Thematic articles

Simple details of life. The city setting, between story and emotion

Visiting architectural objects of unanimously accepted and affirmed value throughout history, one can observe multiple reactions to the wonder of detail, from people running their fingers over perfectly finished surfaces and taking notes (you can thus recognize architects in a mass of people) to simple mute exclamations, the gaze not knowing what to fix on, the interest perhaps being directed elsewhere, following the senses. The detail is perhaps the last redoubt that excites the architect's attention and stirs the imagination, perhaps also because, paradoxically perhaps, the quality of a major gesture is ultimately determined by the quality of the smallest parts that make it up. The decomposition does not, however, alter the content of the parts, which describe the whole on a different scale. In this respect, Dan Dediu observes that "not infrequently the small things, the details, have such an impact on the overall image of a structure, whatever its nature, that they become emblematic of the ethos of the whole".1 Depending on the sphere of interest of each individual, the detail therefore changes its symbolic charge. Perception operates changes of scale, with detail ultimately offering purely subjective 'guilty' pleasures, with such diverse valences and purposes. The power to think about detail, to discover, identify and interpret it is in itself a true art.

The fascination that detail exerts over the architects is understandable. Carefully attentive about details they find their completeness of creation's gesture, building and mere existence of their thought. Seeing architectural objects of recognized value and affirmed over the time one can notice multiple reactions given by the detail's marvel, from people touching the perfectly finished surfaces and taking notes - you can recognize architects this way - to simple silent reaction, the eye being confused on what to stop at, the interest might be directed into a totally different part following different senses. The detail is, probably, the last barricade that animates attention andawakens the architect imagination possibly because, and paradoxically, the quality of the major gesture is given ultimately by the quality of the smallest parts composing it. The decomposition does not alter the parts content, describing the whole at a different scale. In this sense Dan Dediu was observing that "very often, small things, details, are chaining the image of a general structure by any nature to the extent that they become emblematique for the whole ethos1. According to each one interest sphere, the detail changes its symbolic charge. Perception operates changes of scale and detail offers blameable delights that are purely subjective, with so different valences and finalities. The power to conceive the detail, to find it, to identify and interpret it is in itself a real art.