

A Couple of Architect
ANABATA, in collaboration with Estica International, organized Live Series #2 titled “A Couple of Architectures.” This event features international architecture speakers, including the duo Joshua Comaroff and Ong Ker-Shing from Lekker Architects, Singapore, and Florian Idenburg and Jing Liu from So-iL, New York.
The history of modern and contemporary architecture, as well as design, is intricately tied to the stories of creative couples. This narrative begins at the dawn of the 20th century with Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald, two pivotal members of The Four, a Glasgow School collective that helped shape Art Nouveau’s distinctive industrial style. Moving into the mid-1900s, celebrated duos such as Charles and Ray Eames, Aline and Eero Saarinen, Florence and Hans Knoll, and Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown emerged, leaving indelible marks on architecture and design.
The trend of influential partnerships has continued into the 21st century, with names like Billie Tsien and Tod Williams, Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, and Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio joining the ranks. Each partnership operates uniquely, yet collectively, these couples are at the forefront of shaping the most groundbreaking trends, methods, and aesthetics in the design world.
For outsiders, the dynamics of these professional and personal relationships remain fascinatingly enigmatic. Their creations often serve as captivating symbols of their collaborative journeys—a narrative of love and partnership told through objects. The romantic ideal of combining life and work is compelling, yet it raises deeper questions:
- Do these couples find balance outside their work, or does work entirely define their lives?
- Is their shared professional journey the secret to success in both their careers and relationships?
- What does this intertwining of life and work say about the modern notion of work, particularly in an era where work often alienates individuals from their own sense of self?
Let’s explore these intriguing dynamics and dive into the dialogue!