“How do architects think?”

A dispute devoted to architecture

January 27,  2010

Prof. Inmaculada Jimenez Caballero

“How do architects think?”

The third Navarrian Dispute was devoted to mental frameworks created by architects. The open lecture was delivered on January 27, 2010 by Prof. Inmaculada Jimenez Caballero the School of Architecture of the University of Navarre in Pamplona. The lecture was organized in Collegium Maximum of the Nicolaus Copernicus University. It was entitled “How do architects think?”. The lecture pertained to architectural drawings which are prerequisites for the creative process of architectural design. Prof. Jimenez stipulated that it is worth explaining this phenomenon on the example of Le Corbusier – a French town-planner, one of the most highly acclaimed architects of the 20th century. The lecture was delivered in Spanish and interpreted simultaneously. The professor presented some of Le Corbusier’s architectural drawings and attributed his professional development to two enriching journeys he made in his youth to Italy and Eastern Europe (years 1907 – 1911). She mentioned that by changing his perception and naturalistic style of drawing Le Corbusier has radically transformed the contemporary approach to architecture. The artist supposedly underwent this poignant metamorphosis in a carthusian monastery in the vicinity of Florence. From that time on he was pursued mathematical rigor and simple forms.
In accordance with the tradition of the Navarrian Disputes after the lecture the audience could ask the lecturer questions. The posed questions pertained to: relation between creativity and conservation demands, advantages of architectural drawings and development of new technologies, the professor’s opinion on Toruń and factors which awakened her interest in architecture. The remand centre at Piekary Street is the building that Prof. Inmaculada Jimenez Caballero considers interesting from the point of view of an architect.
Worth knowing:
Inmaculada Jimenez Caballero is a professor at the Architectural Design Department, which is part of the School of Architecture of the University of Navarre.  Her field of research embraces architectural forms.  She delivers lectures at many prestigious universities around the world, in America, Asia and Europe. Moreover, she participates as an expert in international UN summits devoted to new city urban projects (e.g. City Summit in Istanbul – Project ”Habitat”). She also sits on a jury in many intentional architectural competitions and holds the function of a moderator during renown “Expressarte” disputes.   What is more, she conducts master courses in drawing and sculpture. Finally, she curated numerous exhibitions devoted to architecture (e.g. architectural treasures of Camino de Santiago).
Toruń was a host to prof. Inmaculadę Jimenez Caballero as the third guest of the Navarrian Disputes. The professor met with representatives of the local voivodehip and municipal authorities and visited the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Nicolaus Copernicus University where she talked to professors and students as well as a group of gimnazjum pupils from Radomin. She also saw the university campus and the old town.