Begin Again. Fail Better

BEGIN AGAIN. FAIL BETTER
Preliminary drawings in architecture
(and art) 

«Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No Matter. 
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.»
Samuel Beckett

Exhibition from 5 November to 2 December 2024
Opening Monday 4 November 6 p.m.
Archizoom, Bâtiment SG, EPFL

Hand-drawing still occupies a central place in architecture. It acts as a reservoir of ideas, a source of inspiration or a playful way to discover images, acting as a distiller of thoughts, and opening the path to self-exploration.

This exhibition highlights the early drawings and sketches that give birth to an idea, whether they relate to a real project or are simply free exploration, aesthetic study, or utopian dream.

Taking its title from a famous quote by Samuel Beckett, the exhibition shows drawing as part of the design process: architects try, fail, try again, fail again, until they begin to move in the direction that will eventually become a building — or not.

The exhibition is organised by architects Manuel Montenegro (PT), Helen Thomas (GB) and Marco Bakker (CH/NL), the Drawing Matter Foundation (GB) and the archives of three Swiss universities of architecture: ETH Zurich, EPFL Lausanne and USI-Mendrisio Academy of Architecture.

It presents an exceptional selection of 160 historical works by Swiss and European architects from the four major British and Swiss archival collections, dating from the 20th century and going back to the 16th century.

At the same time, more than 50 Swiss architecture firms were invited to exhibit two drawings from their current practice, revealing something about their individual approach and understanding of architecture.

Historical works from the Drawing Matter collection (UK) as well as from the Archives de la construction moderne at EPFL, the ETH gta Archives and the Archivio del Moderno-USi include Erik Gunnar Asplund, Buckminster Fuller, Lux Guyer, Zaha Hadid, Trix & Robert Haussmann, Josef Hoffmann, Louis Kahn, William Kent and Le Corbusier, among others, Adolf Loos, Edwin Lutyens, Peter Märkli, Karl Moser, Mies van der Rohe, Oscar Niemeyer, Charles Percier, Aldo Rossi, Flora Ruchat-Roncati, the Sangallo family, Gottfried Semper, Álvaro Siza, Alison & Peter Smithson, Luigi Snozzi, OMA, Livio Vacchini and Aldo van Eyck, to name but a few. 

The contemporary architectural offices taking part are 2b architectes, 8000.agency, BABL, Barão Hutter, BCMA, Lillit Bollinger, Bosshard Vaquer, Buchner Bründler, Buol & Zünd, BUREAU, Buzzi Architetti, Caruso St. John, Christ & Gantenbein, Conen Sigl, Dreier Frenzel, Jean-Pierre Dürig, E2A, EMI Architekt : innen, Frei + Saarinen, GayMenzel, Gigon Guyer, Gmür Architekten, Graber Pulver, HHF, Manuel Herz, Jaccaud + Associés, Käferstein & Meister, Karamuk Kuo, Jan Kinsbergen, Knapkiewicz & Fickert, Büro Krucker, Lütjens Padmanbhan, LVPH, Corinna Menn, Miller Maranta, Pictet Broillet, Pool Architekten, Rapin Saiz, Lando Rossmaier, Enrico Sassi, Sauter von Moos, Schneider Türtscher, Sergison Bates, studioSER, studio we, studio WOW, Atelier Summermatter Ritz, Patrick Thurston, Truwant + Rodet +, WALDRAP, Weyell Zipse.