A conversation with Alberto Sartoris

Abstract

I meet Alberto Sartoris in his studio house at Cossanay, a small community in French Switzerland. He receives me with distinguished hospitality in a welcoming and charming setting. Everything here speaks of a history, professional and human, rich in experience and full of passion for architecture and for everything to do with the avant-garde in all its manifestations. His account is full of anecdotes and references to those moments that characterised the beginnings and development of modernism in architecture in which he was such a prominent figure. In recent years his profound commitment in the fields of theory, art and design have received much critical attention The last exhibition held in Turin in June 1991 was yet another occasion to witness his prolific activity. On this occasion I thought it would be interesting to view his recent work, which for me represents a further significant contribution to the contemporary debate about the whole architectural project. One has to acknowledge the freshness, enthusiasm and discipline of someone who at the age of ninety-two surely offers a reference point, in particular to the younger generation.