Tombazis is among a constellation of contemporary architects whose work has recently grappled with the unique challenge of designing a building suitable for sacred purposes. Tombazis emphasises
that the church as a building type demands abstraction. For him the church is `the most abstract architecture one can be involved with'. The church then for him is not only representational,
but rather a powerful vessel, a vehicle for an individual discovery of a feeling of faith.
Fatima asks for a fresh way of looking at questions of faith and their persistence. It is a space that describes the pursuit of a particular religious history, of a nationalist narrative, and a
culture of devotion. In this way, Fatima is a particularly rich case study for the dialogue between religious convictions and the sacred spaces in which those convictions are given ritual
expression.
After practicing architecture for more than 50 years and making a substantial contribution to European architecture, author, architect and artist Alexandros N. Tombazis presents his thoughts
and advice for the benefit of young architects. Each thought is presented in the form of a short essay that captures his lifelong involvement with and love for architecture and painting. The
book addresses subjects such as sustainability, and the architect's responsibility toward the planet. It is extensively illustrated with sketches and photographs, most of which were taken by
the author.
Tombazis and Associates. Architects take the famous adage, less is more, and use it as the basis for their philosophy, which can be summed up as, less is beautiful. In reference to the saying
of Mies van der Rohe, less in this instance implies that a conscious and well-judged decision for the appropriate minimum in each design can produce architectural beauty. This is reflected in
the projects presented in this book.
