Arthur Erickson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Arthur Erickson.

Arthur Erickson (1924-2009) was a Canadian architect known for his iconic modernist designs that blended seamlessly with the natural landscapes. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Erickson developed a passion for architecture at a young age. He graduated from the University of British Columbia and later earned a Master's degree in architecture from McGill University.

Erickson rose to prominence in the 1950s with his innovative architectural style that emphasized the harmony between structures and their surroundings. His designs often featured bold geometric forms and clean lines, while also integrating the local environment and cultural context. Notable works by Erickson include the Simon Fraser University campus in Burnaby, BC, the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, and the futuristic Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.

Throughout his career, Erickson received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to architecture and urban planning. His works left a lasting impact on the Canadian architecture scene and are considered significant milestones in the modernist movement. Erickson's legacy continues to inspire architects worldwide, and he is remembered for his ability to create spaces that celebrated both the human experience and the natural world.

Western history has been a history of deed done, actions per

Western history has been a history of deed done, actions performed and results achieved.

Arthur Erickson

Architecture doesn't come from theory. You don't think your

Architecture doesn't come from theory. You don't think your way through a building.

Arthur Erickson

Only when inspired to go beyond consciousness by some extrao

Only when inspired to go beyond consciousness by some extraordinary insight does beauty manifest unexpectedly.

Arthur Erickson

Rationalism is the enemy of art, though necessary as a basis

Rationalism is the enemy of art, though necessary as a basis for architecture.

Arthur Erickson

No phenomenon can be isolated, but has repercussions through

No phenomenon can be isolated, but has repercussions through every aspect of our lives. We are learning that we are a fundamental part of nature's ecosystems.

Arthur Erickson

Part of our western outlook stems from the scientific attitu

Part of our western outlook stems from the scientific attitude and its method of isolating the parts of a phenomenon in order to analyze them.

Arthur Erickson

What is the thread of western civilization that distinguishe

What is the thread of western civilization that distinguished its course in history? It has to do with the preoccupation of western man with his outward command and his sense of superiority.

Arthur Erickson

The way of architecture is the quiet voice that underlies it

The way of architecture is the quiet voice that underlies it and has guided it from the beginning.

Arthur Erickson

Today's developer is a poor substitute for the committed ent

Today's developer is a poor substitute for the committed entrepreneur of the last century for whom the work of architecture represented a chance to celebrate the worth of his enterprise.

Arthur Erickson

Modernism released us from the constraints of everything tha

Modernism released us from the constraints of everything that had gone before with a euphoric sense of freedom.

Arthur Erickson

There is a single thread of attitude, a single direction of

There is a single thread of attitude, a single direction of flow, that joins our present time to its early burgeoning in Mediterranean civilization.

Arthur Erickson

With production alone as the goal, industry in North America

With production alone as the goal, industry in North America was dominated by the assembly line, standardization for mass consumption.

Arthur Erickson

There is little doubt that we are in the midst of a revoluti

There is little doubt that we are in the midst of a revolution of a much more profound and fundamental nature than the social and political revolutions of the last half century.

Arthur Erickson

Does an architecture to assuage the spirit have a place?

Does an architecture to assuage the spirit have a place?

Arthur Erickson

I plead for conservation of human culture, which is much mor

I plead for conservation of human culture, which is much more fragile than nature herself. We needn't destroy other cultures with the force of our own.

Arthur Erickson

The new architecture of transparency and lightness comes fro

The new architecture of transparency and lightness comes from Japan and Europe.

Arthur Erickson

This great, though disastrous, culture can only change as we

This great, though disastrous, culture can only change as we begin to stand off and see... the inveterate materialism which has become the model for cultures around the world.

Arthur Erickson

No wonder the film industry started in the desert in Califor

No wonder the film industry started in the desert in California where, like all desert dwellers, they dream their buildings, rather than design them.

Arthur Erickson

Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, a

Once you are labeled 'the best' you want to stay up there, and you can't do it by loafing around.

We are stymied by regulations, limited choice and the threat

We are stymied by regulations, limited choice and the threat of litigation. Neither consultants nor industry itself provide research which takes architecture forward.

Arthur Erickson