Architects: weavers of dreams
The following is the Acceptance Speech of Prof. Richard England on the occasion of the confernment of the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) from the University of Malta last November.
Is it indeed not a truism, as William Blake states, that “we become what we behold?
”Allow me to start off by extending my grateful thanks to the Rector of the University Professor Alfred J Vella and to the Senate and Council for having generously conferred upon me this prestigious Degree of Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa). My thanks also go to Professor Alex Torpiano, Dean of the Faculty for the Built Environment, a most esteemed and valued colleague for his sponsorship and indeed over generous oration. May I say that as a designer of several sacred spaces, I am also humbled to be standing here in this superb ambiance, a masterly edifice of sacrality created by architect Francesco Buonamici. No other accolades received from Universities in other countries and peers overseas, have given me more satisfaction and pleasure than this honour bestowed upon me by my homeland and more so, by my very own alma mater.
I must admit that I stand here because of what I have inherited and assimilated throughout my life and in the process of my architectural education from the rich environmental and architectural dowry of my native land; a formidable heritage which has been a major influence on the whole of my architectural formation. Is it indeed not a truism, as William Blake states, that “we become what we behold”? Over and above this rich environmental mnemonic heirloom, one also however needs a rich intellectual overlay. I was fortunate enough to obtain this from a number of personalities who I was privileged to have met and who I consider to have been invaluable teachers and mentors. These include such eminent personalities as Gio Ponti, Basil Spence and Victor Pasmore. Each meeting with these personalities was a definitive masterclass from which I always emerged enriched and intellectually enhanced. What a privilege to have personal sagacious tutorage from these extraordinary people! One other person who was also fundamental in the formation of my life and whole thinking process, who cannot remain unmentioned, was the late Professor Peter Serracino Inglott, a close, intimate and much cherished friend, who, with his measureless cultural baggage and prodigious knowledge, was always a constant beacon of cognizance and enlightenment. Allow me one other expression of gratitude on a personal level. Deep and special thanks go to my wife and muse Myriam for years of constant support, encouragement and love.
Now some considerations on architecture, which by the way, I consider more of a vocation than a profession. It was Winston Churchill who said that “we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us”. No other words demonstrate so clearly the onus that lies on architects’ shoulders, even more so in today’s turbulent world of speculative greed, misery and war. As architects we must remember that what we build is mood-manipulative, for, architecture influences the mental, emotional and physical state of our whole being. What we perceive informs what we believe and society is influenced and fashioned by its surroundings. Architecture, once a road to enlightenment, has today, regretfully, degenerated into a route to speculation. If we were to analyse today’s world, it is obvious that we live in a mythless era, focused solely on materialistic and commercial gain. All is measured in monetary terms. We live in an age where we know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Perhaps it is worth bearing in mind that when the last tree is cut and the last river runs dry, we cannot eat our money. Life also seems to be characterised by a malaise of indifference, not only one between human beings themselves, but also that of man’s indifferent behaviour towards the planet and its ecology. In this age of celebration with prodigious developments in science, medicine, information and communication, there is also however, a sense of loss. We have lost the true values of the spirit and consequently, the relationship between our species as fellow brethren. In a world which is spiritually and morally bankrupt, we have murdered wonder and consequently left ourselves and our planet bare, inert and barren of love. Ours is a culture numbed by consumerism and the worship of power. It may therefore be useful to bear in mind that though we still have much to learn, we perhaps, also, have more to remember.
Globalisation is gradually taking over the whole of the planet. If this means that the world is becoming more connected through economic growth and faster communication, then, this is a positive development. If on the other hand, the world turns into a global village and globalisation drapes its stolid unifying mantle over all and sundry, eradicating the unique spirit and character of particular ambiances, then regretfully, this would result in a dementia of the spirit of place of countries with a consequential loss of all individual, mnemonic baggage. If this were to happen, it will then be the particular original identity of place that will assume paramount importance, not only in emotional and soulsearching terms, but also in monetary value …let this be a warning for Malta with the sword of Damocles of high-rise mania presently hovering over our isle.
While architects of today must definitely think globally, they must also act locally. We need to ask what has happened to architecture today as a social art? Surely, it is time for us to re-establish an altruistic social consciousness for an architecture that caters for a holistic totality of human requirements. It is therefore necessary for architecture to re-think itself and not only focus on projects of mammon, speculative greed and monetary gain and profit, but more so, on the more humane requirements of the marginalised, poor, homeless, migrants, together with the millions of todays’ roaming refugees. While it is the architect’s duty to solve all functional aspects of a building, the reinstatement of poetry, myth and magic, in order to again reawaken and re-instate in man, spirituality, ecstasy and rapture, remains a paramount requirement. Alain de Botton in his book ‘The Architecture of Happiness’ emphasises that “the failure of architects to create congenial environments, mirrors the contemporary inability to find happiness in our lives”.
It is necessary to remember that we are all leaves of the same tree, and that tree is humanity. Stewardship of the earth is an essential philosophy to be followed, for the planet remains our common inheritance, an inheritance which must be beneficial to all of mankind. It is paramount for us to learn to value, not only what we own, but also what we share. Yet, sharing can only come about through love and reconciliation. The words of Teilhard de Chardin are worth recalling“someday, when we have mastered the winds, the tides and gravity we will harness the energies of love, then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire”. It seems that what is required now is a completely new methodology in man’s thinking and behavioural patterns.
Booker prize author Ben Okri, reminds us that “love is the greatest weapon” perhaps the supreme tool for reconciliation, as does also Pope Francis, surely today’s most inspirational beacon of hope, with his loving, compassionate attitude, who constantly preaches that love is the most vitally needed attribute to unthread and unravel our contemporary, knotted and estranged world.
Regretfully, our own surrounding Middle Sea basin is also plagued by hate, war and
strife; conflicts stemming not only from the gluttonous greed for profit and power, but also from the misconceived creed of religious differences. It remains imperative that difference in beliefs is never translated into diffidence and this again, can only be achieved through love and reconciliation.
It is difficult to comprehend why religious conflicts come about, since the word ‘religion’ comes from the Latin word ‘relegare’ meaning to bind and bond, and also that no religion preaches violence or hate.
With all this in mind, I have recently humbly conceived a project for our island; a sanctuary of peace, fashioned to foster love and reconciliation between the three Monotheistic Faiths all sharing the same Abrahamic roots. The concept, which I have termed ‘A Triangle of Peace’, incorporates the design of three sacred spaces, a Mosque, Synagogue and Christian Chapel, joined by a central communal meeting space conceived as a bridge of dialogue and reconciliation. In religion, two wars still rage – the first a literary and theological battle between believers and non-believers and a far more devastating war-mongering conflict between believers themselves; all ironically lifting their disparate voices to the same God. Is it not tragic that religion, which should primarily be a hospital for souls, is turned into an arena of war?The Triangle of Peace project is conceived as a shelter and oasis of peace, reaching out for reconciliation between these three faiths.
While only a micro effort towards creating a handshake of love and brotherhood, I sincerely hope that this project will one day see the light of day, for I remain a staunch believer in the words of Jorge Luis Borges that the job of the architect is “to weave dreams”. If the Triangle of Peace is but a micro gesture for reconciliation, other movements and ideals, on a far more
macro and global scale, are required to further the cause of achieving a non-violent and peaceful world. It falls on the shoulders of the young and generations still to come, to carve the roadmap of hope. I firmly believe that they will go for it, for it is now a vital and essential necessity for the very survival of our species. Ben Okri’s words again provide encouragement “we are at a precious moment in times’ ovulation, with our spirits right, we can enchant the future with the might of love”. This will be achieved by vigilantly carrying the flag of love and reconciliation to hopefully change the destiny of mankind. However, it will not be an easy task, for we must remember that “those who dance are always considered insane by those who do not hear the music”.