Topsy-Turvy: 5 Buildings On Stilts

Architizer News

Topsy-Turvy: 5 Buildings On Stilts

January 4, 2013

Office Building in Lazika by Architects of Invention

Frank Lloyd Wright famously derided the Villa Savoye as a “box on stilts”, evidence of Le Corbusier’s “childish attempts” at making architecture. Of course, Wright was wrong, and his dismissal of the house—probably the 20th century’s most famous, along with Fallingwater—was as much competitive banter as critique. Though not as universally applicable as Corbu claimed, the stilts, or “pilotis”, did in fact revolutionize architecture and continue to be implemented today at all building scales. We were reminded of the fact by this office building in Lazika, Georgia by Architects of Invention (really).

The project consists of several geometric volumes pierced and held aloft by thin angled columns, whose breezy sway are a nice foil to the more rigid boxes. The building has an acrobatic air about it, as the columns seem far too skinny to support the load(s) that has been thrust upon them. Push too much on one side, and the whole precarious assemblage might come tumbling down. It’s a fun game to play, so much so that we thought we’d find some more buildings on stilts that’ll make you laugh and anxious at the same. Click through to see them all.