Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi is an architectural writer , critic, curator of numerous exhibitions and events and the president of Associazione Italiana di Architettura e Critica (www.architetturaecritica.com).
He writes for: The Plan, L’Arca, Edilizia e Territorio, Architectural Design, A10, Domus, Monument, Platform, Abitare, Sole24Ore. He was the chief editor of the international magazine Compasses (www.compasses.ae). He is an editor for Le Carré Bleu and Il Progetto and the director of the weekly presS/ Tletter (www.presstletter.com). His many books include: HyperArchitecture, Testo&Immagine & Birkhäuser, 1998 and monographs on the work of Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Antonio Citterio. He was the editor of ItaliaArchitettura, a series of books on the more interesting Italian Architects. He has published for Wiley: New Directions in Contemporary Architecture. Evolutions and Revolutions in Buiilding Design Since 1988. His writings can be found online at http://www.prestinenza.it. His History of contemporary architecture (in Italian and English) got more than 30.000 downloads and now you can find it on lulu.com. His thoughts on architecture can be found in his Face Book page that counts 15.000 followers. He was juror in many prizes and competition including the Venice Biennale directed by Aaron Betsky.
-What do you love about your job?
It is not a Job!
-Can you tell me the story of your prior successes, challenges, and major responsibilities?
I became a critic because I was bored of my previous job so I sent an article to a magazine and it was published. Then I got a change to write a book about Koolhaas, the book was successful. I was lucky to choose an architect who was not too famous in the 1996 . After that I wrote a book of the 60 & 70 when these year where not yet investigated. One of them is Hyper Architettura in which I mixed several topics as art, architecture, philosophy, and personal obsessions.
-What’s the best career decision you’ve ever made?
To say just what I think
-How do you make decisions?
Usually comes to my mind good Idea in the morning, when I am showering if not I go for a walk.
-How do you organise your time?
I work hard and I try to do not have backlog.
-What do you think are the secrets behind getting to where you’ve got?
I never believed what critics, teachers, politicians and journalist said.
-What is your spiritual practice and What do you do for yourself?
Daydreaming
-If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great 12 months it’s been for you in this role, what did we achieve together?
If we celebrate mean that someone gave us credit.
-Tell me something that’s true, that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Everything we say and write, even the historical reconstruction, go through the censorship office handled by us good intentions. In short: by a distorted idea got of ourselves.
-Can you tell me about a time when you almost gave up, how you felt about that, and what you did instead of giving up?
An editor who give me a contract refused to publish my architectural history between 1905 to 2008. I was depressed, I worked on it for 10 years so I decided to publish it for free online and translate it in English. It is still a bestseller today on lulu.com in both languages the price is only 3euro.
-What would you be doing if you were me now?
I would choose another job. It is not a good moment for architects. I would prefer the happiness market. People are really unhappy nowadays.
-What is your favourite quote? Why?
All the truth and nothing but the truth’. More or less….
-Favourite song and why?
I don’t have only one … I would say that Azzurro is one of favourite
-Favourite movie and why?
Equally: Pretty Woman, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Some like it hot.
-Favourite food and why?
Pasta con la salsa, Pasta with tomato sauce, cooked by a southern chef.
TARGET is a research project aimed at identifying, selecting and comparing the architectural careers of the top worldwide architects. Establishing a network for an exchange of experiences and knowledges to investigate the innovative architectural practices that are cleverly (re)shaping the world.The goal is to provide a source of inspiration for younger generations and to highlight cutting edge architecture.
In collaboration with AIAC – FRAUGH! – PresS/letter
