JOHN PAWSON: PLAIN SPACE (MONOMIN)

john pawson is a true visionary and a personal hero of mine. influenced by japanese architecture, he pioneered the minimalist movement. upon graduating from the architectural association in london, he began designing retail spaces, most notably that of calvin klein on madison avenue, which catapulted him into a career that would then receive large, well-known projects throughout the world. pawson is mostly known for his residences - something that i find more admirable due to their seemingly simple, but in fact complicated nature - having to execute a beautiful design within everyday living parameters and within a heightened sensibility of human security and comfort is not an easy task. however, that sensibility and spatial intimacy is something he seems to carry throughout all of his projects, no matter the scale. his sense of precision, light and proportion - the restraint, refinement and sensuality of material that he executes allows his designs to feel inviting and good-natured, despite the stark white geometries. a true master of architecture, please meet john pawson:

("if you make it simple, if you make it visually clear and unornamented, without decoration, then all the lines have to be straighter. it's very complex to make something simple.")

("primarily, i want to provide spaces in which people feel good. space is what makes me feel different when i go into good architecture." )

Rachel Hall Taravella

JOHN PAWSON: PLAIN SPACE