ArchDaily · Creativity & design

"Beauty in Itself Is Dangerous:" Xu Tiantian on Moving Beyond Starchitecture

Architect Xu Tiantian critiques the concept of "starchitecture," advocating for a shift in focus from monumental buildings to architecture's capacity for meaningful impact, especially in the face of global challenges.

Xu Tiantian argues that architecture must evolve beyond ego-driven design, emphasizing what it can do rather than what architects create. This involves diagnosing existing conditions, identifying potential, and working with what is already present, marking a move towards responsibility and transformation.

Her "architectural acupuncture" methodology involves small-scale, site-specific interventions. This approach prioritizes local needs, materials, and cultural frameworks, aiming to activate dormant energies and catalyze social and spatial regeneration.

In rural settings, this strategy focuses on creating projects embedded within villages, fostering resident ownership and encouraging ongoing transformation. The goal is to initiate processes that stimulate new activities and economic opportunities.

Xu reconsiders beauty, locating it in the intelligence of vernacular practices where practicality, sustainability, and cultural continuity converge. She suggests that truly beautiful architecture is that which meaningfully supports life.

This year also featured interviews with architects Salwa and Selma Mikou on Moroccan architecture and craft, sculptor Pedro Reyes on "social sculpture" and craft preservation, artist Liam Young on future visions, and architect Tsuyoshi Tane on observation and site analysis.

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