Tag Archive | "Interviews"

Learning from CCTV | An Interview with Rory McGowan


movingcities

Learning from CCTV | An Interview with Rory McGowan | Mark Magazine#24

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“A typical thick smog looms over the Beijing Central Business District, and yet from where I sit it does not hinder my view. In fact, it is hard not to drift between the man and the monument. The man is structural engineer and director at ARUP Rory McGowan, and the monument, the China Central Television building. And being 23 floors up in an office tower a few blocks from the CCTV gives me an even better perspective. Next to it, of course, is the infamous TVCC which erupted in flames last year and has since been left in its charred state. ‘You can ask me whatever you want,’ Rory states while entering the room, ‘except about that one.’ I understand the sensitivity about the issue and tell him that it is not the reason why I am here. Having joined Arup in 1986, Rory McGowan has been involved as an engineer in a massive amount of benchmark projects: Casa da Musica by OMA , CCTV and TVCC by OMA , Congrexpo by OMA , Villa VPRO by MVRDV, National Space Center by Grimshaw and Kansai National Airport by Renzo Piano, just to name a few.”
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You began working for Arup 23 years ago. How did you land the job and what makes working there a pleasure?

Rory McGowan: At the time I knew very little, except that Arup was considered the best. The story is rather clichéd: I literally knocked on their door in Dublin, got an interview and the job. So, this is my first job. I have witnessed Arup grow into a large company that functions with the freedom of a small company, which is highly unusual, but is one of our foundations for success. Despite the company’s other sectors, I still remain principally project focused which is not customary for a director. My main interests are working with architects on designs.

Could you describe your transition from the London to the Beijing office?

Rory McG: In 2002 at the London office, I became the director of the team for the CCTV building, leading the competition and engineering. As a consequence I was asked to move to China.

Learning from CCTV | An Interview with Rory McGowan | Mark Magazine#24

Throughout the past years you talked extensively about the CCTV building. I am interested in your reaction when first confronted with three key CCTV models; 1. the Styrofoam model 2. the shaking table model and 3. the final form.

Rory McG: In April 2002 I walked into the OMA office in Rotterdam. A large blue Styrofoam model sat on the table and Rem Koolhaas, Ole Scheeren and a few others were looking at it. Rem introduced the project, the competition and said: ‘This is what we are thinking about.’ At first I was taken aback: it was outrageous but at the same time was a drop dead serious proposal. We all knew what the OMA circumstances were based on our prior experiences with them, like the hyper building and other projects in the 1980s and ’90s. The issues of connectivity, a large workforce in one single building, structures resting against one other, were par for the course. The shaking table model was probably the riskiest moment in the whole project. The engineering tools that are available to us today are pretty accurate and when faced with a university-made physical model it felt strange.

The sophistication of any physical model is so poor that anything could happen. The test was successful, but if it hadn’t been, or the model had been badly made, then it would have set off a series of unstoppable events. As for what you see through these windows, the standing CCTV building, well, I had the benefit of sitting at this desk throughout the entire process. Everyday I would see it rise bit by bit out of the ground and now that it is finished, it is hard to believe. …..” read the rest of the interview at moving cities
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Studio Banana TV Interviews Carlos Arroyo


Studio Banana TV

“Studio Banana TV interviews architect Carlos Arroyo, one of the most prominent young Spanish architects. He is based in Madrid, where he develops projects of a very varied nature with a special emphasis on sustainable development and research into new forms of housing. Interview realised with the sponsorship of the European University of Madrid.”
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Carlos Arroyo is a linguist by the Institute of Linguists, London (1990) and architect by the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (1997). He is Professor at the University of Alcala de Henares and the Universidad Europea de Madrid and Member of the Europan Europe Scientific Committee since 2004. Carlos Arroyo has a studio in Madrid since 1997, where he develops projects of a very varied nature. These projects have a special emphasis on sustainable development and research into new forms of housing. Examples include:

* Cortijo de las Ventajas joint-ownership housing project in Granada: a combination of 2,500 m2 of co-housing with an agribusiness cooperative, and a mixed system of renewable energy production.
* “Ecobarrio” in Toledo: 60,000 m2 of housing including other compatible uses, developed with Eleonora Guidotti and Manuel Pérez Romero, upon winning the Europan Award.
* H↔H Project: a research project to determine the real demand for new forms of housing in Spain, conducted together with Eleonora Guidotti and the sociologist Virginia Godoy.
* Involvement in different projects to develop housing for specific needs: for youth, for the elderly (with shared services), and for extended families.

His projects have won international awards and prizes such as Europan (2001), EMVS award for residential innovation and sustainability (2006), and two Belgian Open Oproep competitions (2007 and 2008). Carlos Arroyo has participated in numerous exhibitions, notably the 8th Biennale di Architettura di Venezia. His work has appeared in publications such as El Croquis, Bauwelt, Bau, Arquitectura, AV, Circo, Fisuras and ON diseño. He has been a guest professor and lecturer at many universities and institutes, both in Spain and in the international arena. Interview realised with the sponsorship of the European University of Madrid. Special thanks to 24Studio.

Interview by Studio Banana TV.
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Nathalie de Vries / MVRDV / Part 2


0300TV


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“Final chapter of the interview with Nathalie de Vries [1965-], principal of MVRDV Architects along with Winy Maas and Jacob van Rijs.
In this episode, she starts explaining her vision of capitalism and iconography and how these concepts –that usually work together- affect the architectural panorama and MVRDV’s work. She also speaks about representation codes at her practice.”

http://www.vimeo.com/8670595
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Nathalie de Vries / MVRDV / Part 1


0300TV

Nathalie de Vries - MVRDV

“First chapter with Nathalie de Vries [1965-], principal of MVRDV Architects along with Winy Maas and Jacob van Rijs.
In this episode, she speaks about the transition between her previous work at Mecanoo and MVRDV’s foundation in 1991. She also argues about their insistence of produce ambiguous spaces according to context and different types of commissions.”
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http://www.vimeo.com/8649713
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Recorded Feb 2009
Interview by Kim Courreges / Felipe De Ferrari M.
Edited by Felipe De Ferrari M.
Music by Matías Aguayo
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Michiel Riedijk Interview / Neutelings & Riedijk / Part 3


0300TV


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“Final part of the interview with Michiel Riedijk [1964-], principal of Neutelings & Riedijk Architects along with Willem Jan Neutelings [1959-].
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In this last chapter, he bangs his fist on the table again, claiming that architecture can’t change the world or people –“that is bullshit“- it can only make good buildings.
Michiel seems to be tired –as we do too- of naïve enthusiasm about architecture’s power or weaker definitions of the limits of profession.
Afterwards, he explains how Dutch contemporary condition has influenced his practice.”
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http://www.vimeo.com/8262902

Recorded Feb 2009
Interview by Kim Courreges / Felipe De Ferrari M.
Edited by Felipe De Ferrari M.
Music by Matías Aguayo
Posted by Felipe De Ferrari M.

All the material was produced by 0300TV.

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Michiel Riedijk Interview / Neutelings & Riedijk / Part 1&2


0300TV

Imagen-5555555
“Interview with Dutch architect Michiel Riedijk [1964 -], principal in the Rotterdam-based office Neutelings & Riedijk Architects with Willem Jan Neutelings [1959 -].
In this first chapter, Michiel speaks about the background of his practice, which is closely related with practical approach of TU-Delft –Michiel and Willem studied there- avoiding any kind of explicit relation with OMA and its rhetoric. It seems that, nowadays, nobody wants to be related with chaos and speculation patented by Koolhaas besides this kind of architects.
Michiel also develops the three polarities that determine architect’s craft in their discourse and oeuvre: knowledge, skills and evocation. To be precise, he explains how these concepts were applied in his project for the Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision in Hilversum.
In this second episode, there is no place for speculation, ambiguity or misunderstanding: he states that all architects should define the moral position of their practices.

Afterwards Michiel speaks about Heroic Realism – he occupied this term to define the position of his practice – and the dilemma of telling the truth or not, especially to clients.”

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Part One:
http://www.vimeo.com/8072951
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Part Two:
http://www.vimeo.com/8075120
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All material is produced by 0300TV.
Recorded Feb 2009
Interview by Kim Courreges / Felipe De Ferrari M.
Edited by Felipe De Ferrari M.
Music by Matías Aguayo
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Studio Banana TV Interviews Toyo Ito



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“Studio Banana TV interviews Japanese architect Toyo Ito on the occasion of his lecture at the European University of Madrid. Toyo Ito is one of the world’s most innovative and influential architects. Ito is known for creating extreme concept buildings, in which he seeks to fuse the physical and virtual worlds. Interview realised with the sponsorship of the European University of Madrid.”
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Toyo Ito (伊東豊雄) is a Japanese architect born in 1941. He graduated from Tokyo University’s Department of Architecture in 1965. His office Toyo Ito & Associates is a world leading exponent of architecture that addresses the contemporary notion of a “simulated” ciy, and has been called “one of the world’s most innovative and influential architects.”

After a brief stint in the Metabolist studio of Kiyonori Kikutake, in 1971 he started his own studio in Tokyo, named Urbot (”Urban Robot”). In 1979, the studio name was changed to Toyo Ito & Associates. Throughout his early career Ito constructed numerous private house projects that expressed aspects of urban life in Japan. His early experiments include the Tower of Winds, the Egg of Winds and the Pao House for nomad women. Later projects include the Yatsushiro Municipal Museum and the Shimosuwa Municipal Museum. More recently he has built the Sendai Mediatheque (2001), the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London (2002), TOD’s Omotesando Building in Tokyo (2004), the World Games Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2008) or the Torre Fira BCN Building in Barcelona (2009).

Ito has defined architecture as “clothing” for urban dwellers, particularly in the contemporary Japanese metropolis. This theme revolves around the equilibrium between the private life and the metropolitan “public” life of an individual. The current architecture of Toyo Ito expands on his work produced during the postmodern period, aggressively exploring the potentials of new forms. In doing so, he seeks to find new spatial conditions that manifest the philosophy of borderless beings.
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Special thanks to Eriko Kinoshita from Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects
Interview by Cornelia Tapparelli. Translation by Yayoi Kawamura.
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Source: Studio Banana TV
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Michiel Riedijk Interview / Neutelings & Riedijk / Part 1


0300TV

Imagen-5555555
“Interview with Dutch architect Michiel Riedijk [1964 -], principal in the Rotterdam-based office Neutelings & Riedijk Architects with Willem Jan Neutelings [1959 -].
In this first chapter, Michiel speaks about the background of his practice, which is closely related with practical approach of TU-Delft –Michiel and Willem studied there- avoiding any kind of explicit relation with OMA and its rhetoric. It seems that, nowadays, nobody wants to be related with chaos and speculation patented by Koolhaas besides this kind of architects.
Michiel also develops the three polarities that determine architect’s craft in their discourse and oeuvre: knowledge, skills and evocation. To be precise, he explains how these concepts were applied in his project for the Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision in Hilversum.”
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http://www.vimeo.com/8072951
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All material is produced by 0300TV.
Recorded Feb 2009
Interview by Kim Courreges / Felipe De Ferrari M.
Edited by Felipe De Ferrari M.
Music by Matías Aguayo
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Studio Banana TV Interviews Benedetta Tagliabue


Studio Banana TV

Italian architect Benedetta Tagliabue

Italian architect Benedetta Tagliabue

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“Studio Banana TV interviews Italian architect Benedetta Tagliabue from the studio Miralles-Tagliabue (EMBT) in Barcelona on the occasion of their exhibition “4 quarters” at the European University of Madrid. Tagliabue is an Italian architect based in Barcelona and was the partner of the late Enric Miralles. Interview realised with the sponsorship of the European University of Madrid.”
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“Benedetta Tagliabue graduated with the highest note at the Graduate Institute of Architecture in Venice in 1989 with a thesis on Central Park in New York. This thesis won first prize in the Youth Biennale in Barcelona in 1991, which allowed her to study the Spanish architect Enric Miralles at Columbia University in New York. Their collaboration led them to gain international recognition. Miralles’ unexpected died in 2000 and Tagliabue has continued since then running EMBT and accomplishing projects such as the Hamburg School of Music (2000), the Parc Diagonal Mar (2003), the Scottish Parliament (2004), the Mercat de Santa Caterina (2005), the Natural Gas building (2005) and recently the Spanish pavilion at the next Expo in Shanghai 2010.
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Recently she received the Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Napier University (2004), The RIBA Stirling Prize 2005, the Centenary Medal from the Edinburgh Architectural Association and the 2005 Spanish National Architecture Prize ‘Manuel de la Dehesa’, for the Scottish Parliament building.
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The exhibition “4 quarters” shows a compilation of the latest works of EMBT Barcelona studio around four areas: housing projects, high-rise buildings, houses, and scenery and facilities. In Tagliabue’s own words, architecture should be thought “…as a whole, as something within but also around the building, in its surroundings (…). It’s just about turning an existing place into a better place.”.”

Source: Studio Banana TV
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Studio Banana TV Interviews Iñaki Ábalos


Studio Banana

Studio Banana interviews Spanish architect Iñaki Abalos (San Sebastian, 1956). Interview realised with the sponsorship of the Universidad Europea de Madrid
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“He is an architect from the School of Architecture of Madrid, Professor of projects and since 2001 director of the Laboratory of Techniques and Contemporary Landscapes ETSAM. Currently he is Kenzo Tange Professor at Harvard GSD. He has been a visiting professor at many universities including the Architectural Association in London, the ETH Lausanne, Columbia University, Princeton University or the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio. After being a partner in Abalos & Herreros, he currently runs with Renata Sentkiewicz “Abalos + Sentkiewicz Architects” in Madrid.

The work developed by Iñaki Abalos and Renata Sentkiewicz in Abalos+Sentkiewicz architects is known for proposing an original synthesis of technical rigour, imagination and ability to integrate the formal disciplines of architecture, landscape and environment. This confluence of quality, innovation and integration has allowed them to develop works and projects of unique nature in both the public and private realms, that have received national and international recognition. With special emphasis on the design of tall buildings, cultural facilities, public spaces and collective residence, his work provides a new symbolic and cultural dimension to emerging social and environmental values.

His work has been exposed in the whole world. It has also been part of group exhibitions such as those organized by the MoMA under the title “Light Construction”, Groundswell” and “On Site: Spanish Architecture”, and others like “New Trends of Architecture” (Tokyo 2002) and “Dialogue” (Tokyo 2005). He is the author of several books, including “ “Le Corbusier. Rascacielos”, “Técnica y Arquitectura” or “La Buena Vida”.

Interview by Studio Banana TV. Translation by Andy Marlow.”

Source: Studio Banana TV
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Captain Concept – Archinect Interviews Michael Jantzen


from Archinect
Interview by Katya Tylevich

Michael Jantzen

Michael Jantzen

Introduction:

“The artist and designer Michael Jantzen has added another structure to the surreal panorama made of his alternative-energy social and living spaces. This latest addition —Sun Rays Pavilion — is an oblique gathering area made of 12 precast concrete columns towering 150 feet tall. The Pavilion’s flat roof, as it were, faces south. Glazed with photovoltaic film, the structure generates its own electricity, with some to spare — providing the local power grid with surplus energy. Large glass sections and doors keep the space ventilated.

As it is with such projects, there are no production plans. Not yet, anyway. Nevertheless, in the fantastical landscape where many of Jantzen’s concepts reside, Sun Rays Pavilion serves its purpose: it is a gathering space, after all, visited in no small part by bloggers and magazine readers; it further broaches exactly those questions and concerns Jantzen hoped it would. Besides, as Jantzen tells me, the fate of a realized structure may be even harder to swallow than that of one confined to paper.

Until recently, Jantzen was based in Los Angeles, but I catch him now, relocated, in the Central Time Zone of St. Louis, MO. Below is the condensed and edited version of our talk about the energy it takes to power a building, and the energy it takes to deal with a home without a home.”
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Katya Tylevich: I think of your projects in the context of vast, open spaces. St. Louis is a different story, isn’t it?

Michael Jantzen: The city is, which I don’t like. I’m not a city person at all. But the farmland around here is very conducive; the open spaces are quite beautiful, especially this time of year. Really, though, it doesn’t make that much difference to me, unless I’m actually building something physically. Conceptually — mentally — I can project wherever I want. I don’t build very much. [Laughs.] So my surroundings don’t make a lot of difference.

KT: It must be even harder to get things built now. Obvious statement?

MJ: You know, I design these things, and get them out on the Internet and hope someone will come back to me wanting to build. So far, all I seem to get is more press. [Laughs.] Which just leads to more press. Although, I just got hired to do a project. Which I can’t talk about. It’s all top secret.

KT: [Sigh.]

MJ: If it happens, I’ll let you know

The Sun Rays Pavilion

The Sun Rays Pavilion

KT: You recently got Sun Rays Pavilion out on the Internet. What is its place among your other designs?

MJ: In the last few years, many of my projects have been looking at how we can create exciting public places — gathering places — that are architecturally interesting but also function. These places are able to gather and, in some cases, store alternative energy from the sun, wind, and so on, then distribute that energy to the community for which that structure is built. So the Sun Rays Pavilion is thinking very specifically about the use of solar energy and the photovoltaic films available now….

Check the rest of the interview here
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Takaharu Tezuka Interview / Tezuka Architects


from o300TV

“Interview to Takaharu Tezuka [1964 -]. Together with Yui Tezuka he founded Tezuka Architects in 1994. He studied at Musashi Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania. Buildings like the Roof House, the ‘Kyororo’ Matsunoyama Natural Science Museum and the Fuji Kindergarten have been awarded internationally. Tezuka Architects recently published Takaharu+Yui Tezuka Architecture Catalogue 2 [Toto, 2009]….” More on 0300TV
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http://www.vimeo.com/4761542
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