My goal for this research is to experience architecture that possesses poetic expression through its craftmanship. There are many aspects of architecture that make it beautiful and poetic--including space, form, and light--but this research is meant to understand projects that find their poetic expression through their use of materials and methods. I am not interested in a particular style of architecture necessarily, but rather how the architectural craft in a particular region of Europe resonates with its local culture, local resources, local ecology, and/or landscape to obtain a meaningful, poetic expression. The method of construction is equally interesting to me as well as the materials used. I am interested in how innovative methods in fabrication and construction--the use of robotics, CNC routing, and 3D printing--can contribute to a new beauty in architecture, but I am also interested in how simple, traditional techniques can achieve a quiet poetic expression as well.

With that said, I start out my travels in Croatia, a country situated along the eastern edge of the Adriatic Sea in between Eastern and Central Europe. Croatia, has a rich and complex history that is seen in its archtecture. It has a strong reputation for its white limestone that is harvested from quarries across dozens of islands. Many of the major cities still have their city walls, palaces, and churches constructed out of limestone from the Roman Empire. Even the White House has limestone that came from a quarry on the island of Brac. The abundance of beautiful local limestone, combined with the signature Mediterranean terra-cotta tile roofs washes the vernacular architecture with this palette. The country doesn't seem to be itching to veer away from the vernacular, save for a handful of architects who are very mindful of the historical context in which they are designing while they insert their desire to experiment with technology.

I am currently in Zadar observing the Sea Organ project by Croatian architect Nikola Basic and will be heading to Rijeka tomorrow to see the Pope John Paul II Hall by Randic-Turato Architects. Both projects are compelling in their use of technology with vernacular materials. More on that in a couple days!