Architecture - Ready for Copyrights?

Is architecture ready for copyrights? Usually design ideas circulate through books and magazines - either it's a Domus magazine or a Le Corbusier classic: There might be no architectural practice without these little "post-its" between the magazine's pages - some call it inspirational source, others plagiarism!

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377 - 1446) was already aware of the power of innovation. Brunelleschi designed a vessel to carry loads by river more efficiently, for which he was granted what many view as the first modern patent. Florence gave him the exclusive right to produce any new ways to transport goods by water for three years. (Source: Wikipedia) The design of the cupola of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence was also based on an innovation: a two shell dome realized without a framework of scaffolding.


Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence

Recently a controversial design patent by Hans Zwimpfer (found by Andreas Schrader) shocks the local scene. It would make it illegal for other architects to design a certain architectural structure. A patent far from Brunelleschi's brilliancy...

PILE UP® was registered for patenting throughout Europe and in the USA in 2003. The preliminary checks have been carried out. The patent covers the spatial concept with the high-ceilinged living and outer area, and the flexible floor plan structure on a single level - this is not a maisonette model. The patent applies for the construction of PILE UP® in all of its possible construction models.


image by ZWIMPFER PARTNER Architekten SIA

Architects are quite sceptical whether Hans Zwimpfer has invented something! (see for example the Berlin MVRDV project) At least the idea of patenting architecture is (almost) new.

feature from the swiss TV:
http://www.sf.tv/sf1/kulturplatz/rubrik.php?rubrik=architektur_design

websites of Zwimpfer:
http://www.zapco.ch/index.php?id=53&L=1
http://www.zpa.ch/index.php?id=532