Architecture Follows Fish
Thursday
9th May 2024 | 13:00 – 14:30 CET
Aula 201 Lingotto | Streaming on YouTube
INTRODUCTION
The shores of the North Atlantic house diverse architectural cultures and its waters are home to a wealth of fish species. The industrialisation of fisheries in the early 19th century and the globalisation of the industry at the end of the 20th century impacted the area’s fishing architecture.
This lecture addresses the ecological impact of architecture and human activity. It will focus on marine ecosystems, fishing technology, food processing, politics, and consumption habits in order to offer a new perspective on construction, in which fishing landscapes bring together land and sea.
BIO
André Tavares is a researcher at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto and the founding director of Dafne Editora. He was chief cocurator of the 2016 Lisbon Architecture Triennale, The Form of Form, and author of books such as The Anatomy of the Architectural Book (Lars Müller/Canadian Centre for Architecture, 2016) and Vitruvius Without Text (gta Verlag, 2022).
Contacts
André Tavares’ talk was highly engaging as it provides us, those listening, with an uncommon perspective on the history of architecture via the lens of fishing architecture. He illustrated the development of fishing architecture using historical records, stressing the most current advances in technology, the state of politics, etc. He demonstrated how various fish species or fishing methods affect the design of marketplaces, harbors, and other structures. I also thought his approach to his research topic was remarkable. I believed him to be genuine because of his profound modesty and occasional skepticism over his own research. The one thing that I was unable to perceive was how the issue related to the general topic of ACC Lectures which is the limit of architecture, though perhaps there wasn’t as strong of a relationship. All in all, though, it was an extremely unique and fascinating subject with a wealth of new knowledge on many various aspects within and outside architecture.
André Tavares spoke in his seminar about how fishing in different areas of northern Europe has influenced some types of architecture over the years. His talk focused on changing perspective and analyzing historical facts through the types of fish and the way they were fished. In particular, the correlation between the type of fish and its life lead to consequent changes in the economy, marine ecosystem, politics, technology and architecture of different populations, especially when fish is no longer seen as animal (simply fished by fishermen) but as a commodity. The advent of the freezer then gave an exponential boost to trade by changing and improving costs and time of conservation of the catch. The industrial development then led to the construction of buildings that contained the catch to store it temporarily before being shipped but given the great variability of the movements of fish (which also led to crisis) these then evolved into buildings that, in the case of a change of use, they could also accommodate other assets.
The Portuguese researcher Andre Tavares brings in his lecture the topic of how marine ecology can affect architecture and fishing activities. The architect starts his presentation by proposing a change in perspective, rethinking architecture from the fish’s point of view. According to Tavares, different fish in different regions can directly affect how local architecture is conceived, the architect brings the example of herring versus cod fish and the specific requirements of each species. Moreover, Tavares explains how the buildings also transform the fish into a commodity, arguing that changes in fishing technology and food production generate a significant change in the marine ecosystem. He debates how these shifts are susceptible to political actions and fish market developments, in which the community and the architecture may follow, meaning, new demands produce new factures, new typologies, and in larger scales. Finally, after an overview of fish and architecture’s interconnected history, Tavares explains that fish time and architecture time should not be considered the same.
André Tavares, in his lecture, talks about a very large topic, his research is about how architecture changes in the coast of the north Atlantic Ocean based on the presence of a certain kind of fish rather than another, or how it migrates, or it suffer, for examples, of the climate changes during the decades.
To understand better the topic is important to know that the villages on the coast have an economy mostly based on fishing and on the commodities that comes with it’s presence. A site like that needs, for example, to have structures capable to prepare the fish for the commercial route, or an harbor to store the boats etc… Moreover, is also important to realize that the fish is not always the same, for instance, exists different species of fish that lives in different region of the ocean, some might have a tougher skin than other, or different dimensions… any kind of fish has to be accommodated to a different structure and needs.
There are many factors that influence the presence or absence of fish in a region, like there are many reason that cause it’s migration, some might be: politics, technology available to fisherman, climate changes, marine ecosystem, temperature of the water
In Andrew Tavare’s lecture “Architecture Follows Fish,” Tavares helped to explore the intricate relationship between the architectural developments on the North Atlantic shores and the fisheries that have long defined this region. Beginning with the industrialization of fishing in the early 19th century through to the globalization of the industry at the close of the 20th century, Tavares provided a nuanced examination of how these processes have shaped the architectural and spatial configurations of fishing communities and navigates the intricate relationship between architecture and the aquatic realm, drawing profound parallels between the evolution of fishing landscapes and the built environment along the North Atlantic shores.
This lecture delved into various aspects of marine ecosystems, the evolution of fishing technologies, and the subsequent changes in food processing, political frameworks, and consumption patterns. By focusing on these elements, He offered a new lens through which to view architecture — not merely as static structures but as dynamic entities shaped by the ebb and flow of ecological and human factors.
La conferenza tenuta dal ricercatore portoghese mira a farci comprende come la storia ecologica dell’architettura sia in stretta relazione con l’attività della pesca. Fino a che punto un pesce può produrre architettura? Per rispondere a questa domanda il professore identifica diversi aspetti molto diversi tra di loro: gli ecosistemi marini, la tecnologia della pesca , la trasformazione dei prodotti alimentari, la politica e le abitudini di consumo. Egli collega una specifica specie che vive in un ambiente marino alla forma e all’aspetto dei paesaggi costieri. L’ipotesi è che il paesaggio del merluzzo differisca da quello delle sardine, proprio come da quello del tonno. I pesci vivono in ambienti specifici: migrano, depongono le uova e si muovono secondo le sfumature della vita marina, che vanno dalla profondità del mare alla temperatura, dai nutrienti disponibili alle correnti d’acqua. I pescatori pescano in mare utilizzando una varietà di tecniche e la storia di tali tecniche è accompagnata da una storia di trasformazione urbana.
In conclusione il ricercatore propone un video dove i pesci hanno preso il sopravvento sulla città, fumano sigarette e cantando fado à desgarrada o versioni regionali della vira. Questi spot sono serviti per promuovere il pesce congelato degli anni ’60 e tradiscono il contesto urbano in cui viene consumato il pesce. Anche se i pesci abitano il mare, fanno anche parte di un’estesa catena trofica che termina in città e loro consumo trasforma gli ecosistemi marini in cui vivono, nonché i paesaggi in cui vengono consumati. Questo spot viene proposto dal professore a lontano ricordo di questa relazione dinamica.
In his talk “Architecture Follows Fish,” Andrew Tavares contributed to the examination of the complex interrelationship that exists between the fisheries that have traditionally characterized this region and the architectural advancements that have occurred along its borders. Drawing profound parallels between the evolution of fishing landscapes and the built environment along the North Atlantic shores, Tavares examines how these processes have shaped the architectural and spatial configurations of fishing communities, starting with the industrialization of fishing in the early 19th century and ending with the globalization of the industry at the end of the 20th century. Tavares also navigates the complex relationship between architecture and the aquatic realm. This talk covered a wide range of topics, including the development of fishing methods, the processing of food, governmental structures, and consumption trends. By emphasizing these components, He provided a fresh perspective on architecture, showing it as dynamic beings molded by the ebb and flow of ecological and human influences rather than just as static constructions.
The talk took the audience on a historical tour, showing how industrialization changed the customary fishing methods that used to be used throughout the North Atlantic coast. It was highly engaging.
In his lecture “Architecture Follows Fish,” Andrew Tavare examined the close connection that exists between the long-standing fishing businesses in the North Atlantic region and architectural developments along their beaches. Tavare showed how the architectural landscape of fishing settlements has been impacted by the changes in fishing practices from the 19th century to the era of globalization. He explored the intricacies of fishing technology, socio-political dynamics, and marine ecosystems, seeing architecture as a dynamic entity impacted by ecological and human influences.
To appreciate the mobility of natural and cultural connections, Tavare pushes for a reinvention of architecture that goes beyond its static boundaries. In the end, his speech advocated for a more sympathetic and sustainable architectural future in which design choices are dictated by the rhythm of the ocean. Tavare’s observations offer a compelling call to design architecture that reflects a greater awareness of interconnection and harmonizes with the natural environment.
The conference held by the Portuguese researcher aims to elucidate how the ecological history of architecture is closely intertwined with fishing activities. To what extent can a fish contribute to architecture? To answer this, the professor identifies several diverse aspects: marine ecosystems, fishing technology, food product transformation, politics, and consumption habits. He links specific marine species to the shape and appearance of coastal landscapes, hypothesizing that the landscape of cod differs from that of sardines or tuna. Fish inhabit specific environments, migrating, spawning, and moving according to various marine life nuances, such as sea depth, temperature, available nutrients, and water currents. Fishermen use various techniques, and the history of these techniques parallels urban transformation history.
In discussing fishing architecture, André Tavares highlights how structures and spaces associated with fishing activities, such as docks, processing plants, and markets, shape coastal communities. Tavares emphasizes the importance of understanding these spaces not just functionally but as integral parts of the urban and ecological fabric, reflecting cultural practices and economic conditions.
In conclusion, the researcher presents a video where fish dominate the city, smoking cigarettes and singing fado à desgarrada or regional vira versions. These advertisements, promoting frozen fish from the 1960s, reflect the urban context of fish consumption. Although fish live in the sea, they are part of an extensive food chain ending in cities, transforming marine ecosystems and consumption landscapes. This video serves as a nostalgic reminder of this dynamic relationship.
Tavares’ thoughts contribute to this narrative by suggesting that the interplay between marine life and human settlements is essential for understanding the evolution of both architectural forms and community identities, emphasizing a holistic view of environmental and urban development.
In his lecture, Portuguese researcher Andre Tavares delves into the interplay between marine ecology, architecture, and fishing activities. He highlights the intertwined history of fish and architecture, stressing the need to consider the distinct temporal rhythms of marine life in architectural design. Tavares proposes rethinking architecture from the fish’s perspective, arguing that different fish species in various regions—such as herring and cod—have unique requirements that influence local architectural practices.
He further explores how buildings transform fish into commodities, illustrating how advancements in fishing technology and food production significantly impact marine ecosystems. Tavares notes that these changes are driven by political actions and developments in the fish market, which in turn affect community architecture. This dynamic leads to the emergence of new structures and architectural typologies that evolve on larger scales to meet new demands.
By examining these interconnected factors, Tavares underscores the importance of aligning architectural practices with ecological realities. He concludes that understanding the specific needs and timelines of marine life is crucial for creating sustainable and responsive built environments, highlighting the profound influence of marine ecology on the evolution of architecture and fishing practices.
The seminar “Architecture Follows Fish” by Andre Tavares delved into how buildings along the North Atlantic coast are influenced by fishing. Tavares explained how changes in fishing technology have affected both the environment and architecture. He talked about how fishermen see the sea as their plan for work, just like architects plan buildings. Different types of fish have different habits and paths, which change every year. Tavares showed us maps that illustrated how fish habitats shift throughout the year, comparing this constant movement to the fluidity in architectural design. He also discussed how the way fish are caught and processed has a big impact on the economy. Tavares’ seminar made us think about how architecture and nature are connected, and how we need to consider the environment when designing buildings.
The creativity lies in the fact of comparision between architectura which is a manmade intevention to something so natural like a fish and thus it truly opened new doors of exploration on the topic the limits of architecture. Architect Tavares explores how these processes, which began with the industrialization of fishing in the early 19th century and ended with the globalization of the industry at the end of the 20th century, have shaped the architectural and spatial configurations of fishing communities, drawing striking parallels between the evolution of fishing landscapes and the built environment along the North Atlantic shores. Tavares also deftly handles the nuanced interplay between the water and building. A wide range of subjects were discussed in this discussion, such as the evolution of fishing techniques, food processing, governance systems, and consumption patterns. He offered a viewpoint on architecture by highlighting these elements, portraying it as dynamic entities shaped by the tides of natural and human forces.
Architect Tavares beautifully traced back the steps of modernity and industrialization in fishing harbors like Lorient in France. We traced them since they were small fishing towns. As sardines, because of their physiology, become rotten quickly, sardine canaries were built just beside the coast where sardines are fished. They were starting from small infra structures of mid-19th factories, built of local stones to the modern architecture of the early 20th century built in concrete with larger scale, larger windows, and larger footprint on the environment.
During the First World War, the French government expanded the Lorient harbor and the whole fishing industry to feed the army. We witness the combination of refrigerators and the railway to guarantee the food supply to the country. Also, the energy being shifted to coal played a crucial role in industrializing fishing.
Freezers were the other technological change. As cod fish were not found on French coasts, the French government decided to build freezers in Newfound lands, and freeze the cods there, and bring the frozen cods by the freezer boats to France. It was the advent of a new building typology; freezers. The harbor in Lorient was completed in 1927 by the composition of the freezer, the market, the railway, and the coal. And then there was no sardine crisis.
By industrialization of the fishery, people are provided with new kinds of fish in their dishes that they may even don’t like. but through the advertisements, they are brought up to appreciate and like it as a step towards modernity; Promoting the freezing fishing and representation of a world that was collapsing or disappearing with the replacement of the modern context.
The lecture was a detailed presentation on the fishing industry in the North Atlantic, focusing on the architectural aspects and their functions within the context of fishing practices. The speaker discusses ongoing research funded by the European Union and explores the concept of “fishing architecture,” proposing that fish themselves influence architectural structures.
They begin by discussing the historical background of fishing in the North Atlantic and introduce the concept of “fishing architecture,” which considers how fish impact architectural design and processing techniques. The speaker suggests that understanding fish as architectural agents can offer new insights into the history and development of fishing practices.
The presentation then delves into various fish species found in the North Atlantic and their significance in shaping architectural design. Examples include the construction of drying racks for cod in Newfoundland and smokehouses for herring in the Midlands. The speaker highlights how different fish species require distinct architectural solutions for processing and preservation.
Moreover, the speaker discusses the evolution of fishing technology and its impact on architectural design. They explore changes in processing techniques, such as salting, drying, and freezing, and how these advancements have influenced the construction of fish-processing facilities. For instance, the transition from salted to frozen fish led to the development of freezer plants and cold storage facilities along the coastlines.
The presentation also emphasizes the ecological and economic implications of fishing architecture. The speaker discusses the role of government investment in building fishing infrastructure, such as harbors and canneries, and how these developments have affected fish populations and consumption habits over time
Overall, the presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between fishing practices, architectural design, and environmental factors in the North Atlantic region. By examining the functions of fishing architecture, the speaker offers insights into the complex relationship between human activity and marine ecosystems.
The lecture “Architecture follows Fish” by André Tavares, starts with an introduction where architecture is seen from the “fish’s point of view” and then takes a completely different turn and focuses on a much more ecological-environmental theme where the “fish” element retains its centrality. This, however, with some differences, because where we find a landscape, whose focus is cod we cannot find the same characteristics as in an environment whose focus is tuna.
Of all the lectures, I find this to be the one that dealt the most with the issue of ‘environment’ combined with architecture.
In the end, he proposes a satirical video where we see an inverted situation: fish correspond and live like us human beings. A video used in the past as a commercial but I think today could be a good starting point for reflection. We human beings are not the center of the world, we are the ones who consider ourselves as such.
In André Tavares’ lecture, he explored the intricate relationship between architectural developments on the North Atlantic shores and the fisheries that have long defined the region. Tavares traced the evolution of fishing landscapes and their impact on the built environment, starting with the industrialization of fishing in the 19th century and continuing through the globalization of the industry in the late 20th century. He illustrated how fishing communities’ architectural and spatial configurations were shaped by technological advancements, ecological changes, and socio-political dynamics. One compelling example discussed was the transformation of Lorient in France, where industrialization led to the construction of sardine canneries and later freezers, revolutionizing the local fishing economy and architecture. Tavares emphasized that architecture is not static but dynamic, influenced by the ebb and flow of natural and human factors. His lecture delved into the complexities of marine ecosystems, fishing technologies, and their broader implications on food processing, consumption patterns, and political frameworks. This perspective challenges traditional notions of architecture, advocating for designs that harmonize with ecological rhythms and cultural shifts. Overall, Tavares’ insights call for a more sympathetic and sustainable architectural future, one that is responsive to the interconnectedness of nature and human activities.
In this lecture titled (Architecture Follows Fish)André Tavares he looks at architecture through the eyes of a fish. He examines the habitats in which fish species, such as herring and cod, he examines the distribution of these habitats around the world and the changes in fish populations in these environments over time. He examines the effects of countries’ political decisions, for example Canada’s ban on cod fishing in 1992, on cod populations. And the effects of natural disasters on fish populations, such as the 1815 eruption of the Indonesian volcano. And he also discusses the effects of economic dependencies, for example small fishing villages followed by large fishing ports. He also talks about the impact on the fishing infrastructure of the evolution of technology from small wind and oar-powered boats to coal-powered boats and finally to diesel-powered boats, for example, from boats to large ports with coal storage and then to the renovation of these ports either to be compatible with diesel or to be rebuilt with state support. Finally he talks about how these changes have led to the establishment of many fish storage and processing facilities and the impact of these new systems on the country’s economy and the habits of the people.
The lecture by architect and researcher Andrè Tavares addressed an architectural research subject from a perhaps unusual but truly compelling point of view, the marine ecosystem. In particular, he explored the relationship between the different types of buildings and the fishing activity of the countries in the North Atlantic Ocean during the period between 1800 and 1900. It was interesting, analysing historical maps of some coastal cities, understanding their architectural and urban organization in relation to various marine species, particularly how the different structural designs had an outcome on the fish population from an ecological point of view. For example, in the historical images of the Lorient harbour we can see how architecture becomes the point of passage connecting the place where the fish gets unloaded and where it turns into a commodity.
The professor also focused on various subjects including the life cycle of fish such as cod, herring, or sardine, the different types of boats and fishing technologies of the past, and the advent of refrigeration, which was a key to feed the army during World War I.