Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | K | Kindred Spirit

Living architecture: the Rudolph Steiner Seminar in Sweden has been designed by Erik Asmussen. He puts into practice Rudolph Steiner's idea of a 'living architecture'. Hannah Adcock takes a visit.

Article Excerpt
From the road you can glimpse coloured, irregular dwellings that seem to squat like living creatures in their natural surroundings of trees and granite. Even in southern Sweden, with its tradition of coloured outhouses, these exuberantly colourful buildings are special. On the greyest day they project a feeling of warmth and energy that extends beyond their walls to energise the natural spaces beyond. These buildings (in Jarna, Sweden)--including a school, hospital and library--comprise the Rudolf Steiner Seminar and serve the body, soul and spirit of the 250-strong community who live and work there.

The Steiner Seminar buildings realise the vision of architect Erik Asmussen, who passed away in 1998, aged 79. Asmussen was influenced by Rudolf Steiner, pedagogue, philosopher and founder of anthroposophy. As part of his anthroposophical beliefs Steiner spoke of a 'living architecture' that would 'grow out of the earth'. Similarly, Asmussen believed that 'buildings should be responsive to their site conditions and to the life and purpose of the client and community for which they were devised'. These were more than fine words for Asmussen. He lived and worked in the Seminar community as he drafted its expansion. He knew what the community desired because he belonged to it. He believed that his work could make a positive difference to people's lives.

Asmussen's vision is very different from today's architectural impulse, one which shuts certain people in, shuts others out, and is often a financial investment for constructor and buyer alike. Whether the form of...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!