in an interaction between mankind and gods through
the intermediary of raw stones set up on the landscape.
It is possible to find the divine symbolism of uncut
stone in the architecture of temples, built in raw stone
and unrefined materials that were considered in some
senses as a human achievement overshadowing divine
creative energy. In a similar approach, Ensamble Studio’s
design aims to emphasize the permanence and the
longevity achieved by stone in a building devoted to the
creativity of man as a major element of the SGAE Central
Office. Their accomplishment in this building is the
coordination of material and volume in the archetypal
stonewall in its relation to the present exemplified by
the wall of CD cases, a symbol of modern life and the
SGAE’s function. From the park side, their synergy makes
these layered surfaces appear like a giant stained glass
window that in its angular and jumbled appearance
exemplifies the confrontation of different eras. The
apparent motionlessness of the stones is contradicted
by the energy inherent in their placement. Further
extending this contrast between stasis and movement,
reflections on the wall change throughout the day,
creating patterns of light and shade in a constant flux
and mutation of the architecture in opposition with
the inert characteristic of the stone. While this overt
contrast between materials could be seen as perhaps too
simple and literal, the building’s di &V7B&