For Mario Vargas Llosa writer, precision and good taste are in close relationship. Maybe aircrafts are the best example of accuracy and technology success. They have been also a permanent inspiration for modern architects, from Le Corbusier to Future Systems. In this sense the linkage between beauty and performance is that precision work so well expressed by Norman Foster’s “more with less”.

Future houses can easily be seen as machines, as the “machine a vivre” defined by Le Corbusier, but in this case surely they will be efficient machines in terms of energy consumption. There is no doubt aircrafts are very efficient machines in their own field, and can be seen not only as a formal inspiration for architects but also as a technological inspiration in architectural research.

Here we will pay homage to past and present masters known for their ingenuity and nonconformist thinking both architects and engineers. We are talking about people as Arthur M. Young, who experimented with scale models of helicopters till he designed the flybar that allowed for the construction of first generation of Bell helicopters. Alexander Van de Rostyne, father of the smallest radio control helicopter at the time featured his 1,69 gram piccolino model at RCgroups forum in 2006. Another aircraft inventor, Burt Rutan, has made some of the most radical airplanes ever seen, including his “space ship one”, first private space ship to leave atmosphere and to win (ten million dollar) Ansari X-prize.

Inside Architecture’s world it is a must to mention Antoni Gaudí and the almost anonymous research work carried out in his workshop. Structural models were patiently crafted and tested in a very personal though effective way by means of multiple strings and small weights to find the natural form of the structure. Eero Saarinen with his Twa terminal, Charles Eames and his streamlined chairs, Norman Foster pushing the limits and Future Systems example of free form and technical rigour, are just a few other geniuses not always admired by their craftsmanship as much as they deserve.

Future architects will project “efficient machines to live in” and that’s the reason why they will have to face new challenges in developing new concepts and new forms. It is precisely in this task in what will be invaluable to learn the lessons given by these masters in their particular searches.