Hvad tænker arkitekten på?

What do architects think about theconditions facing architecture in Denmark right now? And what do they believe in? – The Holy Spirit of Inspiration, beauty, consistency, social equality, objectivity, sensuosity, fun and games, absolution – or eternal architectural life?

Ten leading Danish architects share their thoughts in this book, speaking about what drives their work and what sometimes drives them to distraction in the complex process from idea to building. Why they wanted to be architects, how they came to be architects, and what it actually feels like to be an architect.

The conversations touch on power and despair, dreams and reality, opinions and courage. Can we build anywhere, anything, for anyone? Who is more important, the architect or the client? Is there a Danish humanist architectural tradition that can be successfully exported to dictatorships, or is it just plain business? ‘Hvad tænker arkitekten på?’ (What is on the architect’s mind?) is a contribution to the ongoing debate, but it is also a window to a world where ideas emerge, and buildings and landscapes take form.

Illustrated with portrait photos of the interviewed architects and their own favourite sketches.

Interviews with Jens Thomas Arnfred, Louis Becker, Lars Juel Thiis, Lene Tranberg, Michael Christensen, Stig L.Andersson, Dan Stubbergaard, Kristine Jensen, Dorte Mandrup and Bjarke Ingels

BJARKE INGELS:
“When I talk about the sum of all one’s failures in construction it’s because there are so many factors and decision-makers involved in the process. You just have to say that true enough, you lose a lot of battles but hopefully, you’ll win the war.”

DANISH LANGUAGE EDITION

"Jeg ville da mene, og forhåbentlig uden at blive til grin, at det er ét stort moralsk anliggende at være arkitekt". Jens Thomas Arnfred

"Jeg tror på det skønne! Ikke som drivkraft, men som konsekvens af at tænke sanselige sammenhænge". Lene Tranberg

"Jeg er ikke interesseret i at "overaktivere" parker og byrum, det er, som om der er en stor angst for, at folk ikke kan finde ud af, hvad de skal selv". Kristine Jensen

"Når jeg taler om summen af alle ens nederlag i byggeri, så er det, fordi der er så mange faktorer og beslutningstagere i processen. Der må man bare sige, at ja, du taber en masse kampe, men du vinder forhåbentlig krigen". Bjarke Ingels