In Spain, is architecture loved as much as they want to show? Opciones

[javier azurmendi]

Excerpt from the ``Diary of an old architectural photographer´´
http://www.arquitecturaenimagen.es/index.p...c=1100&st=0



Tuesday May 19, 2009
In Spain, is architecture loved as much as they want to show?

So far, I have not been fully aware of the destruction of our contemporary architecture (and not so contemporary) once ‘’the bug’’ (according to the construction industry jargon) has ‘’penetrated’’ as a user.

Visiting some of my clients works, that I photographed years ago, absolutely impressed me because of building’s appearance deterioration and mostly function: it had almost been transformed in a kind of vertical slums.

Some of my clients always repeat to me the phrase: ‘’you go to take your pictures. I will never go back there. I do not want to suffer with what it will ‘’arise’’. Soon, they (the pictures) will be the only thing to remain from all efforts we have made…’’

The development of this first self-editing project of arquitecturaenimagen has showed the consequences of the low cultural level of the so called ‘’national bug’’ to me. I mean low, in general, also amongst our politicians and officials. While I was taking photos of cantabrian architecture made during the last three or four years, I opened my eyes and I saw how easy is for us, Spanish, to destroy other people’s work, also in a public sphere.
Buildings such as Tama Nature Interpretation Center (in Potes-Picos de Europa, Cantabria - Spain), which is ruled by the National Parks official entity, has suffered a huge mutation. By now, most of its design and constructive intention has already been absolutely dissolved (and we will publish it full detail in this webpage). To the original building, a new glass building has been added in its inner part, attached. Moreover, the original façade has been tremendously modified by giant lettering. Part of the wooden skin hollows has even been sawed (please, reader, notice that this building has a wooden permeable ‘’skin’’). This action has resulted into a total, cheeky and, in my opinion, rather doubtful legality transformation. To me, it’s umberarable to recall that the above mentioned building by well-known cantabrian architect Pucho Vallejo (Capilla-Vallejo architects) was built few years ago. And it go a lot of prizes and recognitions, such as the Official Architect Association of Cantabria (COACAN), and the FAD 2005.






But that is no all, folks! My last scary founding was Altamira… I have not visited the excavations center yet, after the new look. But I will soon go to confirm the information I got from some people related to the COACAN. It seems that the famous museum directors latest idea has been to change the glass colour: they have added blue vinyles. At the moment, if it is true, watching ‘’in blue!!’’ the building’s illumination and integration in landscape must be a ‘’wonderful’’ experience. Moreover, if you keep in mind this integration subtly made by Juan Navarro Baldeweg, which has help him to winning so many recognitions and prizes. So far, it seems that the Juan’s friends and fans haven’t dare neither to tell him about such a ‘’brilliant idea’’, nor about such a ‘’supposed’’ changes made in Altamira National Museum… (Juan Navarro will be the next Spanish Architecture Biennal prize).

And… What makes an architecture photographer to observe and tell all these national miseries? I just would like to attract your attention about the very important task that has necessarily to be performed by us, Spanish architecture photographers. We must preserve the original state look of anything destroyed - so quick and with no shame by those ‘’black angels’’ who are supposed to be cultured people. They have done so in half the time it took to build it up!, as Paco Naranjo, a well-known architect, pointed out.

(Excerpt from the ``Diary of an old architectural photographer´´. Thanks to our fellow Cesar San Millán, who has lent us the image (fragment) showing its original state as appearing in these pages).