Del objeto a la ciudad. Helio Piñón: criterios del proyecto moderno

Abstract

This research work shows that Helio Piñón, faithful to the modernity principles, have used the same project criteria for all his designs from furniture to urban complexes. Because, Helio seeks an artistic construction within every of his works. However, in order to understand his motivations it is necessary first to answer: what is art, architecture and artistic form?. And how these concepts lead to the usage of formal archetypes, which are shortenings for architects while projecting. These are project materials to the extent that they convert into general structures and provide particular solutions. Nevertheless, this is not an unbreakable law due that the architect with his/her discernment of form and insight, who represents reality so as to show an unknown, but esthetic interpretation. After a selection process, the didactic projects of Helio have been chosen for further analysis, from both his web page and academic work. This information along with his theoretical contributions is the main focus of this thesis. Redrawing as a learning tool has led to identify the structure as the orchestrator of the buildings. Thus, it is the discipline and universality of the structure in itself which harbor diverse archetypal solutions. Those devised as architectonic forms could be emplaced in any location without defining it neither disregarding it, but taking advantage its qualities and potentialities. Once the formal construction of the building is understood, the city is studied as a logic cause-effect sequence. A city is composed of buildings. From this perspective the approach of Helio is to tackle the urban issues from architecture. Therefore, form conception of Pinon serves as fundamental project material for both students and professionals. This concept transcends the construction magnitude, because the form is not a scale problem but a visual relation issue.