1. Interview withInterview with TatjanaTatjana
Capuder VidmarCapuder VidmarCapuder VidmarCapuder Vidmar
byby Antonio CapernaAntonio Caperna
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

2. Tatjana Capuder Vidmar obtained aTatjana Capuder Vidmar obtained a MA in Architecture and UrbanMA in Architecture and Urban
DesignDesign at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture in 1991.at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture in 1991.
In 1994 she was awarded a PhD inIn 1994 she was awarded a PhD in Architecture and UrbanArchitecture and UrbanIn 1994, she was awarded a PhD inIn 1994, she was awarded a PhD in Architecture and UrbanArchitecture and Urban
DesignDesign at the University of Ljubljana.at the University of Ljubljana.
In 1994 she studied at the AA School of Architecture London UKIn 1994 she studied at the AA School of Architecture London UKIn 1994, she studied at the AA School of Architecture, London, UKIn 1994, she studied at the AA School of Architecture, London, UK
in a postgraduate programme inin a postgraduate programme in Graduate DesignGraduate Design studying anstudying an
environmental parkenvironmental park in Teheran.in Teheran.
I th h bt i d th f l t t f A ti t iI th h bt i d th f l t t f A ti t iIn the same year she obtained the formal status of Artist inIn the same year she obtained the formal status of Artist in
Architecture with the Ministry of Culture of Slovenia.Architecture with the Ministry of Culture of Slovenia.
She worked in the capacity of Artist in Architecture from 1994 tillShe worked in the capacity of Artist in Architecture from 1994 till
2006, becoming (2006) Assistant Professor at the University of2006, becoming (2006) Assistant Professor at the University of
Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of LandscapeLjubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Landscapej j , y, p pj j , y, p p
ArchitectureArchitecture..
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

4. Antonio. Tatjana, tell us about yourself. How did you get started?Antonio. Tatjana, tell us about yourself. How did you get started?
T tj Wh I I bt i d ll ibl f i l dT tj Wh I I bt i d ll ibl f i l dTatjana. When I was young I obtained all possible professional degreesTatjana. When I was young I obtained all possible professional degrees
and at the same time I participated in a lot of architectural and urbanand at the same time I participated in a lot of architectural and urban
design competitions where I won quite a few awards. At that time I coulddesign competitions where I won quite a few awards. At that time I could
say that my professional life was a success Then in 90's I somehowsay that my professional life was a success Then in 90's I somehowsay that my professional life was a success. Then in 90's I somehowsay that my professional life was a success. Then in 90's I somehow
started to live on the margins of my profession in Slovenia. It was mystarted to live on the margins of my profession in Slovenia. It was my
decision. I did not follow the up to date streams in architecture becausedecision. I did not follow the up to date streams in architecture because
I did not want to I was looking at what was going on (in the architectureI did not want to I was looking at what was going on (in the architectureI did not want to. I was looking at what was going on (in the architectureI did not want to. I was looking at what was going on (in the architecture
setup in Slovenia) and I simply could not identify with what I saw.setup in Slovenia) and I simply could not identify with what I saw.
Studying at the AA touched me very deeply at one point It happenedStudying at the AA touched me very deeply at one point It happenedStudying at the AA touched me very deeply at one point. It happenedStudying at the AA touched me very deeply at one point. It happened
during the project. For the first time I was able to grasp the idea thatduring the project. For the first time I was able to grasp the idea that
what we see is not the only reality and that therefore our interpretationwhat we see is not the only reality and that therefore our interpretation
of what we are seeing might be a wrong one, or can be just a reality ofof what we are seeing might be a wrong one, or can be just a reality ofof what we are seeing might be a wrong one, or can be just a reality ofof what we are seeing might be a wrong one, or can be just a reality of
our sight but not of our insight. This moved me deeply. It was like anour sight but not of our insight. This moved me deeply. It was like an
irrational feeling that there was something I needed to investigate andirrational feeling that there was something I needed to investigate and
understand.understand.
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

5. Landscapes andLandscapes and
Prints of NaturePrints of Nature

6. Antonio. What inspired and motivated the mood of your
art?
Tatjana. It was Nature. I admire big trees and small
beautiful flowers and all plants in between I canbeautiful flowers and all plants in between. I can
always be consoled by their presence. On the other
side being inspired by the urge to see and understandg p y g
things beyond cartesian thinking I was looking to
understanding space itself. I think I am unable to
t hit t ith t thi i i ht I f d t th tcreate architecture without this insight. I found out that
it is very difficult to find a space which hasn't been
disturbed by a human but this is the microcosm ofdisturbed by a human but this is the microcosm of
nature - the majority of it hasn't been touched yet. So
there I can observe the pure space among the naturalp p g
structures. Just observing it and appreciating it.
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

7. Antonio. Do you have any formal training in the arts?
Tatjana I am an architect and I consider architecture is an artTatjana. I am an architect and I consider architecture is an art.
But not all the buildings built are architecture.
Antonio When did you first start to do paper models?Antonio. When did you first start to do paper models?
Tatjana. I was always fond of making paper models since I was a
t d t It i f i ti t b h f fstudent. It is so fascinating to observe how forms of paper
influence and determine space, and how it grows under your
hands. But when I was young I never thought it might be
interesting to observe how a space influences a form. This is
what I am interested in now.
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

8. Antonio. How has your style changed over the years?Antonio. How has your style changed over the years?
T tj A I id I it f l f i l hit tT tj A I id I it f l f i l hit tTatjana. As I said I was quite successful as a professional young architectTatjana. As I said I was quite successful as a professional young architect
untill I came back from the AA. Soon after studies at the AA my careeruntill I came back from the AA. Soon after studies at the AA my career
somehow dropped to a zero point being frustrated by the commercialsomehow dropped to a zero point being frustrated by the commercial
architecture at that timearchitecture at that timearchitecture at that time.architecture at that time.
It was in 2009 when I found what I was looking for during the years ofIt was in 2009 when I found what I was looking for during the years of
nothingness And the paper models photographed by my friend anothingness And the paper models photographed by my friend anothingness. And the paper models, photographed by my friend, anothingness. And the paper models, photographed by my friend, a
professional photographerprofessional photographer -- Drago Bole, are the result of it.Drago Bole, are the result of it.
Antonio What do you believe is a key element in creating a good artisticAntonio What do you believe is a key element in creating a good artisticAntonio. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good artisticAntonio. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good artistic
composition?composition?
Tatjana. A contemporary curator might consider me very old fashioned inTatjana. A contemporary curator might consider me very old fashioned inj p y g yj p y g y
my answer. I believe that the key element in creating a good artisticmy answer. I believe that the key element in creating a good artistic
composition is a message that supports life. There might be othercomposition is a message that supports life. There might be other
important elements but I believe that art fulfills its purpose when it givesimportant elements but I believe that art fulfills its purpose when it givesp p p gp p p g
people a faith in life, showing them the beauty of the life, and a possibilitypeople a faith in life, showing them the beauty of the life, and a possibility
of choosing constructive issues for survivingof choosing constructive issues for surviving..
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

9. LandscapesLandscapes
and Prints ofand Prints of
NatureNature

10. Antonio. How would you describe the themes in your art?Antonio. How would you describe the themes in your art?
Tatjana. Untill now I was investigating just the microcosm of trees. ITatjana. Untill now I was investigating just the microcosm of trees. I
would like to go further to the spaces in between rocky structures.would like to go further to the spaces in between rocky structures.
Antonio. You participated at our summer school. Please let meAntonio. You participated at our summer school. Please let me
know what you think about biourbanism in its approach to design?know what you think about biourbanism in its approach to design?
Tatjana. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I participated in theTatjana. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I participated in the
summer school in Artena. Thank you very much for giving me thissummer school in Artena. Thank you very much for giving me this
opportunity I consider the biourban approach to design as soopportunity I consider the biourban approach to design as soopportunity. I consider the biourban approach to design as soopportunity. I consider the biourban approach to design as so
close to the field I am interested in. I am very happy that I foundclose to the field I am interested in. I am very happy that I found
here in Artena people I can talk to using the same languagehere in Artena people I can talk to using the same language
th h i f diff t f i d diff tth h i f diff t f i d diff tthough we are coming from different professions and differentthough we are coming from different professions and different
countries.countries.
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

11. Landscapes andLandscapes and
Prints of NaturePrints of NaturePrints of NaturePrints of Nature

12. BiourbanismBiourbanism is concerned with the wholeness and complexity of lifeis concerned with the wholeness and complexity of life
and I think this is the only possible approach to any architectural orand I think this is the only possible approach to any architectural or
urban design today. Biourbanism is talking about a biophilic spaceurban design today. Biourbanism is talking about a biophilic space
which supports equilibrium between cognition and senses, iswhich supports equilibrium between cognition and senses, is
usable for all people, is supporting human affinity for nature,usable for all people, is supporting human affinity for nature,p p pp g yp p pp g y
respects therespects the genetic structuregenetic structure of the site, and is a wholeness inof the site, and is a wholeness in
itself. It is a space which supports life and I think this is the a prioriitself. It is a space which supports life and I think this is the a priori
purpose of any space if we consider it as an entity which hasn't yetpurpose of any space if we consider it as an entity which hasn't yetpurpose of any space if we consider it as an entity which hasn t yetpurpose of any space if we consider it as an entity which hasn t yet
been destructively abused by humans for their selfish profits.been destructively abused by humans for their selfish profits.
During the summer school students made some biophilic spaces byDuring the summer school students made some biophilic spaces byDuring the summer school students made some biophilic spaces byDuring the summer school students made some biophilic spaces by
placemaking in a small scale in Artena. The new spaces turned intoplacemaking in a small scale in Artena. The new spaces turned into
small acupunctural needles which will most probably generate asmall acupunctural needles which will most probably generate a
h lthi d i id lif i A t W i ht thh lthi d i id lif i A t W i ht thhealthier and more vivid life in Artena. We might use the samehealthier and more vivid life in Artena. We might use the same
principle in bigger scales where the biophilic placemaking wouldprinciple in bigger scales where the biophilic placemaking would
generate healthier life in bigger urban and landscape spaces.generate healthier life in bigger urban and landscape spaces.
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar

13. Landscapes and Prints of NatureLandscapes and Prints of Nature

14. AntonioAntonio. What do you share with us?. What do you share with us?
Tatjana. I think I share with you the disappointment aboutTatjana. I think I share with you the disappointment about
contemporary results in urban and landscape spaces and I think Icontemporary results in urban and landscape spaces and I think I
share with you the hope for finding a solution, and the belief thatshare with you the hope for finding a solution, and the belief thaty p gy p g
the solution is in understanding the complexity and selfthe solution is in understanding the complexity and self--similaritysimilarity
of spaces. Selfof spaces. Self--similarity is the only characteristic of a spacesimilarity is the only characteristic of a space
which has been proved as stable. Therefore we need to createwhich has been proved as stable. Therefore we need to createwhich has been proved as stable. Therefore we need to createwhich has been proved as stable. Therefore we need to create
our architecture and urban design out of this stable data.our architecture and urban design out of this stable data.
Antonio Thank you TatjanaAntonio Thank you TatjanaAntonio. Thank you TatjanaAntonio. Thank you Tatjana
International Society of Biourbanism
Interview with Tatjana Capuder Vidmar