2010/09/13

This Day in History September 13

It is no secret that buildings are more than walls, ceilings, and floors. They are places that serve purposes and also bring out feelings. This doesn't happen by accident, though. Architects create their designs with a vision of how they want people to experience the space within and without. On this date in 1941, Japanese architect Tadao Ando was born. His unique designs blend Japanese aesthetic with modern one. Interestingly, Ando became an architect without having gotten any formal training. However, this has not held him back. Ando has won many prestigious awards, and his buildings can be seen across the globe.

歷史上的今天 9月13日…

大家都知道建築不只是牆壁、天花板及樓層所構成的物體而已。它們必須能達到人們的需要並能激發出人們的情感,但這點並不是偶然發生的。建築師在設計時懷有一種願景,就是希望眾人能用他們的角度來體驗他們所創造的空間,室內或室外皆然。日本建築師安藤忠雄誕生於1941年的今日。他的獨特設計將傳統日式與現代美學融合為一。有趣的是,安藤並沒有受過任何正式訓練,但這點並沒有阻撓他,他在無師自通的情況下成為一名建築師。安藤曾贏得許多大獎,而且他的建築在全球都可以看得到。

知識大補帖

安藤忠雄(圖,資料照片)出生於大阪(Osaka),只有相當於高職的學歷,曾擔任貨車司機及職業拳擊手的他,雖有心上大學,卻因經濟、學歷等因素,只能以自學的方式學習建築。安藤說,祖母告訴他不要輕易放棄理想,於是他用職業拳擊生涯贏來的獎金, 前往世界各地旅行,觀摩、學習頂尖建築作品。1969年,他如願開了建築事務所,但因不是科班出身,所以門可羅雀。7年後,他以清水混凝土建造的「住吉長 屋」初試啼聲,獲得日本建築學會賞。儘管如此,他仍無法得到日本建築界的認同,不過他不氣餒、不放棄,最後終於憑藉努力與毅力,在1995 年獲得建築界最高榮譽普利茲克獎(Pritzker Architecture Prize)而一舉成名。

單字片語

◎ceiling
n. 天花板
◎serve purposes/a purpose
達到某些/某種目的,
起某些/某種作用
˙serve the purpose of... 達到……的目的/作用;有……功用
例:The meeting served the purpose of promoting peace in the Middle East.(這次會議的目的在於促進中東和平。)
◎architect
n. 建築師
◎within and without
裡裡外外
◎blend A with B
混合/結合 A 與 B
例:This novel blended history with fiction.(這本小說結合了歷史和虛構。)
◎aesthetic
n. 美學;審美觀點
◎hold...back/hold back...
阻礙/阻擋……
例:Amber wanted to apologize to her boyfriend, but her pride held her back.(安柏想跟她男友道歉,但她的自尊心讓她卻步不前。)
◎prestigious
a. 有名望的

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