Architect
country:United Kingdom
website: www.paulfinchblog.com
Bio
Paul Finch is chairman of CABE (the UK government’s Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment).
He is also Programme Director of the World Architecture Festival, and Editorial Director of the Architectural Review and Architects’ Journal.
Born London, 1949.
History degree, Selwyn College, Cambridge. Deputy editor, Estates Times, 1976-1983.
Editor, Building Design, 1983-94.
Editor, Architects’ Journal, 1994-1999.
Editor, The Architectural Review 2005-2009.
A commissioner at CABE and deputy chair, 1999-2007.
Olympic Games Design Review chair 2007-2010.
Joint editor, Planning in London since 1994.
Honorary FRIBA 1994;
Honorary doctorate, University of Westminster, 2004;
honorary fellowship, University College London, 2006;
honorary member, British Council for Offices, 2006;
OBE for services to architecture 2002.
Photo credits:
photo 1 ©Paul Finch
photo 2,3,4 + profile ©World Architecture Festival
Most recent people interviewed (View all)
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Isaac A. Meir
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Most recent list of themes (View all)
on Architecture and Theory
on Architecture and Competent Authorities
on Architecture
on Architecture and Sustainability
on Educating Architecture
on Promoting Architecture
on Architecture and Events
on Guiding Architecture
on Architecture and Photography
on Architecture and Politics
on Architecture and Skyscrapers
on Architecture and Art
on Architecture and Travel
My point of view:
on Architecture and Travel
Interview Date: 15-10-2010
What is the importance of architectural tourism?
There are two sorts of architectural tourism: one concerns the general public, which is generally interested in history; the other involves architects themselves who are just as interested in the new as the old.
The significance of both is as reminders that architecture encapsulates history; by engaging with it, the tourist engages with human experience.
What is the importance of traveling for architects in particular, and people in general?
Travel has always been significant for architects because it has shown them how their predecessors approached certain timeless issues of design, providing both knowledge and inspiration. An understanding of architecture beyond one’s own back yard has helped to create a global architectural culture in which architects recognize similarities and differences in buildings of allows scales; travelling allows architects to experience architecture in three dimensions, rather than the two that comprise images in magazines or on the web.
Travel for people in general has become increasingly popular because of low airfares, the rise of a holiday culture and increased wealth in large parts of the world. Its importance is primarily as economic phenomenon rather than cultural activity. Climate is as important as architecture.
What role does architecture play in creating destinations and adding value within a city?
The architecture of tourism is concerned with transport and hotels, not with destination as such. However, the cities that are most visited generally have a distinctive architectural heritage (eg Rome, New York, Cairo). It is difficult to underestimate the importance of architecture in making such cities destinations; clearly visitors are not going there to enjoy a beachside rest. In some cases it has been possible to quantify the effect of new architecture on a city, for example the increase in visitors to Bilbao following opening of the Frank Gehry Guggenheim.
Take away the architecture from a city and what do you have left?
Ten contemporary (public) buildings to visit:
Neus Museum, Berlin (Chipperfield)
MAXXI contemporery art museum, Rome (Hadid)
Opera house, Oslo (Snohetta)
Tokyo Forum, Tokyo (Vinoly)
Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore (Wilford)
Pompidou Centre, Paris (Rogers)
High Line, New York (Diller Scofidio & Renfro)
Marungubwe Interpretation Centre, South Africa (Peter Rich)
Brasilia (Niemeyer)
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