The Work of American Architect Patrick Tighe
Is it possible for the art world to keep on finding concepts with a sense of groundbreaking modernity and innovation? Those things are quite separate from each other and can look very different, but one great example of someone doing both is the architect Patrick Tighe.
It’s impossible to deny that he’s one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture. His designs are an absolute revolution. Their shapes and formats are completely original and creative. To put it another way: there’s nothing conventional about his work.
The truth is, it’s not easy to design buildings that can be a clear symbol of the unexpected heights architecture can reach. That being said, Patrick Tighe definitely reaches those heights, and he does it with his unprecedented designs.
Who is Patrick Tighe?
With a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles, Patrick Tighe showed early signs of a gift for this art. It’s worth mentioning that he had a long development period, rubbing shoulders with renowned architects, and eventually working at Frank Gehry’s firm.
Of course, to have become so important, he has spearheaded some major projects. He uses the state of California as his canvas. He has also shared his knowledge in countless magazine and textbook publications. This is a way for him to spread his ideas.
His work has gained international recognition, winning many awards, including the American Academy’s Rome Prize. At the moment, he works as a teacher at the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture.
This artist is a faithful reflection of creativity, emotion, art, and innovation.
The main characteristics of Patrick Tighe’s designs
The first thing to understand is that he breaks completely from traditional methods of construction. His goal with his designs is to open up new perspectives, offer unusual aesthetics, and create dynamic exteriors. Let’s take a more detailed look at some of the characteristics of his work:
- He constantly plays around with volume and size. If you look at any of the buildings he has designed, you’ll get a sense of gracefulness and freshness. It’s clear he’s trying to open up new possibilities for buildings that have day-to-day functions.
- His formats are completely different from established designs. In other words, you can tell that his angles are much more abrupt. He does away with symmetry and tries to create a dynamic feeling, occasionally causing some tension, but without ever losing the overall balance.
- He’s also always combining curved and straight lines. It’s hard not to notice that creativity is present in every area of his designs. Even basic parts of the building have a mixture of vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.
- His main goal is to stand out from the traditional architecture crowd. Why shouldn’t we try making buildings in different ways? That’s what Tighe wants us to consider. He also tries to make sure his designs make room for a lot of natural light to enter.
La Brea Affordable Housing
This building was completed in 2013 and is in West Hollywood (California). It’s probably one of Tighe’s masterpieces, partly because of the way it summarizes so much of what he’s trying to do with his unique designs.
In this building, you can see that characteristic combination of straight and curved lines. It combines architectural academicism with artistic touches. It’s trying to become an icon of the modern architectural movement.
The most noteworthy thing about the building is the corner with the horizontal, curving lines. They look like gigantic, asymmetrical brushstrokes. These lines convey a sense of elasticity and movement. But that’s contrasted with the other part of the building, which is much more stable and looks much more conventional.
Patrick sees buildings as a blank canvas to explore his wildest ideas.
Hollywood Hills House: a passion for curves
In the case of this building, the curves aren’t as obvious as the last one. But they’re definitely still there, and they make the building look absolutely majestic. From certain angles, it can look almost like a spaceship, with huge, open-plan interiors.
The exterior design is completely groundbreaking. Though there’s a definite horizontal focus here, it’s still balanced and uses a long curve to avoid feeling squat. Of course, being Patrick Tighe, there are multiple formats, and he makes sure lots of light can get in through wide bays.
It’s a building that acts as a perfect example of Tighe’s imagination, and his desire to create unique, unusual objects through architecture.
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All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Mayne, Thom; Phillips, Stephen: Patrick Tighe Architecture: building dichotomy, Mulgrave, Images Publishing, 2016.