Pragmatical & aesthetical.

When pragmatism meets aesthetics, you can find lovely ideas.


Here's an example of a building mixing pragmatism (the need to collect rainwater and to use it) and aesthetics, in a really simple way. The water butt is substitued to a serie of watering cans fixed on the wall. You can then use directly these watering cans on your garden.

 I know, it may not be that practical when the watering cans are full and flood the floor but still, I think it's a pretty nice idea that you can use to collect rainwater on a shed for example.

The architect, Max Levy, always put nature and space in the center of his work. He uses aspects of nature like sunlight and shadows to help feel the "timelessness" of time. In all his projects, you can feel a sense of unity between the building and environnemental requirements, like collecting rainwater.


Here's another example : 
On this rather simple building, hundreds of steel leaves are fixed. With the course of the sun, these leaves form a giant sundial. The moving shadows are there more to display the passage of time than to tell you the time of the day. The architect thinks it soothing, and I join him on that point.

 

Have a look at his website : in an introduction video Max Levy presents his work and the meaning of it. Look until the end to watch him explain the columbarium project. For me, it's just beautiful, in terms of feelings and forms. And it's really nice to see a project on this kind of place, so meaningful but too often neglected in term of architecture and landscaping.


All pictures : Max Levy's website.