Traces Upon The Land. The Formalistic Landscape

Article published in the «Architectural Association Quarterly» — 1982 — vol. 11 — no. 4 (July-December) — pp. 28-39.Why does the presence of Stonehenge seem so special and powerful? Why does this small, primitive, literal pile of stones, set out upon the Salisbury Plain, continue to generate a powerful aura when we build structures hundred of times its size, in thousands of places, all over the world? Stonehenge remains a very special place, a unique place. One can marvel at the size of the stones, the efforts of primitive man to erect them, and even attempt to reconstruct or relive the ritual which instigated its birth. But all of these are analytical inquiries and have little to do with its actual presence which is primarily an emotional response. Stonehenge, I believe, does what it does, and is what it is, because it represents a delicate agreement or dialogue between the natural land-form and the hand of man. The dialogue is of greater richness than a monologue by either man or natural forces alone, and of far greater interest and intrigue. That dialogue is the subject of this paper.