Superarchitettura
Encyclopedia
Superarchitettura is a theoretical & conceptual framework, whose physical definition has been given at the homonymous 1966 exhibition, held at Jolly2, an art gallery of Pistoia
, Italy
.
According to the Radical
Manifesto, "Superarchitettura is the architecture of superproduction, superconsumption, superinduction to consume, the supermarket, the superman, super gas".
Superarchitettura is the overcoming of centuries of constant and consistent art vision. It is the overtaking of ancient artistic pratiques in favour of new avant-garde
s, the Sixties so-called "neo avant-gardes".
Superarchitettura's movement combined the inventiveness of Pop Art
with the dynamics of mass production
(for the latter, see its definition according to Mackintosh
' ideas and conceptions).
movement, after its beginning, got split up in two main philosophical entities and interpretations, the first incarnated by Archizoom
, the second by Superstudio
. Archizoom and Superstudio held the Exhibition. Such event represented a milestone in the Italian Radical Design
.
According to the first group (to which belonged "free thinkers" -architects and designers- like Andrea Branzi
, Gilberto Corretti, Paolo Deganello, Massimo Morozzi, Dario Bartolini and Lucia Bartolini), in order to get away from Tradition, men must overturn conventions and exalt everything kitsch as a statement of aesthetic and ideological challenge.
On the other side, according to the second group (to which belonged Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris and Roberto Magris), to run away from Tradition, a new architecture must be imagined and created, which must be based on rejecting the impositions of production in favour of symbolic, dreamy values, which can ideologically fit into the landscape.
' "Thesis
" and "Antithesis
", its overcoming brought to a very peculiar "Synthesis
". Such was the Anti-Design framework, son of such dispute.
Archizoom in particular is today considered the initiator of Anti-Design. Its members questioned from the ground the traditional status-function and basic-nature of design, as well as that of the architectural production.
Pistoia
Pistoia is a city and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 km west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
According to the Radical
Radical period (design)
In Italy, in the second part of the 1960s, the design avant-gardes entered a new period of construction named "Radical".Probably the most notorious result of such avant-garde period is the very famous installation called "Superarchitettura", made in Pistoia in 1966.Within the Italian design...
Manifesto, "Superarchitettura is the architecture of superproduction, superconsumption, superinduction to consume, the supermarket, the superman, super gas".
Superarchitettura is the overcoming of centuries of constant and consistent art vision. It is the overtaking of ancient artistic pratiques in favour of new avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
s, the Sixties so-called "neo avant-gardes".
Superarchitettura's movement combined the inventiveness of Pop Art
Pop art
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...
with the dynamics of mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
(for the latter, see its definition according to Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...
' ideas and conceptions).
Archizoom and Superstudio
The Superarchitettura theoretical framework, part of the Radical DesignRadical period (design)
In Italy, in the second part of the 1960s, the design avant-gardes entered a new period of construction named "Radical".Probably the most notorious result of such avant-garde period is the very famous installation called "Superarchitettura", made in Pistoia in 1966.Within the Italian design...
movement, after its beginning, got split up in two main philosophical entities and interpretations, the first incarnated by Archizoom
Archizoom
Archizoom Association was a design studio founded in 1966 in Florence, Italy, by four architects: Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, Paolo Deganello, Massimo Morozzi; and two designers: Dario Bartolini and Lucia Bartolini....
, the second by Superstudio
Superstudio
Superstudio was an architecture firm, founded in 1966 in Florence, Italy by Adolfo Natalini and Cristiano Toraldo di Francia. Superstudio was one of major part of the Radical architecture movement of the late 1960s...
. Archizoom and Superstudio held the Exhibition. Such event represented a milestone in the Italian Radical Design
Radical period (design)
In Italy, in the second part of the 1960s, the design avant-gardes entered a new period of construction named "Radical".Probably the most notorious result of such avant-garde period is the very famous installation called "Superarchitettura", made in Pistoia in 1966.Within the Italian design...
.
According to the first group (to which belonged "free thinkers" -architects and designers- like Andrea Branzi
Andrea Branzi
Andrea Branzi is an Italian architect and designer.-Biography:Branzi was born in Florence, where he also graduated in architecture. Currently he lives and works in Milan, Italy....
, Gilberto Corretti, Paolo Deganello, Massimo Morozzi, Dario Bartolini and Lucia Bartolini), in order to get away from Tradition, men must overturn conventions and exalt everything kitsch as a statement of aesthetic and ideological challenge.
On the other side, according to the second group (to which belonged Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris and Roberto Magris), to run away from Tradition, a new architecture must be imagined and created, which must be based on rejecting the impositions of production in favour of symbolic, dreamy values, which can ideologically fit into the landscape.
Anti-Design as the Sinthesis
These two philosophical interpretations of the Radical Design being conceivable as SocratesSocrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
' "Thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
" and "Antithesis
Antithesis
Antithesis is a counter-proposition and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition...
", its overcoming brought to a very peculiar "Synthesis
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis
The triad thesis, antithesis, synthesis is often used to describe the thought of German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Hegel never used the term himself, and almost all of his biographers have been eager to discredit it....
". Such was the Anti-Design framework, son of such dispute.
Archizoom in particular is today considered the initiator of Anti-Design. Its members questioned from the ground the traditional status-function and basic-nature of design, as well as that of the architectural production.
Resources
- Lang, Peter and Menking, William: "Superstudio. Life Without Objects", Skira, Milan, 2003
- Fiell, Charlotte and Peter, "Design of the 20th Century", TASCHEN Icons Series - Turtleback, 2001
- Branzi, Andrea: "Radical Notes", Casabella, n. 399, March 1975.
- Tafuri, Manfredo and Dal Co, Francesco: "Internazionale dell'utopia, Architettura contemporanea", Electa, Milan, 1976.
- Rouillard,Dominique: "Radical architettura", in "Tschumi, une architecture en projet: Le Fresnoy", Ed. Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 1993.
- Pettena, Gianni: "Archipelago, architettura sperimentale 1959-99", Maschietto&musolino, Florence, 1999.
- Prestinenza Puglisi,Luigi: "This is tomorrow. Avanguardie e architettura contemporanea", Testo&Immagine, Turin, 1999.