The (architectural) masterpiece

As a manifesto for the whole The (architectural) masterpiece project, the first issue of Viceversa bits is organized in three parts, each made of a different kind of contribution: 1) Masterpiece Reloaded: fragments of past essays that are useful to approach the topic of the masterpiece; 2) Masterpieces and Cigarettes: a distance conversation on the meaning and value of the concept of masterpiece; 3) Masterpiece Now!: a critical selection of contemporary architectural masterpieces.

Index:

Davide Tommaso Ferrando, Martina Motta, Giacomo Pala, Bettina Siegele

Masterpieces are dumb

The first recordings of the word “masterpiece” date back to the guild system of the late 16th century, when the term was used to indicate a piece of work that an apprentice had to produce in order to become a master craftsman.

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Anti-villa

"It is called Antivilla," says Arno Brandlhuber, "because it is the size of a villa but is not used as one. Its shape is given by the land on which it sits; a plot up for sale for a 100 sqm building that already housed a 500 sqm industrial structure in which women's lingerie had been produced in the GDR."

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