CNN Style has made Daniel Libeskind a guest editor for a series of articles around the theme, "Architecture and Emotion." In this article, Alyn Griffiths takes a look at "individuality" in architecture, with a general presumption that it's under attack.

While beginning with the caveat that every building is the product of "many minds and hands," the article is primarily oriented around Libeskind's belief that buildings best "engage people's emotions... when the architect's own vision and feelings are expressed through the design."

It's a bit unclear how much Libeskind was involved with the article itself, although he's quoted early on in the piece. "Individual expression is what makes people different from other animals," claims Libeskind. "It's what defines us as a species and yet, increasingly, individuality is a dirty word in architecture."

These are strong biological and sociological claims – with little backing offered. But assumptions aside, is their some validity to concerns that architecture could, and is, losing the capacity to express the ideas of an individual because of pressures from developers who prefer genericity? 

It's a difficult question and undeniably layered. On the one hand, there's a lot to be said about the relative modernity of individualist values, particularly – but not exclusively – in regards to architecture. Generally speaking, individualism is a value that emerged concurrently with modern capitalism, accelerating in importance with neoliberalism. Ironically enough, not one of the buildings in the photo gallery that accompanies the article is the product of an individual architect. (via Archinect)

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Throughout his career, Libeskind has sought to create buildings that engage people's emotions, and he feels this is best achieved when the architect's own vision and feelings are expressed through the design.

"Individual expression is what makes people different from other animals," he says. "It's what defines us as a species and yet, increasingly, individuality is a dirty word in architecture."1

  • 1. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/31/architecture/daniel-libeskind-individuality-architecture/index.html