Quotes by Heydar Ghiaï, Architect:
- Architecture is not architecture beyond seven
floors.
- Proportion is not only a principle of
architecture; it is a principle of life.
- A true teacher of architecture should bring out
the best work of each student in the direction chosen by that student.
- Rhythm in architecture is always beautiful.
- I am convinced that architecture is not simply
an engineering problem, but an invitation from imagination to poetry.
- Certain rhythms belong to sight through the
filter of the heart.
- I have submitted all elements of my creation to
the essential law, the solar law.
- What is important in a wall is not so much what
it hides as what it what it opens to. And it always should open to hope as the
sun always reappears through the clouds.
Advices from Heydar Ghiaï to his architecture students:
- Remember that architecture has its own trends,
don’t be a purist.
- Architecture is also a business.
- Everything starts with sketching, and sketching
loosely with emotion and vagueness.
- All is presentation.
- Your presentations should have balance and
composition.
- An architect who never builds is like a lover
who makes imaginary love.
- As architects, we always start with a croquis
(sketch), then we overlay hundreds of tracings and create many variants. But somehow, we always come back to the original sketch. Same in life.
- All starts with the plan.
- When designing, always imagine yourself living
in the spaces within.
- What matters is not the gold itself, but knowing
how to use the magic wand that turns all into gold.
- One should be capable of kissing the hand of
one’s emperor as well as kissing the hand of a beggar. This helps you keep your
head from getting too big.
- When you wake up each morning, make sure you
have something to look forward to.
- Respect intellectuals and artists above all,
they are the true nobility.
- Put as much effort in presenting yourself as you
do presenting your project.
- One should only learn once.
- Technology is not an end to itself, but rather a
tool. And one should always embrace technological progress.
- My life advice to you is to wake up no later
than 7 every morning.
- An architect’s office is like a theatre. Full of
intense moments but also full of silent moments.
- Always accept small projects, no matter how
large your firm should be, it keeps your employees busy in between large
projects.
- An architect has no country and no religion.
- Inspiration can come from anything, I once got
inspired by a bar of soap in a supermarket.
Advice from Heydar Ghiaï to his children:
- No matter how dire your financial standing, always
show that you are rich.
- Know that true generosity is not giving money
away, but to sacrifice your time for others.
- If you do not want to be alone, you need to
invite people without expecting reciprocation.
- A successful life is a life that has a program.
- Always be respectful of ladies.
- The time of trophy wives has passed; a woman has
to work and is worthy of the same respect as a man. Only if a woman works can
she be equal to a man.
- I always dreamed of having a daughter. My sons;
should you have a daughter, I want you to give her to me.
- If you decide to be architects, you should also
be developers.
- Work very hard, but set time aside for vacation
even at the risk of missing on business opportunities.
- Manage your family as an economy; there are
recessions and booms. Tighten family finances for a couple of years, then let loose for a couple of years.
- You need to create a persona for yourself, its
called marketing.
- Hobbies are vital to success, intellectual,
artistic as well as sports.
- Do not forget that life is not only matter it is
also spirit. Study mysticism, Sufism and be a dervish. Yet, stay away from
dogma and religion.
- No matter what you do in life, in architecture
as in life, be an original and avoid mediocrity.
- In today’s world, if one is not in business with
one another, one loses touch with each other.
- Learn from everyone, even a child can teach you
an important lesson.
