix, co-founder and CEO of Coop Himmelb(l)au. Over 53 years, these sketches have served as the foundational step for every design, even amidst the rise of digital architecture. Initially representing built works in the 1960s and 1970s, they now provide strategic guidance for complex projects. From a collection of 2,800 archival drawings, 1,300 were chosen to illustrate developmental dynamics, showcasing around 320 significant architectural projects as invaluable historical documents.
This study analyzes a significant architectural trend from the 19th and 20th centuries: the transition from the closed, hermetic spaces of early cultures and the Middle Ages to the open, transparent designs of modern architecture. It examines historical examples such as the diaphanous spaces of Gothic cathedrals, the late-Baroque dome's openness, and the glass structures of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The advancements in steel-and-glass technology have enabled unprecedented levels of transparency and dematerialization. Notably, modern glass buildings are often likened to 'crystals,' symbolizing purity, transparency, and order, reflecting humanity's psychological, aesthetic, and artistic desires. This evolution in architecture not only serves functional purposes but also embodies deeper aspirations to transcend gravity and blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. The study aims to spark discussions on architecture's boundaries and advocates for maintaining openness, freedom, lightness, and transparency in future designs. Günther Feuerstein, a key figure in the post-war Viennese architectural scene, merges art history and sociology with architecture, critiquing functionalism and advocating for an 'expanded architecture.'
