In celebration of the launch of Sir Peter Cook's limited collection "Solar City" and "City as a Room" on musecollab.com, we are thrilled to share insights from an exclusive interview with the esteemed architect and artist.
Architect or Artist?
"I never really thought of myself as an architect, though I do think architecture is an art," Sir Peter Cook begins. "However, I believe 'professional artists' are a differently motivated group of people. I've used these sorts of drawings as extensions of my architectural investigations."
Cook admits that while his drawings aim to convey ideas, there is an aesthetic aspect to them. "I must admit that at certain moments I aim to make them look attractive, but that’s not my primary intention. I come in to demonstrate a series of ideas."
Conveying Narratives through Color
"Sometimes I think the black and white drawings are more precise because you have no decoy of color," Cook reflects. "On the other hand, I think color gives it a spirit. I just enjoy putting the color on them. Almost like a child, you know, I get enjoyment from it."
Advice for Architects
"I think there are practices out there which do force you to be very disciplined and mechanical," Cook acknowledges. "I have resisted that. I have had periods when I didn’t have the energy or spare time to pursue my own investigatory drawings. On the other hand, I try to keep a bit of my time for personal investigations, even if it's just over a three-month cycle. You have to be very determined and, in a sense, a bit egocentric."
Partnership with MUSE Collab
"I am a very simple person. I simply love my stuff disseminated as much as possible," Cook explains. "I don’t want it to be too private, too inaccessible. I want it to be out there, and have people who are organized to get it out there. Whether it’s you or somebody else, yes, of course!"
The Artworks: "Solar City" and "City as a Room"
"Solar City was created in the 80s," Cook shares. "We entered some solar house competitions in Germany and were quite successful, though none were built. I wanted to extend it and see if we could have a whole city area made up of solar houses and wind catchers. It is a sort of mechanical entity."
"City as a Room," in contrast, "is much later. It's much more dreamy, a mixture of mannerisms. It's more romantic, saying buildings under some kind of conditioned environment would still have pyramids and towers but would be more decorative."
Evolution of the Artworks
"The second one is about three years ago," Cook notes, referring to "City as a Room." "And 'Solar City' is from the beginning of the 80s, though the coloring was done about eight years ago. The line drawing is much older."
The Collection
Explore Sir Peter Cook's limited edition prints, "Solar City" and "City as a Room," available exclusively on musecollab.com. Discover the unique blend of architectural precision and artistic imagination that defines his work.
