The Study Of Grafton Architects’ Architectural Creation Based On The Spirit Of Place

In 2020 Grafton Architects’ two architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley Mcnamara were awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.For the past 43 years,they have dedicated their architectural practice to the community with a pure architectural heart.Named after the famous streets of Ireland’s capital,in a sense the peaceful and poetic atmosphere of the Irish city was the earliest inspiration for the spirit and experience of place that they have always sought in architecture.They are not stars in the architectural world,but they have kept a low profile,worked hard and persevered in their work since setting up the practice.Much of their work has been built in their native Ireland.In addition,they have won architectural competitions to design opportunities around the world in Italy,France and Peru.Through in-depth research,they have a deep knowledge of place,a keen observation,an open and curious spirit of enquiry,a respect for local culture and context,and a design that is well grounded in the city in an unobtrusive and contemporary way.This in-depth study of the ’spirit of place’ makes their buildings feel like ’good neighbours’,breaking down boundaries and bringing the community together.Their contemporary and site-specific designs are tied to history,highlighting the architects’ great sensitivity and craftsmanship.Their approach to architecture is always honest and demonstrates their understanding of the design and construction process,from the large structures to the smallest details.The ’spirit of place’ philosophy of the two Grafton architects is a clear footnote to their response to social issues and human consciousness,providing a fresh perspective on current architectural practice and a profound reference.This paper presents three aspects of Grafton Architects’ "spirit of place" as a creative concept.Firstly,the paper describes the background,significance,current situation and content of the research,introduces the concepts and theories related to the study of "spirit of place" as the origin of architectural creation,and establishes a framework for the analysis of Grafton Architects’ architecture under the theory of"spirit of place".The paper then analyses the background to the formation of Grafton Architects’ "spirit of place" creative thinking from three aspects: the geographical influence of Ireland,Grafton Architects’ personal educational experience and artistic influences,and the "spirit of place" of Grafton Architects.The second is a summary of Grafton Architects’ creative thinking on the spirit of place.Secondly,based on the analytical framework proposed by the theory of "spirit of place",the architectural practice of Grafton Architects is extensively analysed from three levels: the response to the environment of place,the construction of humanistic places and the embodiment of authentic constructions,and the summary of the architectural formal representation of Grafton Architects’ "spirit of place" concept."The work of Grafton Architects is analysed on three levels: the response to the environment of place,the construction of human places and the embodiment of authentic constructions.Finally,it is hoped that the analysis and interpretation of Grafton Architects’ works will open up a perspective on Grafton Architects’ architectural theory and practice,enrich the concept of contemporary architectural place-making in China,and provide design methods that can be used as a reference for current architectural practice and place-making.