the artist-architect joar nango is a member of the sámi people, an indigenous group from the north of norway and sweden. he creates site-specific installations and self-made publications that explore indigenous perspectives via contemporary architecture. there’s an archival window called skievvarcoolli, designed and built by oceangoing sámi people out of dried halibut stomachs spanning wooden frames. for the biennial, nango’s creative team developed a prototype for a new kind of window screen using this old technology. skievvar is a slightly absurd anti-capitalist piece of ancient-futurist technology carrying old wisdoms through its simple material, presented in chicago, itself a cradle of modernist architecture.
[ curatorial statement ] titled …and other such stories, the 2019 chicago architecture biennial is rooted in close readings of the spatial realities of its host city. sitting at the crossroads of the great plains and the great lakes, chicago has been shaped by planetary forces: colonial expansion, mass migration, extraction economies, and rapid industrialization. thus, chicago’s urbanism is inextricable from the flows of people, goods, and capital—and the concurrent exploitation of bodies, labor, and nature—that have contributed to its making. today, despite the promise of economic development, chicago, like many other established and emergent global metropolises, faces challenging urban conditions that require the reimagining of forms of exchange between human activity, technology, and the natural world. by extension, owing to its physical geography, chicago is a singular context in which to address climate and ecological concerns shared by many postindustrial societies.
the third edition of the biennial will open 19 september 2019 thru 5 january 2020, and will convene the world’s leading practitioners, theorists, and commentators in the field of architecture and urbanism to further explore, debate, and demonstrate the significance of architectural concepts in contemporary society. the 2019 chicago architecture biennial is led by artistic director yesomi umolu with curators sepake angiama and paulo tavares.
above > utec – universidad de ingenieria y tecnologia by grafton architects won the very first riba international prize in 2016. photography: iwan baan
the riba international awards for excellence – 20 stand-out buildings from around the world – comprises the riba international prize – the single best of them all – and the riba international emerging architect prize (a recognition for the shortlist’s young guns). presented every two years, and now on their third edition, the british institute’s awards have been gathering pace. past winners include celebrated, worthy works, such as the children village school complex in brazil by aleph zero and rosenbaum, and utec (universidad de ingeniería y tecnología) in lima, peru by grafton architects.
french architect odile decq will oversee the different judging panels that will select the acclaimed group of honors for 2020. photography: franck juery
above/below > 2018 previous winners, little village — the architects, gustavo utrabo and petro duschenes from aleph zero, designed children village in collaboration with marcelo rosenbaum and adriana benguela from architecture and design studio, rosenbaum. chosen from a shortlist of four exceptional new buildings by a grand jury chaired by renowned architect elizabeth diller (ds+r).
though [ riba ] is a british based institution the organizers wish to clarify, these awards are open to any qualified architect in the world for a building outside of the uk, of any size and type of budget. let the submissions begin.
above> known to many as ‘the forest’ the entire roof structure was suspended, never touching the vaulted stone ceilings.
it hasn’t taken very long to grasp that the wooden-frame roof is literally history.
the roof will never be fully restored to its former self nor is there a need. yet how many of the 13 million annual visitors have even perceived the oak beams and carpentry? DesignApplause reflects on a bit of the history and the genius.
[ the roof ]
the roof that was destroyed was the original made up of 1,300 oak trees – a number of 5,000 is often alleged. the oak trees to reach gothic height for this project were nearly 400 years old by the time they were cut. each beam supporting the 100+ yards of roof came from an individual tree. the roof was also known as ‘the forest’.
the wooden roof’s entire wooden frame sat on the stone walls, suspended over and never touching the vaulted stone ceilings. the beams were spliced together into one piece to achieve this span. the structure was impressively heavy made up of 500 tons of wood. the exterior surfaces were clad with 250 tons of lead.
though there are many revival ideas what happens next is difficult to assess. while we wait, DesignApplause ventures into eliminating restoration and winnowing options to replication — possibly via new technology — and inspiration. and if history sets precedent – the original concept has been altered each time during needed renovation – we predict inspiration will guide the way.
the notre-dame fire, horrific, but the human spirit by design, brings people closer together.
“utterly heartbroken.” ~ britain’s queen elizabeth and her son and heir prince charles said expressing deep sadness. The fire is a “catastrophe for France, for Spain and for Europe,”
spanish prime minister pedro sánchez tweeted the fire is a “catastrophe for france, for spain and for europe,” adding that the flames are destroying “850 years of history, architecture, painting and sculpture.”
german chancellor angela merkel offered her country’s help to rebuild a part of “our common european heritage”.
“notre-dame will always remain – and we have seen this in these hours – a place where believers and non-believers can come together in the most dramatic moments of french history.” ~ pope francis.
french president emmanuel macron told reporters near the scene that he will seek international help, including from the “greatest talents” in the world, to rebuild notre dame.
the notre-dame fire reminds us of the frailty of our architectural treasures. “we are used to thinking about them as eternal simply because they have been there for centuries, or a thousand years, but the reality is they are very fragile.” paolo violini, a restoration specialist for vatican museums, who added that the pace of the fire’s spread had been stunning.
as the embers cool, the world joins hands to restore an extraordinary diva.
2019 chicago architecture biennial highlight contributors:
the chicago architecture biennial announced the first group of contributors to the 2019 edition and its publication. titled …and other such stories, the biennial will form an expansive and multi-faceted exploration of the field of architecture and the built environment globally. the first 51 contributors — spanning the americas, europe, africa, and asia — form an initial, representative group, and include an early selection of ambitious commissioned projects. these projects will address key questions about the implications of architecture as it relates to land, memory, rights, and civic participation, and are particularly inspired by the history and conditions of the city of chicago.
the team is comprised of artistic director yesomi umolu, a contemporary art curator, and co-curators sepake angiama, a curator whose work centers on education, and paulo tavares, a brazil-based architect and academic.
[ exhibition contributors ]
adrian blackwell / lives in toronto, canada akinbode akinbiyi / lives in berlin, germany alejandra celedon & nicolas stutzin / both live in santiago, chile architects for social housing (ash) / founded in london, england – uk avijit mukul kishore & rohan shivkumar / both live in mumbai, india black quantum futurism / founded in philadelphia, usa borderless studio / founded in chicago, usa camp / founded in mumbai, india carolina caycedo / lives in los angeles, usa center for spatial research / founded in new york, usa clemens von wedemeyer / lives in berlin, germany cohabitation strategies & urban front / founded in new york, usa constructlab / founded in berlin, germany daar (sandi hilal & alessandro petti) / founded in beit sahour, palestine detroit planning department / founded in detroit, usa do ho suh / lives in london, england – uk fica–fundo imobiliário comunitário para aluguel / founded in são paulo, brazil forensic architecture & invisible institute / founded in london, england – uk and chicago, usa jimmy robert / lives in berlin, germany joar nango / lives in romssa /tromsø, norway keleketla! library / founded in johannesburg, south africa maria gaspar / lives in chicago, usa mass design group / founded in boston and poughkeepsie, usa; kigali, rwanda ola hassanain / lives in khartoum, sudan and utrecht, netherlands rma architects / founded in mumbai, india; boston, usa sammy baloji & filip de boeck / both live in brussels, belgium and lubumbashi, democratic republic of the congo settler colonial city project / founded in ann arbor usa and guayaquil, ecuador somatic collaborative (felipe correa & devin dobrowolski) / founded in new york, usa studiobasar / founded in bucharest, romania sweet water foundation / founded in chicago, usa tania bruguera & association of arte útil / bruguera lives in new york, usa / association of arte útil founded in havana, cuba tanya lukin linklater & tiffany shaw-collinge / linklater lives in ontario, canada; shaw-collinge lives in alberta, canada territorial agency—john palmesino & ann-sofi rönnskog / founded in london, england – uk the funambulist / founded in paris, france theaster gates / lives in chicago, usa usina – ctah / founded in são paulo, brazil vincent meessen / lives in brussels, belgium wendelien van oldenborgh / lives in berlin, germany wolff architects / founded in cape town, south africa
[ catalogue contributors ]
aviwe mandyanda (blackstudio) / lives in johannesburg, south africa carmen silva / lives in são paulo, brazil cheyanne turions / lives in vancouver, canada columbia books on architecture and the city / founded in new york, usa dr. denise ferreira da silva / lives in vancouver, canada ella / founded in los angeles, usa emmanuel pratt / lives in chicago, usa eduardo o. kohn / lives in montreal, canada inam kula / lives in cape town, south africa lesley lokko / lives in johannesburg, south africa pelin tan / lives in mardin, turkey vincent tao / lives in vancouver, canada
[ history of the biennial ]
the chicago architecture biennial is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating an international forum on architecture and urbanism through the production of exhibitions and public programs. the manifestation of mayor rahm emanuel’s vision for a major international architectural event and an outcome of the comprehensive cultural plan developed by chicago’s department of cultural affairs and special events, under the leadership of michelle t. boone, the inaugural 2015 chicago architecture biennial was presented through the support of bp, and in partnership with the city of chicago and the graham foundation. joseph grima and sarah herda, co-artistic directors, curated the 2015 biennial, entitled the state of the art of architecture. through its constellation of exhibitions, full-scale installations, and programming, the 2015 chicago architecture biennial invited the public to engage with and think about architecture in new and unexpected ways, and to take part in a global discussion on the future of the field.
the 2019 third edition of the biennial will run from 19 september 2019 – 5 january 2020.
“it’s an idea factory—a place of creative collision between students and faculty across disciplines, where new ideas are explored and tested on their way to becoming meaningful innovations.” —john ronan, faia
[ architect’s brief ] the ed kaplan family institute for innovation and tech entrepreneurship at the illinois institute of technology opens this month, the first new academic building at iit in over forty years. the kaplan institute is devoted to fostering collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship between iit’s students, faculty, alumni and partners and the building will host a variety of collaboration spaces for university’s project-based experiences, contain state-of-the art prototyping and fabrication facilities, and serve as the new home for iit’s institute of design.
the horizontal, open and light-filled building is designed to encourage creative encounters between students and faculty across disciplines. located in the heart of iit’s historic mies campus, the building draws students and faculty in from all directions. conceived as a hybrid of campus space and building, the design is organized around two open-air courtyards through which visitors enter the building, and which serve as collision nodes for chance meetings and information exchange across departments. these two-story glazed courtyards bring natural light deep into the floor plate, creating a spacious, airy and light filled interior and a continuous connection with nature.
the design of the innovation center is innovative in its own right, and forward-thinking in its approach to sustainability. the second floor of the building, which cantilevers over the ground floor to provide sun shading, is enclosed in a dynamic façade of etfe foil cushions which can vary the amount of solar energy entering the building through sophisticated pneumatics. the etfe foil is 1% the weight of glass and gives the building a light, cloud-like appearance.
the city of chicago recently announced a $8.5 billion renovation of o’hare international airport including a new terminal that will be the centerpiece of the largest expansion in o’hare’s history.
to jump-start this vision, twelve global architectural firms were asked to submit proposals including danish architect bjarke ingels, studio fuksas of italy, chicago firms, gensler, hok, perkins + will, and chicago architect helmut jahn, who designed the stunning terminal 1 which opened in 1986.
a shortlist of five firms are highlighted below. two design contracts will be awarded: the winning team will design the global terminal and concourse. the second-place finisher is expected to design the satellite concourses. the eight-year project, made possible by the end of a 35-year lease with the airlines, would be paid for with future airline fees, and therefore would not require taxpayer dollars.
[ design objectives ]
> expand terminal and gate space
> replace aged infrastructure with state-of-the art systems
> introduce new technology and security innovations
> integrate domestic and international to create a seamless passenger experience
> enhance the passenger experience
> incorporate sustainability and enhanced accessibility features
> reflect the legacy of chicago’s innovation, architecture, and it’s diversity
[ scope of work ]
> increasing the airport’s overall footprint from 5.5 to 8.9 million sq ft.
> tearing down 55-year-old terminal 2 and creating a new global terminal
> adding 25% gate capacity at existing gates to accommodate larger aircraft
> increasing gate count from 185 to 235
> adding two new remote satellite concourses
> adding a tunnel to a new parking facility foreshadowing a future new terminal
> renovating terminals 1,3, and 5
while affirming the 14 project design objectives and scope of work expectations DesignApplause considers the heart of this project is replacing a 55-year-old terminal with a cutting-edge architectural solution that’s categorically a part of every world’s-best discussion.
[ uniquely different ] two concepts stand out: studio ord features ample neighborhoods and greenspace not seen elsewhere in terminals. foster epstein moreno jv boasts a world-first column-less concept under an extraordinary shell with a span of 550 feet.
[ wow factor ] one concept dominates: foster epstein moreno jv a space that pushes the limits of technology and truly lifts the spirits.
[ pro vs con ] what stands out…only one concept with zero con: foster epstein moreno jv.
[ shortlisted firms ]
above > the fentress-exp-brook-garza joint venture’s globally-minded terminal design for chicago provides an elegant, spacious, and sustainable gateway to connect chicagoans and the world with speed and efficiency. soaring spaces sparkle with sunlight and lift the human spirit. daylight and spatial composition guide passengers intuitively and purposefully. the latest technological advances shape a smart, seamless, comfortable, and unencumbered experience. from arrival to departure, every element of the new terminal is crafted to elevate the passenger, making their journey inspiring, engaging, stirring, and fun. our vision is to return the romance of air travel to all who pass through chicago’s o’hare.
above > foster epstein moreno jv / a joint venture led by foster + partners and chicago-based firms epstein and moreno. our design is based upon a sequence of memorable and distinctive spaces that create a gateway to chicago with architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive, welcoming and functional, in turn resolving the sophisticated security, airport and airline requirements in a way that meets the needs of both employees and passengers. three arches frame the landside of the building, merging into a grand single arch on the airside, thus dissolving the barrier between inside and out and allowing the spectacle of the airfield to be visible to all who pass through the gateway, and recapturing the romance associated with air travel.
above > studio ord / chicago is a city defined by motion; confluence – of our river, of trail networks, of railroads – has shaped our most vibrant civic spaces. studio ord’s elegant and efficient design for the o’hare global terminal and global concourse unifies the airport’s campus by converging seamless lines of motion across three terminals around a spectacular central oculus. this confluence becomes orchard field – a vibrant neighborhood that combines abundant green spaces with distinctive landmarks, bespoke retail pavilions, and diverse activity zones. richly layered and easily navigable, it captures the unique character of chicago and redefines o’hare as a 21st century international destination.
above > som / we have delivered global excellence in this great city, shaping chicago’s skyline, neighborhoods and public realm for more than 80 years. it’s said that our chicago buildings turn “pragmatism into poetry.”
our elegantly undulating o’hare global terminal aims to be the world’s best, through optimal functional planning, great design, and keen practicality – all quintessential chicago qualities.
we infuse the muscular heritage of chicago architecture and engineering with many lessons from the natural environment, to increase human comfort, save energy and define a distinctive sense of place. this can be chicago’s next great building and our new gateway to the world.
above > santiago calatrava, llc / o’hare’s global terminal by santiago calatrava is a masterwork of modern terminal architecture. with a glass façade and dramatic shell-like roof soaring over the approach road, the building unifies the terminal complex while establishing itself as its centerpiece.
inside, vaulted, light-filled spaces celebrate both the grandeur and simplicity of bygone travel as customers move easily to and from gate areas enlivened by chicago-focused concessions in an airy, park-like setting.
convenient links to adjacent terminals, satellite concourses, and public transit support a future vision plan that transforms the area opposite the terminal into a vibrant hotel, retail and business complex.
somewhat unusual is the jury is not being disclosed, not even to the architects. please stay tuned.
its curvaceous structure is inspired by star wars, with circling landscapes and a giant arch for the public to wander around. the 100,000-square-foot gallery space within will display art collections and memorabilia from lucas and his wife, mellody hobson. other design cues include the likes of translucent elevator tubes that will transport visitors through the museum’s white ceiling in the lobby area. mad’s design also unites education and retail spaces within the interior, which is expected to open in 2021.
the ground breaking was a long time coming. originally meant to be constructed in chicago in 2014, the location moved to the west coast because of its initial lakefront site and the legal issues it posed. chicago-based DesignApplause feels that a big one got away.
at the groundbreaking ceremony, george lucas talked about his vision for the museum: “yes, this is an art museum, but i’m also trying to position it as an anthropological museum. it is my feeling that popular art is an insight into a society and what they aspire to; what they really want, what they really are — it is about telling the narrative of their story, their history and their belief system. i believe all kinds of art have a right to exist. i think it’s important to have a museum, that i used to jokingly say, supports all the orphan arts that nobody wants to see, but everybody loves. so that’s my dream for this.”
the museum is located in los angeles’ exposition park, and stands as a gateway to the park. it appears as if a futuristic spaceship, with a mysterious and surrealistic attitude, has “landed” on the site’s natural environment. people from all walks of life are welcome to feel and appreciate this cultural paradise. the interior of the building has been designed as a huge bright and open cave. skylights allow sunlight to flood the interior space, and guide visitors through the museum’s various programs. the first floor and roof of the building are expansive public areas that can be enjoyed by everyone. people can exercise here, relax, talk to the surrounding natural environment, and directly experience nature in the urban environment.
on the design of the museum lucas stated, “i am an avid architectural fan and i wanted a special museum that was a work of art in itself, and ma [yansong] has done that three times.
when asked about the project and its final home in los angeles, mad founder and principal partner ma yansong said, “an open city with an inclusive culture, especially innovative buildings, is very important. it is a pleasure to work with the american filmmaker and legend george lucas on creating a world-class landmark for los angeles. we hope that the joint efforts will continue to make los angeles the most creative metropolises in the world.”
the museum’s collection s is worth at least 400 million u.s. dollars and will cover art through three lenses: narrative art; the art of cinema; and digital art. donated by george lucas and mellody hobson, the expanding collection includes more than 10,000 paintings, illustrations and movie memorabilia. lucas said that, “the ultimate and all meaning of this museum lies in inspiring people’s imagination and allowing people to embrace all possibilities of art creation.” the los angeles government praised the museum as “the largest public gift ever given to a municipality”…
the $1.5 billion lucas museum of narrative art is a non-profit, covers an area of approximately 11 acres and was created and supported by george lucas and his wife mellody hobson. in 2014, mad architects, led by ma yansong, won the international competition of the lucas museum of narrative art to become the architect of the museum. from 2014 to the present, mad has provided three very unique designs, each responding to the three proposed locations of the project, with los angeles chosen as the final home.
the museum is expected to be ready for use in the second half of 2021.
[ timeline of the lucas museum of narrative art in review ] 2014
may > the museum held an invitation only, international design contest, with mad invited as the only company from asia
july – it is announced that mad has won the competition to be the museum architect
november – the concept design for the chicago museum is announced 2015
september – the museum announces plans to deepen the chicago design 2016
october – the museum announces it would give up chicago and make proposals for los angeles and san francisco. mad’s designs for both locations were revealed 2017
january – the museum announces los angeles as the final location
june – the museum receives approval from los angeles city council 2018
march – the museum officially breaks ground
above> kyoto-based artist kohei nawa’s molecular white bubbles bring your eye skyward in the lobby.
the interior design concept for the hotel was ‘the address to the sky.’ wind, light, and other phenomena of nature are embraced through 389 pieces of art.
though conrad osaka boasts impressive views of the downtown cityscape, the real draw of the hotel is light, stunning visual art, and architectural elements. the space itself is situated on the 33rd to 40th floors of osaka’s newest skyscraper, festival tower west. the sleek 164-room conrad osaka is bathed in tones of silver and walnut, with a few eye-catching pops of red and white. the pillar-free areas let natural daylight and dusk seep in through its double-tall floor-to-ceiling windows during the day drifting to artificially evoked evening lighting.
the interior design, is a collaboration with designer yukio hashimoto and nikken space design. world-renown lighting design firm worktecht was called in and specified soraa lighting. “lighting could bring the corresponding special atmosphere and perception to immerse people in,” said atsushi kaneda, founder and designer of worktecht.
above> yukio hashimoto articulates the design theme of the hotel
soraa lighting was founded on breakthrough nobel prize-winning led technology and has been designing simply perfect light since 2008. known for their full-spectrum lamps that provide unparalleled color rendering ability, and introducing violet into their leds replacing traditional blue, to mimic daylight and create a more natural white light that is human-centric and creates a more serene atmosphere – no matter the time of day. soraa lighting is used in art galleries, world class museums, and luxury retail stores around the globe.
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