I’m writing this as I travel between small towns in north-western Spain walking the “Camino” and I’m constantly reminded of travel’s ability to inspire and influence how architects design.
In cities and villages with long histories, travel provides exposure to diverse cultures, materials and design philosophies around every corner. It enables us to consider how different societies solve the design challenges of their time. And, it can encourage us to move beyond familiar patterns to innovate and develop fresh perspectives that enhance creativity in architectural and urban design.
Travel also deepens emotional and sensory awareness, which is essential in architecture. Great architecture is not only about appearance but also about how spaces feel and function for people. Experiencing different atmospheres, sounds, landscapes,and spatial qualities helps architects create designs that evoke emotion and enhance human connection. By understanding how people interact with spaces worldwide, architects can design environments that are more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful.
In European cities with long histories, it is usually buildings hundreds or even thousands of years old that strike me the most. On this trip however a very modern building has piqued my interest, initially for its iconic visual appearance as it appeared, full frontal, when I walked around a corner.
The Spanish coastal city of Vigo had a challenge of connecting its popular waterside areas and train station with the central part of the city and new bus station, situated up a steep 50 metre ascent. An international design competition resulted in Halo, an urban elevator and connecting aerial passage, spanning over the Atlantic highway and linking to the central area of the city.
This inspiring structure doesn’t only serve its functional purpose of moving locals and tourists up and down the slope with ease, but it has also created an exceptional architectural landmark within the city. While a vertical stair or plain elevator shaft could have done the job functionally, the sculptural ring form provides both covered and open circulation options in an architecturally elegant and original manner.
While such a project might not serve a need in a largely flat city like Christchurch, its dramatic design opens the mind to a more inspiring way of solving our own urban challenges. It also demonstrates that contemporary architecture, when done well, can successfully find a place in any townscape - old, new or in our case, evolving.
