Architecture is a cultural technique. It is never self-contained, nor finite; it is part of a complex cultural cycle in service of society as a whole. As a result, architecture is always a representation of society rather than an autonomous discipline. The importance of identity within designed space, from individual to community, from city to region, cannot be underestimated. At a time when there is a blurring of boundaries between the real and the virtual, urban and rural, and local and global, our built environment plays a fundamental role in defining identity. GRAFT believes in the power of architecture as a tool, best employed not for its own sake, but to represent these ambiguous and diverse identities. By responding to the challenges of the future with an optimistic attitude towards multiple and simultaneous identities, we enable a higher degree of complexity. There is no such thing as one single truth, and we believe that hybridization enhances the qualities of its constituent characteristics.

Speakers

Lars Krueckeberg
Founding Partner GRAFT

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