"10 Questions to..." is a series of short interviews with architects and female architects, to whom we address the same pool of questions. In today's installment of the mini-interview, interior architect Jacek Tryc answers about the most important buildings, the beauty of locomotives and modernist aesthetics.
Jacek Tryc - a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology, has been running his own design studio Jacek Tryc-interiors since 1999. Co-founder and board member of the Association of Interior Architects.
1. architecture in three words...?
a. Simplicity - because I believe that architecture is the art of subtraction.
b. Emotion - because architecture is a carrier of the architect's sensitivity, as well as a record of the dialogue between him and the investor. A place that changes under the influence of a project is filled with these emotions. It isgood when the design exposes them.
c. Consistency - because design is a certain way. The experience one acquires over the years - successes, but also failures - shape us, not only professionally. It is worth, in my opinion, to learn lessons, to analyze completed projects. This will make the next ones better.
2. the three most important buildings for you...?
a. Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, projet: Le Corbusier. The most beautiful building I have ever been in. A manifestation of the great architect's great sensitivity. I was most struck by the delicacy of the play of light in the interior, surprising in the context of the heavy concrete architecture. This is the only Corbusier building I have seen live. It is impossible to ignore it, it evokes incredible emotions.
b. Guggenheim Museum in New York, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I was hugely impressed by the timelessness of this architecture. The spiral ramp that forms the main exhibition space was built more than sixty years ago, and it surprises with its freshness and lightness.
c. The Columbus Museum in Cologne, design: by Peter Zumthor. A building growing on the ruins of a medieval church bombed during World War II. Excellent interiors that tell the difficult history of the place, but also manage to be a neutral background for the works of art displayed there.
3. the most important book on architecture...?
When I was in high school, it was the 1990s, I used to buy passionately the albums of the Taschen publishing house showing the achievements of modern architects. Photos of buildings by Gehry, Nouvel, Calatrava revealed to me the enormous wealth of possibilities for self-expression through form, detail, color, spatial relationships. This was very inspiring to me.
4 Most inspiring city and why...?
All places where styles, cultures, religions mix, where history intermingles with modernity, are extremely inspiring to me. There are many such cities that inspire me. I love Rome - every bit of it has a historical context. Every building stands on the foundations of older structures. These relationships electrify me a lot.
5. architect with whom you would like to design something and why...?
Patricia Urquiola - she has achieved incredible success as a designer, and yet she is a humble and straightforward person. She does not create barriers. She willingly shares her experience. I had the opportunity to speak with her several times and always felt afterwards that I knew more. I like to use products designed by Patricia. They do not imitate anything, they are simple and well thought out.
6. hand drawing or computer drawing?
Documentation - always from the computer. Because fast, because flexible, because without accidental errors. What is different is conceptual sketches. I scribble terribly, but I enjoy drawing. I most enjoy the summer open air, when I can draw with my children. I always enjoy the differences in our perception of the same places, details.
7. mockup or 3D model?
Despite the great ease in building mock-ups, which I have because of my interest in cardboard modeling, I definitely choose 3D modeling in my work. I prepare every project from the beginning in 3D - I can see much more this way. An important argument in favor of computer modeling is the ease of making changes. Traditional mockup is not so flexible, and the time needed for changes costs money... What's different after work. I model and mock-up a lot and often. I love building locomotives from cardboard. I am fascinated by 19th century engineering. Those were the days when every engineer made sure his work was beautiful. Locomotives are beautiful.
8. modernism or postmodernism?
A choice between reason and heart? I balance somewhere in between. I am very much inspired by modernist aesthetics. I live in Żoliborz, where every day I pass villas in the International style, built in the early 20th century. Today, many of the postulates of modernism are overdue. What is left is a certain style that may still be attractive, but modernism is no longer. This is overlaid by the very modern desire for individualism, design closely tailored to the investor, emphasizing his personality. The architect, expressing his emotions, clashes creatively with the recipient of his work. These are the characteristics of postmodernism. This is the kind of design I like.
9. work after hours or sport?
I never take my work home. I need a clear separation of work and private life. Pandemic made me lazy, I gave up the gym. I didn't sign up for any pseudo-sports association. I don't like such shortcuts. Now I'm back to physical activity and I'm very good with it. I walk a lot, more than twenty kilometers a week. Not far away I have the Kampinos Forest - there I regularly meet moose. Recently four during one walk.
10 - Architecture or business?
I run my own interior architecture studio and provide design services, architecture is a business for me. It is important to run such a business "with heart" - with commitment, ethically, with respect for the client. I accept such orders that do not conflict with my views, with my sensibilities. As a result, I do not have this dissonance - architecture or business.
