Can Emptiness Shape Identity?
In a way, embracing a context-driven methodology means thinking like architects who deeply engage with their surroundings. How can we visually represent such a way of thinking? I had never looked at architecture this way before, but realizing that the norm is often to remove existing context in favor of something entirely new — without valuing or building upon what’s already there — was eye-opening. There’s often a pursuit of “newness,” disconnected from any ecological or cultural continuity. Recognizing the importance of this attitude — of working with context rather than against it — feels essential when shaping an identity. It’s not only what defines an architectural practice, but what sets it apart. It’s the true cornerstone. And let’s be honest — this approach requires humility. In the architectural world, recognition tends to go to those who author something visibly “new,” not those who carefully restore, adapt, or collaborate. Yet some studios intentionally leave authorship at t...