This question lies at the heart of Classics of the Future, a gallery dedicated to showcasing today’s new architectural sensibilities. Making a parallel with the fashion world, founder Marcela Spadaro describes the type of work presented by the gallery as ‘couture architecture’. She speaks of the most innovative architects of today working at speculative and experimental level, offering a glimpse into the future of architecture.
The gallery spotlights innovators like Barry Wark, an architect and artist whose practice is driven by a radical rethinking of ecological awareness in the built environment. Wark’s practice is founded on the belief that traditional distinctions between the natural and the artificial are no longer viable. Instead, he advocates for a new mindset that embraces ambiguity, fostering a deep integration between architecture and the ecological systems it operates within.
Another featured architect is Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY, whose creations blur the line between art and architecture. ‘Fornes’ work is radically different from the spaces we know’, says Spadaro, ‘his structures are engineered to evoke a range of emotions— wonder, excitement, reflection and joy. For Fornes, the goal is to create spaces where people can engage deeply, projecting their own experiences and interpretations onto the forms.’
Classics of the Future’s ambition is to showcase the work they represent beyond the architectural world, through exhibitions, collaborations with brands and publications. But for Spadaro, the challenge begins with communication, ‘I am quoting Cynthia Davidson when I say that architecture has a PR problem. At our gallery, we want to make the most forward-thinking architectural visions of our time accessible to all’.
This focus on accessibility is why Spadaro has made communication a central pillar of the gallery’s mission. She has assembled a dedicated team led by Asiel Núñez Román and Candela de Bortoli -the ‘key’ people at CotF according to Spadaro- tasked with developing innovative strategies to make the gallery’s works understandable and appealing to the general public. ‘We look a lot at the fashion and art worlds, which are leading the way in understanding how to broaden their audiences.’ says Spadaro.
Architect Gilles Retsin is another collaborator of the gallery. Retsin’s structures introduce a novel tectonic defined by automated combinations of discrete elements and digital fabrication. His modular constructions align with circular economy principles, offering a forward-thinking vision of sustainable building practices.
Innovative architecture as art
Oyler Wu Collaborative’s work on the other hand -also showcased by CotF- is deeply rooted in an exploration of lines and their spatial possibilities. They have been for a long time captivated by how lines transcend mere geometry, evolving into dynamic structures that interact with surfaces and volumes to create immersive, complex environments.
Spadaro sees the visionary work showcased by the gallery as both architectural and artistic pieces & installations, and therefore, with potential to be collected. ‘For us, these are artworks that contain the seeds of the future of architecture. Collecting pieces by these architects would be as collecting pieces of their vision.’ says Spadaro. ‘Ultimately, we want to push the boundaries of how innovative architecture -the most explorative, unique and extraordinary architectural propositions of our era- can be understood, communicated and appreciated within culture at large.’
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