Alison Smithson’s work is known as intrinsically linked to that of Peter Smithson with whom she works inside their studio founded in 1950 in London, after their university studies. Besides their common work, there is a large material developed by Alison alone. This paper aims to focus on the specificity of Alison contribution looking at her individual work, developed with her own signature. The AMS name mark many critical works, publications, articles on both the APS studio as well as on other material as the accounts of the TEAM 10 work, of which the Smithsons were among the founders and Alison more specifically the spokeswoman. Alison was in charge of writing the activities of the group Team 10 since its emergence, as direct participant, recording all the moments, editing the texts and disseminating the ideas through the publications. Her role was also crucial in promoting the project work developed with Peter, pointing out both the research and the design significance. Ideas and projects were published in several versions, each time highlighting certain aspects, often repeating issues. Alison’s persistence builds their role within the architectural and cultural environment, which was not only British but also European. <We live in a book culture>, wrote Alison. The so well documented critical thinking is mainly due to Alison work, which constructed a consistent theoretical and narrative trace. This paper also aims at focusing on Alison creative work: the furniture - boxes, table and bookcases - designed by Alison for Tecta during the ‘80s, which are like micro-architectures, spaces that contain objects; the collage work, in particular that of the illustrations prepared for an published novel, kept at the AA Archive, only recently donated and not yet commented. They both show the use of fragmentation and everyday details to convey the poetic of materiality.

AMS: the work of Alison Margaret Smithson (1928/1993)

COMO, Alessandra;SMERAGLIUOLO PERROTTA, LUISA
2016-01-01

Abstract

Alison Smithson’s work is known as intrinsically linked to that of Peter Smithson with whom she works inside their studio founded in 1950 in London, after their university studies. Besides their common work, there is a large material developed by Alison alone. This paper aims to focus on the specificity of Alison contribution looking at her individual work, developed with her own signature. The AMS name mark many critical works, publications, articles on both the APS studio as well as on other material as the accounts of the TEAM 10 work, of which the Smithsons were among the founders and Alison more specifically the spokeswoman. Alison was in charge of writing the activities of the group Team 10 since its emergence, as direct participant, recording all the moments, editing the texts and disseminating the ideas through the publications. Her role was also crucial in promoting the project work developed with Peter, pointing out both the research and the design significance. Ideas and projects were published in several versions, each time highlighting certain aspects, often repeating issues. Alison’s persistence builds their role within the architectural and cultural environment, which was not only British but also European. , wrote Alison. The so well documented critical thinking is mainly due to Alison work, which constructed a consistent theoretical and narrative trace. This paper also aims at focusing on Alison creative work: the furniture - boxes, table and bookcases - designed by Alison for Tecta during the ‘80s, which are like micro-architectures, spaces that contain objects; the collage work, in particular that of the illustrations prepared for an published novel, kept at the AA Archive, only recently donated and not yet commented. They both show the use of fragmentation and everyday details to convey the poetic of materiality.
2016
9789612549497
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/4687967
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