5 reasons architects should travel!

Architects passion evolve around photography or even painting, but a special place is reserved to travel!
Architects are curious by nature and travel stimulates the senses in every dimensions by fueling creativity!

During the journeys they observe cultures, buildings, proportions, relationship with light, materials, spaces and they carry in their subconscious everything that can surface or materialise in the concepts for the projects they are working on.

But why as an architect (not only) do you have to travel? We have brought together 5 reasons why you should travel, within or outside Albania:

01. You get inspired

Travel, has inspired not only many artists and writers but also architects. Anyone who is a little bit familiar with the history of architecture know that great architects found their inspiration through their travels.

© F.L.C. / ADAGP, Paris / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York 2016

For example like Le Cobursier traveled through Europe and the Mediterranean from 1907 to 1911, documenting in drawings classical ruins, impressive landscapes, interior details and urban spaces along with human life in it.[1]

Travel formed his architectural knowledge as he was a self-taught architect. Through traveling he was introduced to proportions, styles, shapes, materials and colors in buildings and cities.

It was during these exploring journeys that Le Corbusier decided to become an architect. The influence of his travels is also present his projects. Features of Mediterranean architecture can be spotted in the revolutionary project of Ronchamp Chapel, France.

© Hiepler Brunier

Travel was considered necessary to expand one’s mind and understanding of the world.

Wright's successive travels to Japan also inspired his philosophy of organic architecture: buildings that grow and harmonize with their surroundings in much the same fashion as a tree, all parts contributing to the whole, each part necessary to form and function—and his attraction to the arts of Japan had much to do with what he considered their organic character.[2]

Art Japonez i printimeve : Bridge at Nihonbashi, Hiroshige

Traveling, has inspired architects to become architects and find the right philosophy to create architecture.

Rendering of Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright

02. Shifts your mindset!

When you travel, everything around you changes starting from nature, typology of constructions, most importantly the culture! You start to experience a new way of living expressed through new dimensions and colours. You manage to perceive a new reality, from where your worldview changes and takes many forms.

Louis Kahn, Pyramids, No. 8, Egypt 1951

Travel influenced deeply Luis Kahn’s architecture, who after visiting Italy, Greece and Egypt, decided that his architecture would be heavy and massive inspired by the magnificent architecture of these countries, giving up the "lightness" of modern architecture.[3]

Traveling will change your mindset, help you in the path of finding the right philosophy for your architecture.

LOUIS KAHN- INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, PHOTO ©JEOREN VERRECHT 

3. You learn!

In your traveling you are faced with completely different realities!

You encounter innovative solutions through local materials. You understand  how the built environment reflects the locals’ lifestyle, how forms and proportions are harmonized within the cultural and historical context. Along your travels you learn the culture and history of a country and how it is reflected in the composition of cities, design of houses, public spaces and public buildings.

Who has not been impressed by the classical architecture and its grandeur?! After all it all translates into pure geometry and golden proportions, which comes attractive to our eyes. The sense of experience is deeply engraved in our memory and most importantly through architecture you easily learn about the history of a country and its culture.

Moorish arches in the Court of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada

As an example: The Alhambra in Andalusia, Spain is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture which contains in it and important examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture. The harmony created between the mixture of two cultures, the Moorish Islamic and the Christian aesthetics, materialized in a fascinating, mysterious complex which reflects the multicultural and multi-faith history of Spain.[4]

04. Discover, not only cultures but also yourself!

Through travel you don not only discover new cultures, architectures, cuisine, art but above all you also discover yourself. Traveling helps you to broaden your horizons and easily accept views that differ from your own.

Venice, Italy

As Mark Twain points out on his book Innocents Abroad,

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts”

We fully agree with the necessity to travel to grow and become open-minded which directly affects development and also your creativity!

05. Ju ndihmon të mendoni përtej kufijve!

There is no journey that does not change you! Makes you more open with the world and its infinitive colors, more capable of embracing different viewpoints that enrich you spiritually and artistically, that will help you think outside the box in your creative process

The vessel - New York - architect Thomas Heatherwick

Your source of creative insipration can be nature, historic buildings or the innovative use of existing technologies! But it is certain that travel changes and fundamentally improves you as a person and as an architect.

The Chand Baori step-well in Rajasthan, India. image source: Lonely Planet

[1] https://www.theartstory.org/artist/le-corbusier/

[2] https://franklloydwright.org/frank-lloyd-wright-and-japan/

[3] https://www.phaidon.com/agenda/architecture/articles/2014/july/14/how-louis-kahns-drawings-changed-his-architecture/

[4] https://www.thoughtco.com/the-alhambra-4138628