Winy Maas Concludes the Architecture Lecture Series // Dec 1, 07:03 PM
Winy Maas concluded this year’s architecture lecture series at kent last night.
I heard Winy’s name here and there, but was not familiar with his, or MVRDV’s work. Judging by his slides, MVRDV is at the cutting edge of contemporary urbanism and architecture. Mass’ architecture is certainly not “pretty.” However, it does suggest potential ways of dealing with our inevitable future – density. Those ways are not just based on quantitative but qualitative factors and oddly enough, at times become poetic.
The bulk of his overwhelming presentation came from his book, KM3, which is a remarkable study of density. The highlights from Mass’ presentation were were many. Skypark proposal for Pittsburgh, in which MVRDV brings a suspended layer of greenery and suburbia into to downtown where it floats in mid-air, half-way the skyscrapers height. Mass has also done work in Tirana, Albania, where he, with the incentive of artistic and eccentric mayor Edi Rama, made a proposal for a shopping center. Mass’ Celosia housing in Madrid (a realized project) is a conceptual visual discourse as much as it’s architecture. Chengu Opera, China (concept); Gyre building in Tokyo (built), and involvement in New Orleans (a school project and conceptual studies for a safer house also stand out as projects indicative of Mass’ philosophy.
Too bad the microphone volume was too low at times, since everyone seemed too intimidated to bring up the issue, or ask any questions for that matter.
When Mass comments that it’s a pity that young American architects don’t stand a chance [of gaining major commissions relatively young], makes me glad I’m a graphic designer.
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