Cruz y Ortiz, the kings of synthesis, on show in Seville
Architect duo Antonio Cruz and Antonio Ortiz feature in an extensive exhibition in Seville, their city of origin and headquarters. Eighteen projects, on show at the Convent of Nuestra Señora de los Reyes, represent the most international Andalusian architects of the moment. Who in over three decades of fruitful collaboration (begun in 1971) have been able to spread their ideas throughout Europe (“Fifty percent of our buildings are outside Spain, mostly in Holland” they point out): from the Doña María Coronel housing project in Seville which in 1974 brought them the attention of the critics, to three recent projects in Amsterdam: the library for the university of Amsterdam, work on which is due to start shortly, the redesign of the Rijksmuseum, and a 45 floor tower (150metres high).
What links this range of different buildings – museums, Olympic stadiums, housing, libraries, exhibition pavilions – is found in the title of the exhibition “Arquitectura de síntesis”, (architecture of synthesis). “In architecture many aspects come into play, for us there isn’t one element that is more important then the others, what counts is the sum of the parts”, explains Antonio Cruz, “the different aspects – social, structural, formal, economic and environmental have to find a point of convergence in the design of architecture”. Taking account of these elements, each project has to reflect the simplest and most essential solution possible, that which it has to be.
until 29.6.2003 Cruz y Ortiz. Arquitectura de síntesis Convento de Nuestra Señora de los Reyes
The olympic stadium in Seville
The spanish pavilion designed for the Hanover expo, 2000
