I C A R C H

A HOUSE FOR SOREN KIERKEGAARD

At a time still obsessed by science, here we have Soren Kierkegaard…

At a time still obsessed by being “objective”, here we have an intense proponent of subjectivity.

At a time that glorifies global togetherness (see Facebook), here we have a great advocate of the solitary individual.

At a time of unending collective happiness (sorry for the sarcasm), here we have an extremely anxious man.

At a time when to think (instead of shopping) is to not exist, here we have a truly great thinker.

Yes, a “mere” thinker… that is, a lonely bird on a thin tree branch.

But what a beautiful bird, all the more beautiful because immensely fragile…!!!!!!!

It is for this very fragile bird, THE THINKER, that we ask you to design a house.

Of course, no mall in this world would be interested in such an idea. Such idea will not sell. And no gossip will be around it. No news…!?

ALL FOR THE BETTER.

The lonely bird on the lonely tree branch can continue to think.

To unite philosophy with religion is to attempt the impossible.

But to attempt the impossible is the task of the one who still has courage!

Such was Kierkegaard.

There was and is something very appealing about this great man who died at forty two… But did he really die...??????

Like Pessoa, he would prove an incredible dialectical spirit, publishing under different pseudonyms opposing views.

To design A HOUSE FOR SOREN KIERKEGAARD is to design A HOUSE for / with INNER TENSION, if not conflict.

Existentialism entered many branches of culture, but not architecture.

We wonder why…!?!

But this is exactly what we ask you to do, inspired by Kierkegaard.

Imagine AN EXISTENTIALIST ARCHITECTURE.

Imagine an architecture that refuses to be the slave of money, designer kitchen and garages for multiple cars.

DESIGN FOR SPIRIT.

DESIGN FOR THE QUESTIONING OF LIFE, and not for its banal (and thus unwarranted) answers.

DESIGN FOR A PHILOSOPHER.

A kind of philosopher we don’t think we still have (unless we look towards him, backwards, and towards very, very few others).

We welcome ANY work, ANY size and ANY format that responds to the theme. If you have any questions, please write to us. The deadline to receive your work is August 31^st, 2013. Please send it to info@icarch.us.

Thank you,

ICARCH Gallery