In a contemporary world where architecture, interior design and construction are generally viewed as separate fields, Toronto-based studio Audax combines the three. Founder Gianpiero Pugliese is passionate about the history of architecture and interior design, and is committed to reintroducing the tactile and humanistic elements lost in contemporary design, forming a design philosophy that he calls "humanistic architecture." Pugliese is active as a speaker within the design community and is often invited to share insights at industry conferences on urban construction. This exclusive interview by "Supreme" deeply explores Pugliese's design philosophy, focusing on the relationship between traditional design principles and modern aesthetics, and the embodiment of these elements in urban construction.
Pugliese explains why he combined the three disciplines: "My passion for architecture and interior design originated from my childhood love of drawing, Lego and building structures. Both fields require equally creative and logical thinking. . Historically, there has been no clear distinction between architecture and interior design, and architects have always integrated the interior with the overall design when designing a building. When designing interiors, architects need to understand how space planning and interior design operate. , while also considering the placement of furniture, so I find it makes more sense to pursue a single design vision in both architecture and interior design.”
He continued: "The concept of combined construction came from the experience of working with builders. I found that there were many misunderstandings during the construction process. It was difficult for the builders to understand the intention of the design drawings, and architects were required to act as middlemen. To simplify this process, we tried Integrating design and construction provides an overall feel, making the entire picture present a clear three-dimensional effect. This integration is not only a technical combination, but also integrates aesthetic, design and construction elements into the project to form a seamless. The combination of seams makes the whole process more efficient and in-depth.”
Pugliese believes that the pursuit of beauty is not only reflected in design, but also a concept of design philosophy, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to aesthetics in the design process. This philosophy guides his thinking on humanistic architecture. Although he was born in Canada and grew up in the United States, his family is from Italy, which gives him a deep connection with the old times. He said: “The school did not really encourage students to learn classical architectural language, which prompted me to think, why not create an architectural style that blends old and new, combining the excellent elements of historical buildings with the innovative ideas of modern architecture? This is what I think Advocating humanistic architecture, an architectural style that combines classical and modern styles to show the combination of historical elements and innovative ideas.”
He explained: "This fusion is an in-depth exploration of the relationship between classics and modernity, pursuing a design that has a deep sense of history and a modern style at the same time. Each project is an exploration of the evolution of architectural styles, aiming to find the balance between tradition and modernity." A perfect balance between modernity. Committed to integrating aesthetics, history and innovative spirit into every project to realize the pursuit of beauty. I attach great importance to history and believe that we should respect it. At the same time, I emphasize the need for the younger generation to relearn traditional skills. Such as hand-drawn design drawings, because these skills are vital to our industry. It is the integrated thinking of the past, present and future that is reflected in every building we create.”
The studio recently completed a project that lasted several years. He said: "The creative process of Villa Cortile was a search for the roots of Italy. The owners were a couple with their son. They dreamed of building a house that felt like they were in Italy. Home in Italy. I was inspired a lot by the small squares in the Venetian neighborhoods that are surrounded by buildings and have an intimate courtyard feel. It made me think, why not introduce such scale and intimacy into ours. What about architectural design?
The concept of Villa Cortile is rooted in tradition and classicism, but reinterprets these elements in a contemporary way, reflecting their unique vision of beauty. He continues, "Breaking with design expectations of traditional Toronto homes, I moved the front door under an arch to create a dramatic entrance that leads to the courtyard. The courtyard becomes a unique experience with trees as the focal point. The main living area, For example, the kitchen and living room both face the courtyard, creating an atmosphere of interaction with nature. In the building, we created an axis to guide the sight to the backyard, ensuring that sufficient light enters the courtyard, creating a characteristic similar to the beautiful courtyards in Venice. .
Sustainable architecture is about beauty
As a lecturer at the University of Toronto, Pugliese is convinced that architecture and design play a vital role in shaping urban environments. He bluntly said: “I think we are primarily responsible for creating the appearance of cities. Although the current construction industry emphasizes social agenda and sustainability, there is relatively insufficient attention to the importance of creating beautiful environments. Urban construction currently tends to be relativistic and focuses on Social and environmental issues, but in this process, concern for building beautiful environments seems to have been neglected. This may be attributed to the lack of traditional aesthetics in university education. The concept of beauty is often regarded as relative in academic settings. , because everyone has a different view of beauty. However, I firmly believe that most people have a common understanding of beauty, although it may be difficult to express.”
As for the sustainability of architecture and interior design, he said: "While many people talk about green buildings, such as green roofs and rainwater detention, in reality, there are still many buildings built with a lot of energy and concrete. At the same time, we often demolish some "It's a very beautiful building, but it's questionable from a sustainability point of view," he continued, "I've seen a building that's 300 years old, passed down from generation to generation, and continued to be used for 500 years. This kind of thing. Furniture and cabinets in buildings last for generations and become part of history, which inspires me to advocate for making extremely high-quality, long-lasting products with the thought that future generations may live in the house. .Use the finest natural stone and take it out of the earth once to make it last forever."
“The power of sustainable architecture lies in its beauty. Beautiful buildings are easier to protect because people are willing to maintain them. In contrast, things built today, even if they have green building features, may be useless in 30 or 40 years if they are not beautiful. will be dismantled and rebuilt, with a huge negative impact on the environment and carbon emissions. Therefore, my attitude is to build for the future and create beautiful and sustainable buildings with high-quality, durable materials,” he said.
Humanistic creativity cannot be replaced
For the next generation of architects and interior designers, Pugliese hopes they will return to basics and respect the importance of traditional hand-drawing as technology advances. He said: "Although the rise of artificial intelligence has changed the way we work, creativity still occurs between the human mind, hands and brushes. It is suggested that the younger generation should learn from the past, question the concepts instilled by professors, and learn from the past and Now select the best elements to create a beautiful city together.”
“In terms of new technologies, artificial intelligence may give people the false impression that anyone can design easily, but the importance of the real built environment will become even more prominent. Successful professionals need to have a wide range of knowledge, including construction, business, materials , interior design and many other aspects to understand and respond to challenges more comprehensively. Artificial intelligence can help perform tasks faster, but the core role of designers is planning, and the challenge is how to realize the design into architecture or interior design.”
He believes that successful professionals in the future need to have humanistic and creative roles, "This cannot be replaced by machines, because artificial intelligence is difficult to truly understand human culture and personal feelings about beauty. Therefore, the education system should be rethought and let people return to traditional architecture This will be the key to coping with the changes brought about by new technologies. "It is true that with the advancement of science and technology, the demand for humanities and creativity has become increasingly prominent, and I believe this will also promote the development and innovation in these fields.
