Invention in the architectural project

Resumo

The thesis explores whether architects invent anything and if they do, when invention happens within the process of the Architectural Project. The thesis is motivated by the experience of more than 30 years of teaching architecture, where the teacher of architecture encounters very talented people working on a very broad range of subjects and approaches. At the same time, these teachers are often the main source of information, motivation and even inspiration for these students, which leads the teacher to deepen into the real value of the work of architects past an present. Invention is understood in may different ways within and without the field of architecture. Having established a glossary of terms, distinguishing between aspects of creativity, such as invention, innovation and problem solving, the thesis looks at the process of the architectural project. The great majority of writings regarding projects, especially those by great architects, look at the product, the building or the project itself. Some of them try to look at the architects who produced them but very few deal with the architectural project as a process, which enables them to materialise the idea, intention or ambition. The thesis uses the writings of two architect/teachers submitted for the accession to a chair in architecture. These writings have served as short cuts to enter the process of the architectural project. From these writings, the main criterion for searching and finding the invention in this process is established. The thesis then looks at three exemplars who span the best part of a century and a half when a great many inventions took place. The study of these exemplars, Rafael Guastavino Sr., Emilio Pérez Piñero and Eladio Dieste, helps to show the difference between innovation, invention and problem solving as well as showing when invention occurs and where it sits in the context of the process of the architectural project. The study of the exemplars paves the way to the conclusions, showing that when it happens, is the result of very special conditions coming together. The of exceptional qualities in the mind of the inventors give them the perception and the mental agility to identify that something that hitherto had remain hidden to all others.