Bowellism And Other Architectural Inspiration

Bowellism is a modern style of architecture pioneered by Richard Rogers, an Italian-British architect who focused on functionalism. The service and use of space was important, maximizing floorplans was also vital. Richard's work is dotted all over Europe, from the Pompidou Centre in Paris, to the Lloyds building in London.

The style found in this movement has very strong links to my visual brainstorming of Armilla.The London Lloyds building includes pipework-like shapes that run along its exoskeleton. Bowellism is industrial, sterile, abrasive, and symmetrical, characteristics that Armilla also shares. The common cylindrical shapes around this style make it an ideal reference for my Armilla visualisations.


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Temppeliaukio Church, Finland:

The nicknamed 'rock church' located in Helsinki was designed by brothers Timo and Tumo Soumalainen. Opening in 1969, the church was built directly into groundrock. Its interior Is bathed in natural light and a copper dome that centrepieces the ceiling, the building resonates with the natural environment surrounding it. The acoustics of the space were important to its design, its exposed brick walls supported this focus. The church includes an organ of 43 stops and 3001 pipes.

The rock churches' natural aesthetic caught my attention immediately, and I love the use of copper against rock. The strong collaboration of these materials could be used in my Armilla compositions. Initially, I was considering using silver metals, but I like the look of assorted colours, and I think warm coppers and brass would be a good addition to the city architecture of Armilla. The disguised shape of the rock church is another design element to consider. Must everything in Armilla be dramatic and exaggerated? or can I get away with subtle designs like this, a gently metallic dome sitting amongst rock, to suggest logical and realistic city spaces?...