basilica palladiana, vicenza, italy
05. 09. - 01. 12. 2002
http://www.abacoarchitettura.org

is the first major monographic exhibition on in italy.
the show approaches the oeuvre of steven holl,
giant photographies, videos, watercolors and
architectural models visualize holl's complex
conceptional designing process.

the success of steven holl's architecture derives from
his sculptural shapes, his interest in the poetics of space
color, and material, as well as his fascination with scientific
phenomena. his work refers to urban history and the
potentials of modern science.

'it is precisely the realm of ideas - not of forms or styles -
that presents the most promising legacy of twentieth-century
architecture. the twenty-first century propels architecture into
a world where meanings cannot be completely supplied by
historical languages. modern life brings with it the problem
of the meaning of the larger whole. the increased size and
programmatic complexity of buildings amplify the innate
tendency of architecture toward abstraction.
the tall office building, the urban apartment house,
and the hybrid of commercial complex call for more
open ideas more imaginative organization of a work of
architecture. organization of overall form depends on
a central concept to which other elements remain
subordinate.' holl says.

steven holl is a virtuoso of light: starting from the
specific requirements of use, he conducts a kind of basic
research of the connections between light and space and their
perception. the lighting of the interiors and the orchestration
of varied shades of color in dialogue with the spatial layout
results in a convincing whole.
this is direct, empirical architecture which supplies a wealth
of fundamental perceptual material.
steven holl truly creates experiences with his buildings.

'as the imperceptible downward flow of glass in the lower
portion of window panes measures the passage of time,
architecture also serves as an index of time.
second, minute, hour, month, year, decade, epoch,
millennium all are focused by the lens of architecture.
architecture is among the least ephemeral, most permanent
expressions of culture... to embrace the unique anxieties of
our time, one must avoid false optimism and the phantoms
of nostalgia. our challenge is to make spaces of a serenity
and exhilaration that allow the modern soul to emerge.
our everyday lives include the upside-down view of the
earth, in a live television broadcast in which figures walk
without gravity, or stroll along a sidewalk past barrels of live
crabs fighting each other. the modern soul, its unprecedented
spirit, must have an architecture.' so holl.