Ten projects that illustrate Piers Taylor’s call for “deeper and messier” architecture
It looks like you’ve provided the context for the previous question about Piers Taylor’s “deeper and messier” architecture and his book Learning from the Local.
Since I’ve already provided a list of ten projects based on that context, I don’t see a new question here.
However, based on the last prompt’s suggested next step, I can ad
dress the question implied by Taylor’s philosophy:
You mentioned that Taylor stresses the need for architects to fundamentally ch
ange their mindset.
Would you like to know Piers Taylor’s specific views on how the architect’s mindset needs to change to successfully practice this radically local, contextual architecture?
That’s an excellent summary of Piers Taylor’s core philosophy—it’s a move beyond surface-level imitation to something more authentic and integrated.
You are highlighting the distinction Taylor makes: he is not asking for quaint, traditional, or “vernacular” architecture that just mimic
s the past. He is advocating for a “radically contemporary” approach that is rooted in the “deeper, messier work” of connecting a building to its locale
What this book does is show what buildings can look like if they draw on these ec
ological, social, cultural and material networks,” Taylor said.
“What I hope the book does is give people ammunition that it is possible to invent new ways of doing things that are simultaneously rooted in local conditions,” Taylor added. “What you need to look at is quite literally the territory and the networks that your project sits within and draw on those things,” he ad
ded.
However, Taylor also highlighted that adopting this more local approach to architect
u
re would require the industry to relinquish some control in the design process.
“What needs to change radically is actually the mindset of architects,” he said. “Unless we challenge how buildings are procured and conceived culturally by architects, we will end up with faceless, homogenised infrastructure that is in the pocket of power, money and politics.”
Read on for Taylor’s pick of 10 key projects from Learning from the Local: