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Gabriel
Kozlowski
Kozlowski
Rio de Janeiro,
brazil
brazil
website
Gabriel's practice combines architecture, ecology, urban studies, and political theory, and his professional roles include curating the Venice Architecture Biennale, researching Amazonia at Harvard, authoring books, and hosting the Urban Nature podcast.
Gabriel Kozlowski is an architect, researcher, and founder of the POLES (Political Ecology of Space) bureau in Rio de Janeiro.
Do architects really think differently than representatives of other professions?
It’s hard for me to say that architects think fundamentally differently. But there are several features that, in my opinion, distinguish architectural thinking.
The first is the ability to simultaneously hold different scales. An architect rarely starts with a single object. First, we try to see the big picture, understand the system within which the problem exists, and only then move on to the details. We are constantly moving between the philosophical level of reflection and quite practical implementation issues.
The second feature is the ability to synthesize knowledge. Architecture requires constant work with a huge amount of information: technical, social, economic, cultural, environmental. All this data needs to be put together, comprehended and turned into an understandable spatial solution. In a sense, the architect acts as a curator of knowledge
It’s hard for me to say that architects think fundamentally differently. But there are several features that, in my opinion, distinguish architectural thinking.
The first is the ability to simultaneously hold different scales. An architect rarely starts with a single object. First, we try to see the big picture, understand the system within which the problem exists, and only then move on to the details. We are constantly moving between the philosophical level of reflection and quite practical implementation issues.
The second feature is the ability to synthesize knowledge. Architecture requires constant work with a huge amount of information: technical, social, economic, cultural, environmental. All this data needs to be put together, comprehended and turned into an understandable spatial solution. In a sense, the architect acts as a curator of knowledge
And finally, the third feature is project thinking. An architect almost never works exclusively with the present. Any project is an attempt to imagine the future. We are wondering not only about what exists today, but also about what the situation may become after our intervention. Each project is a hypothesis about the future state of the world. That is why architecture always remains a forward-looking discipline.
Is there a project that best reflects your approach to architecture?
It's difficult for me to choose one project. Almost everything we do at POLES is built around the same questions, so each of them becomes a continuation of the previous research. For example, we are currently studying changes in Brazil's coastal areas under the influence of climatic processes. On the one hand, this is an academic study. On the other hand, it is gradually turning into architectural proposals, spatial strategies and new design methods.
I think it's important that architecture is not limited to the production of objects. Sometimes the most valuable result is new knowledge.
It turns out that an architect needs to be a researcher today?
In many ways, yes. Of course, the architect still designs buildings. But today it is no longer enough.
The world is becoming so complex that the profession has to constantly expand its own boundaries. An architect has to work with ecology, sociology, political theory, anthropology, economics. Not because it's fashionable, but because otherwise it's impossible to understand the processes we're dealing with.
I like the idea that an architect is a person who knows how to ask questions. Sometimes a good question is more important than a ready answer. That is why, in our practice, research never precedes a project as a separate stage. It goes on all the time. Each new project changes our understanding of the topic and forces us to reconsider previous conclusions.
It's difficult for me to choose one project. Almost everything we do at POLES is built around the same questions, so each of them becomes a continuation of the previous research. For example, we are currently studying changes in Brazil's coastal areas under the influence of climatic processes. On the one hand, this is an academic study. On the other hand, it is gradually turning into architectural proposals, spatial strategies and new design methods.
I think it's important that architecture is not limited to the production of objects. Sometimes the most valuable result is new knowledge.
It turns out that an architect needs to be a researcher today?
In many ways, yes. Of course, the architect still designs buildings. But today it is no longer enough.
The world is becoming so complex that the profession has to constantly expand its own boundaries. An architect has to work with ecology, sociology, political theory, anthropology, economics. Not because it's fashionable, but because otherwise it's impossible to understand the processes we're dealing with.
I like the idea that an architect is a person who knows how to ask questions. Sometimes a good question is more important than a ready answer. That is why, in our practice, research never precedes a project as a separate stage. It goes on all the time. Each new project changes our understanding of the topic and forces us to reconsider previous conclusions.
You worked on the Venice Architecture Biennale. What did this experience give you?
The Biennale is a very special space. It gathers a huge number of architects, researchers, artists and curators from all over the world. Over the course of several months, it has been possible to see what issues the architectural community in different countries is concerned about today.
Architecture ceases to define itself solely through construction and begins to perceive itself as a discipline that helps to understand the structure of the world.That is why today at the biennale you can see not only building projects, but also ocean research, agriculture, mining, climate change or migration. At first glance, it seems that all this is far from architecture. In fact, it is these processes that increasingly define the space in which we live.
But where does architecture end then? Does the profession have boundaries?
I increasingly think that the question needs to be put differently. Not where architecture ends up, but what tools it can use to understand the world. If an architect starts studying ecology, it does not mean that he becomes a biologist. If he studies economics, he doesn't turn into an economist.
But architecture has an amazing ability to combine different types of knowledge and translate them into spatial solutions. That's where I see her strength. It seems to me that architects sometimes worry too much about blurring professional boundaries. For me, on the contrary, it is a sign of maturity of discipline. The more complex the problems become, the more the profession should be open to cooperation. Architecture has never existed in isolation. It's just that today this relationship has become especially obvious.
The Biennale is a very special space. It gathers a huge number of architects, researchers, artists and curators from all over the world. Over the course of several months, it has been possible to see what issues the architectural community in different countries is concerned about today.
Architecture ceases to define itself solely through construction and begins to perceive itself as a discipline that helps to understand the structure of the world.That is why today at the biennale you can see not only building projects, but also ocean research, agriculture, mining, climate change or migration. At first glance, it seems that all this is far from architecture. In fact, it is these processes that increasingly define the space in which we live.
But where does architecture end then? Does the profession have boundaries?
I increasingly think that the question needs to be put differently. Not where architecture ends up, but what tools it can use to understand the world. If an architect starts studying ecology, it does not mean that he becomes a biologist. If he studies economics, he doesn't turn into an economist.
But architecture has an amazing ability to combine different types of knowledge and translate them into spatial solutions. That's where I see her strength. It seems to me that architects sometimes worry too much about blurring professional boundaries. For me, on the contrary, it is a sign of maturity of discipline. The more complex the problems become, the more the profession should be open to cooperation. Architecture has never existed in isolation. It's just that today this relationship has become especially obvious.
Many people often accuse architecture of destroying nature. Do you agree with this? And if so, is it possible to change this relationship?
It seems to me that we should first abandon the very idea that there are two independent realities — architecture and nature. Throughout the history of mankind, architecture has always emerged in interaction with the natural environment. From the first shelters to modern cities, we constantly defined our attitude to the world around us through the space we created.
Therefore, it seems to me that the juxtaposition of "natural" and "artificial" is erroneous. Architecture always enters into a conversation with the environment. We can't give up on this conversation. The only thing we can do is to lead it more responsibly.
But there is another important point here. Ecology should not displace the conversation about social justice. I find it dangerous to imagine that architects should now focus exclusively on nature and forget about everything else. In reality, environmental and social problems cannot be separated. That's why my office is called POLES — Political Ecology of Space.
Political ecology says that ecological processes are always related to issues of power, resource allocation, social conflicts and social justice. You can't discuss climate change without talking about inequality at the same time. You can't design sustainable territories without thinking about the people who will live in them.
It seems to me that we should first abandon the very idea that there are two independent realities — architecture and nature. Throughout the history of mankind, architecture has always emerged in interaction with the natural environment. From the first shelters to modern cities, we constantly defined our attitude to the world around us through the space we created.
Therefore, it seems to me that the juxtaposition of "natural" and "artificial" is erroneous. Architecture always enters into a conversation with the environment. We can't give up on this conversation. The only thing we can do is to lead it more responsibly.
But there is another important point here. Ecology should not displace the conversation about social justice. I find it dangerous to imagine that architects should now focus exclusively on nature and forget about everything else. In reality, environmental and social problems cannot be separated. That's why my office is called POLES — Political Ecology of Space.
Political ecology says that ecological processes are always related to issues of power, resource allocation, social conflicts and social justice. You can't discuss climate change without talking about inequality at the same time. You can't design sustainable territories without thinking about the people who will live in them.
Retreat inbetween Curves
gardes em pedra
Brazilian Pavilion Expo 2020
Brazil Antarctic Station
Brazilian Pavilion Expo 2020
How do you see the future of architecture?
It seems to me that the main question today is not what the buildings will be like.For too long, we have linked the future of architecture solely to form. It is much more important to understand what the very attitude of man towards the planet will become. The 20th century was in many ways a time of endless growth. Architecture accompanied this growth, providing it with new cities, infrastructure, and construction. Now it becomes obvious that this model has limits.
It seems to me that the architecture will gradually shift from the production of objects to working with existing systems. We will reconstruct, adapt, and restore more often. We will work more with landscapes, water, soils, agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Architecture will become less objective and more procedural. Increasingly, she will focus not on a single building, but on the relationship between people, nature, technology, and territories. This is probably the main challenge of our generation.
What do you like most about being an architect?
Probably the opportunity to change your own view of the world. Every project makes you see something that you haven't noticed before. Architecture teaches us to understand how complex any territories and any communities are. She constantly reminds us that there is almost never one right solution to a problem.
And if the project helps people to see the place they live in differently, then architecture has already fulfilled its task.
It seems to me that the main question today is not what the buildings will be like.For too long, we have linked the future of architecture solely to form. It is much more important to understand what the very attitude of man towards the planet will become. The 20th century was in many ways a time of endless growth. Architecture accompanied this growth, providing it with new cities, infrastructure, and construction. Now it becomes obvious that this model has limits.
It seems to me that the architecture will gradually shift from the production of objects to working with existing systems. We will reconstruct, adapt, and restore more often. We will work more with landscapes, water, soils, agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Architecture will become less objective and more procedural. Increasingly, she will focus not on a single building, but on the relationship between people, nature, technology, and territories. This is probably the main challenge of our generation.
What do you like most about being an architect?
Probably the opportunity to change your own view of the world. Every project makes you see something that you haven't noticed before. Architecture teaches us to understand how complex any territories and any communities are. She constantly reminds us that there is almost never one right solution to a problem.
And if the project helps people to see the place they live in differently, then architecture has already fulfilled its task.
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