1

t h e s i s [ r e ] v i e w

a l e j a n d r o z a e r a p o l o m o n i c a p o n c e d e l e o nn a d e r t e h r a n i

j o s h u a p r i n c e r a m us

the role of infrastructure in the production of public spaces

populariz ing operathe artif ic ial nature congrexpo in li l le

3

4 . 2 1 0 P r e c e d e n t s i n C r i t i c a l P r a c t i c em a r w a n a b ou d i b s i x t o c o r d e r o

M I T Ar c h i t e c t u r e

33

a b s t r a c t ( 5 )

A l e j a n d r o Z a e r o P o l o

J o s h u a P r i n c e R a m u s

M o n i c a P o n c e d e L e o nN a d e r T e h r a n i`

c o n c l u s i o n ( 3 0 ) `b i b l i o g r a p h y ( 3 1 )

H G S D M Ar c h Fa l l 1 9 9 0

H G S D M Ar c h S p r i n g

H G S D M A U D Fa l l 1 9 9 1

[ i n d e x ]

artif ic ial nature congrexpo in li l le

populariz ing opera-- a national opera house and ice r ink in oslo , norway

the role of infrastructure in the production of public spaces

rem koolhaasjonathan. levimack.scogingeorge.wagner

mohsen mostafavi

jorge silvetti

profile ( 6 - 7 )

summary + images of thesis ( 8 - 9 )

timeline ( 1 0 - 1 1 )

office statement comparison ( 1 2 - 1 3 )

profile ( 1 4 - 1 5 )

summary + images of thesis ( 1 6 - 1 7 )

timeline ( 1 8 - 1 9 )

office statement comparison ( 2 0 - 2 1 )

profile ( 2 2 - 2 3 )

summary + images of thesis ( 2 4 - 2 5 )

timeline ( 2 6 - 2 7 )

office statement comparison ( 2 8 - 2 9 )

5

55

As a r c h i t e c t s o u r l i f e s t y l e i s o f t e n d e f i n e d b y f a s t d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g a n d t h e j u g g l i n g o f m u l t i p l e p r o j e c t s a t o n c e , t o b o t h k e e p p r a c -t i c e s a f l o a t a n d t o m a k e t h e m g r ow a n d b e c o m e s t a b l e . I t i s o f t e n c o m m o n f o r m a n y t o l i m i t t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n t o p u r e l y p r a c t i c a l t e r m s o r t o c o n s t a n t l y k e e p s t u d y i n g t h e s a m e c o n c e p t i n o r d e r t o b e a b l e t o m a k e a c o n c r e t e i n t e l l e c t u a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o o u r d i s -c i p l i n e . As su c h t h i s p r o j e c t s e e k s t o e x p l o r e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e e n d o f c a r e e r t h e s i s p r o j e c t o f s e v e r a l i n f l u e n t i a l c h a r a c t e r s i n o u r c o n t e m p o r a r y f i e l d , a n d d e t e r m i n e t h e r e p e r c u ss i o n s o f a r g u a b l y t h e i r m os t t i m e c o n su m i n g p r o j e c t h a s h a d o n t h e i r s u bs e q u e n t p r a c t i c e . T h i s t r a n s c e n d e n t a l e f f e c t o f t h e s i s i s s i g n a l e d o u t b y f i g u r e s l i k e K o o l h a a s w h o i n m a n y t i m e s i n h i s c a r e e r h a s s i g n a l e d E x o d u s a s a f o r w a r d t o h i s s u bs e q u e n t p r o j e c t s b o t h i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d m a t e r i a l . T h e su b j e c t s o f t h e s t u d y w i l l b e N a d e r T e h r a n i , M o n i c a P o n c e d e Le o n , A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a P o l o a n d J o s h u a P r i n c e Ra m us .

[ a b s t r a c t ]

7

A L E J A N D R O Z A E R A P O L O

77

A L E J A N D R O Z A E R A P O L O

f o r e i g n o f f i c e a r c h i t e c t s princ ipal 1993-2011

O M Aarchitec t 1991 - 1993

H i s p r a c t i c e h a s b e e n i n t e r e s t e d i n s o c i a l r e s p o n s e s t o a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d a p h y l o g e n e t i c a p p r o a c h t o t h e g e n e r a t i v e p r o c e s s o f a r c h i t e c t u r e .

A Z P Aprinc ipal 2011 - present

G S A P P + S O A + U C L A p r o -

D E A N o f P r i n c e t o n Un i v e r s i t y S c h o o l o f A r c h i t e c t u r e ( p r e s e n t )

[ b i o g r a p h y ]

w o r k

E s c u e l a T é c n i c a S u p e r i o r d e A r q u i t e c t u r a d e M a d r i d BA architec ture

H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y Master of Architec ture 1990

e d u c a t i o n

9

[ s y n o p s i s ]

Th e p r o j e c t , b u i l t o n t h e p r o g r a m f o r t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f C o n g r e x p o i n L i l l e , t h a t w as p os t e r i o r l y f i n i s h e d b y O M A Ro t t e r d a m ’ s o f f i c e , p o r t r a y s , f i r s t a n d f o r e m os t , s e v e r a l t h e o r e t i c a l o b j e c t i v e s f r o m w h i c h A l e j a n d r o h i g h l i g h t s t h e f o l l ow i n g a s t h e m a i n g o a l o f t h e p r o j e c t : “ e x p e r i m e n t w i t h a n a p p r o a c h a b l e t o g r o u n d n e w s t r a t e g i e s t o o v e r c o m e t h e g a p c r e a t e d b e t w e e n a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d i t s c o n t e m p o r a r y m o d e s o f p r o -d u c t i o n b y a n u n h e a l t h y n os t a l g i a o f i d e o l o g y … … s e e k i n g a r e t u r n t o a c e r -t a i n o p t i m i sm a b ou t a r c h i t e c t u r e a s a s o c i a l l y i n t e g r a t e d p r o c e s s ”Au g m e n t i n g t h a t t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r a c t i c e h a s b e e n r e d u c e d t o a p r a c t i c e c o n f i n e d t o d i s c i p l i n a r y v a l u e s , A l e j a n d r o , t h e n d i s r e g a r d s t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l a n d e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t : “ A r c h i t e c t u r e h a s a l w a y s t o f i n d t h e e n e r g y f o r i t s d e v e l o p m e n t o u t s i d e i t s ow n l i m i t s , a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e o n l y w a y t o d e f i n e a t h e s i s i n a r c h i t e c t u r e i s f o c o u s i n g o n a c e r t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a n d f i n d i n g a w a y t o o p e r a t e i n i t ”Z a e r a - P o l o s t a t e s t h a t C u l t u r e / C i v i l i z a t i o n A r t i f i c e / N a t u r e a r e t h e f o u r c o o r d i n a t e s t h a t m a r k t h e t w o d i c h o t o m i e s t h a t h a v e d o m i n a t e d t h e i d e o l o -g y o f t h e s h a p i n g o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t s i n c e t h e En l i g h t e n m e n t . I t i s t h e n , b y e x p l o r i n g t h e i n t e r c h a n g e a b i l i t y o f t h e c o n n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e s e c o n t r a s t i n g t e r m s a l o n g t h e h i s t o r y o f d i s c o u r s e , t h a t Z a e r a P o l o a r r i v e s a t t h e c o n c l u -s i o n t h a t i n o r d e r t o e n a b l e t h e i r r i g h t f u l i n t e g r a t i o n h e m us t c h a n g e t h e s p a t i a l f o r m a l p r o d u c t i o n t o o n e o f c o n t i n u ou s t o p o l o g y t h a t r e s p o n d s t o t h e s o c i a l i n t e g r a t i o n . H e d o e s t h i s t h r o u g h t h e c o n v e n t i o n c e n t e r ’ s p r o g r a m t h a t h e a r g u e s , p r o v i d e s t h e i d e a l e n v i r o n m e n t t o e x p l o r e h i s i d e a s .

Parts//

The Modern Evil: Artifice, Nature and Utopia Technica as Lyrics: The End of The Fear/Utopia of the ArtificialReflection on the history of modern architecture seekingthe reasons for the marginality of contemporary discourse

The Machinic Assemblage of Flexible AccumulationSeeks to synthetize the rules for the experiment

- Constitution and Performance: the Affirmative Value of Building - City for Rent - Poetics of Ubiquity- Artificial, Disorganized Bodies- Buildings as Weapons:: Topographies of Free Action - The Paradigm of Connection: Topographies of Free Action- Topographies of Information explores aspects of the convention center as an extraordinary instrument for contemporary processes

[ t h e b r i e f l y c a p t i o n e d i n d e x o f Z a e r a - P o l o ’ s T h e s i s r e s p o n d s t o i t s c o m p l e x i t y a n d m i g h t s e r v e a s h e l p f u l t o t h o s e t h a t b e c o m e i n t e r e s t e d i n i t . ]

1.

99

1. interior plan2. birdseye view of congrexpo3. site plan

3.2.

11

1990 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012

belgo zuid blue moon hotel british pavillion olympic acquatics center WTC bundle towers WTC ground zero

Yokohama International Port Terminal

BBC music box centre pompidou metz novartis car park dulnyouk publishers elizabeth house

durango tower municipal police HQ southeast coastal park future city hadspen gardens institute of legal medecine masaveu hotel municipal theater museum of contemporary art artist residences world centre

aerospace campus carabanchel la rioja technology london 2012 park london 2012 velodrome meydan retail complex

bao’an airport birmingham new street station john lewis dept store

D3B zona franca offices madrid pavillion shanghai station towershenzhen university

pedralbes villa watermark west quay

spanish pavillion expo trinity EC3

- As the first large commission AZP received that allowed possibility for a spatial political statement, Yokohama Port Terminal, was definitely interpreted as a place for public gathering.

- The topological continuity of the two projects (the thesis utilizing ramps, and Yokohama through landscape) hints their common birthplace.

- A careful look at Zaera-Polo’s “A Scientific Autobiography” reveals his interests while he was studying at the GSD, he describes himself as truly invested in neo-Marxist urban theory and in Kwinter’s inclusion on philo-sophical terms into the academic world of architecture. Both issues engaged in each of the projects.

- He also discloses an “aversion to the political ideology that goes beyond its application to architecture” [Politics of Envelope] portraying architecture as the fundamental and only agent of appropriate political change.

1111

1990 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2012

belgo zuid blue moon hotel british pavillion olympic acquatics center WTC bundle towers WTC ground zero

Yokohama International Port Terminal

BBC music box centre pompidou metz novartis car park dulnyouk publishers elizabeth house

durango tower municipal police HQ southeast coastal park future city hadspen gardens institute of legal medecine masaveu hotel municipal theater museum of contemporary art artist residences world centre

aerospace campus carabanchel la rioja technology london 2012 park london 2012 velodrome meydan retail complex

bao’an airport birmingham new street station john lewis dept store

D3B zona franca offices madrid pavillion shanghai station towershenzhen university

pedralbes villa watermark west quay

spanish pavillion expo trinity EC3

[ t i m e l i n e ]

13

[ o f f i c e s t a t e m e n t ]

A Z P A i s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r a c t i c e , b a s e d i n Lo n d o n a n d B a r c e l o n a

A Z P A w as b o r n i n 2 0 1 1 a s a l e g a c y p r a c t i c e o f F O A a f t e r i t s d e m e r g e r , a n d f o l l ow s f o r m e r F O A ’ s p a r t -n e r A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o . As a p a r t o f i t s l e g a c y A Z P A h a s a c o m m i t m e n t t o i n n o v a t i o n i n a r c h i t e c t u r e

a n d u r b a n d e s i g n , c o m b i n i n g t h e c n i c a l i n n o v a t i o n w i t h d e s i g n e x c e l l e n c e .

A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o ’ s a w a r d - w i n n i n g p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e t h e Yo k o h a m a i n t e r n a t i o n a l C r u i s e t e r m i n a l i n J a p a n , n o t e d f o r i t s u s e d r a m a t i c f o r m , i n n o v a t i v e m a t e r i a l s , a n d f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h t h e i n t e r p l a y o f a r -c h i t e c t u r e , l a n d s c a p e a n d n a t u r e , c r e d i t e d b y t h e d e s i g n Mus e u m a s d e s i g n s e n s a t i o n a l i v e w i t h bu s t l i n g u r b a n i t y a n d s e a s i d e t r a n q u i l i t y . O t h e r p r o j e c t s i n c l u d e a n e w bu i l d i n g f o r Ra v e n sb ou r n e i n G r e e n w i c h , t h e J o h n Le w i s d e p a r t m e n t s t o r e . C i n e p l e x a n d Fo o t b r i d g e s i n Le i c e s t e r , C a r a b a n c h e l S o c i a l H ou s i n g i n M a d r i d , M e y d a n Re t a i l C o m p l e x a n d Mu l t i p l e x i n I s t a n bu l , t h e S p a n i s h P a v i l i o n a t t h e 2 0 0 5 I n t e r n a t i o n a l E x p o i n A i c h i , a l a r g e c o s t a l p a r k w i t h o u t d o o r s a u d i t o r i u m s i n B a r c e l o n a , a Mu n i c i p a l t h e a t r e a n d Au -d i t o r i u m i n T o r r e v i e j a , La R i o j a T e c h n o l o g y T r a n s f e r C e n t r e i n Lo g r o n o a n d t h e D u l n y ou k P u b l i s h i n g

H e a d q u a r t e r s i n P a j u , S o u t h K o r e a .

A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o ’ s c u r r e n t p r o j e c t s i n t h e U K i n c l u d e B i r m i n g h a m N e w S t r e e t S t a t i o n i n B i r m i n g h a m a n d T r i n i t y E C 3 o f f i c e c o m p l e x i n t h e c i t y o f Lo n d o n . I n S p a i n , A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o i s i n v o l v e d i n a n e w h os p i t a l I n L l e i d a , B i o t e c h n o l o g y c e n t r e i n B a r c e l o n a , t h e r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e S a n t a n d e r Wa t e r f r o n t , i n c l u d i n g t h e d e s i g n o f a n e w f e r r y t e r m i n a l a n d t h e y a c h t c l u b w h i c h w i l l h o s t t h e Wo r l d C u p i n 2 0 1 0 .

A Z P A i s a l s o i n v o l v e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t w o h i g h r i s e r e s i d e n t i a l t ow e r s i n B u s a n , K o r e a .

T h e w o r k o f A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o h a s b e e n w i d e l y p u b l i s h e d a n d e x h i b i t e d a n d r e p r e s e n t e d B r i t a i n a t t h e 8 t h Ve n i c e A r c h i t e c t u r e B i e n n a l e i n 2 0 0 2 , h e h a s r e c e i v e d t h e En r i c M i r a l l e s P r i z e f o r A r c h i t e c t u r e , f i v e R I B A Aw a r d s , t h e 2 0 0 4 Ve n i c e A r c h i t e c t u r e B i e n n a l e a w a r d , a n d t h e C h a r l e s J e n c k s Aw a r d f o r A r c h i t e c -

t u r e .

1313

[ c o m p a r i s o n ] A l e j a n d r o Z a e r a - P o l o ’ s o f f i c e d e s c r i p t i o n r e m a i n s u n d ou b t e d l y t h e m os t d e t a c h e d f r o m h i s t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e r n s , a s t h e y a r e p o r t r a y e d i n h i s t h e s i s . H e e n g a g e s t h e r e a d e r a s a c l i e n t a n d i m p l e m e n t s a s a l e s p i t c h t h a t i n c l u d e s h i s l i s t i n g o f t r o p h i e s a n d m os t r e v e r e d p r o j e c t s a s w i t n e s s e s t o h i s s t a r d o m . T h i s i n d i c a t e s o n e o f t w o t h i n g s e i t h e r h i s d i s c u r s i v e i n t e r e s t s h a v e d e c a y e d o r h e h a s m a n a g e d t o d e v e l o p s k i l l s t h a t a l l ow h i m t o p e r su a d e c l i e n t s i n t o h i s i d e o l o g i c a l i d e a s w h i l e m as k i n g t h e m w i t h a c o m p l a i s a n t a t t i t u d e .

15

J O S H U A P R I N C E R A M U S

1515

R E X princ ipal 2006 - present

O M A N e w Yo r kfounding partner 1996-2006

H i s p r a c t i c e r e v o l v e s a r o u n d t h e i n c l u s i o n o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n , a n d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e s p a c e s

G S A P P + Ya l e + S y r a c u s e p r o f e s s o r

[ b i o g r a p h y ]

w o r k

Ya l e Un i v e r s i t y BA philosophy

H a r v a r d Un i v e r s i t y Master of Architec ture 1996

e d u c a t i o n

17

[ s y n o p s i s ]

J o s h u a P r i n c e Ra m us ’ s t h e s i s r e v o l v e s a r o u n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n O p e r a H ou s e a n d I c e R i n k i n Os l o , N o r w a y t o r e - e s t a b l i s h t h e a r t o f o p e r a a s a p o pu l i s t a c t i v i t y b y c a p i t a l i z i n g o n a l l t y p e s o f p e o p l e , r i c h o r p o o r t h a t a r e d r a w n t o t h e a r e a a n d t o p r o v i d e t h e m w i t h m u l t i p l e l e v e l s o f p o t e n t i a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h e p r o p os e d d e s i g n i s m e a n t t o s e r v e a s a s y m b o l i c b u i l d i n g t h a t ’ s p u r p os e i s t o e l i m i n a t e s o c i a l b o u n d a r i e s t h a t e x i s t s d u e t o t h e h i g h l e v e l s o f i m m i g r a t i o n i n N o r w a y .

J o s h u a h i g h l i g h t s N o r w a y ’ s p o l i t i c a l s t a n c e a s b e i n g a t a c r i t i c a l p o i n t w h e r e N o r w a y m us t d e c i d e o n w h e t h e r i t s h o u l d p r i o r i t i z e i n d i v i d u a l e x p r e s s i o n o r a d o p t a h o m o g e n ou s s o c i e t y w h e r e i t c o u l d p r o s p e r i n a w o r l d t h a t i s b e c o m i n g r a d i c a l l y p l u r a l i s t i c .

T h e t h e s i s f o c u s e s o n h ow o p e r a ’ s f a m e i n N o r w a y m a k e s i t t h e b e s t s u i t e d t e s t s u b j e c t . An e x p e r i m e n t t h a t t a k e s t h i s a r t i s t i c a l l y d e m o c r a t i c , b u t s o -c i a l l y e l i t i s t e n t e r t a i n m e n t t o m a n i f e s t i t s e l f a s a d e v i c e t h a t a f f e c t s s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s t h r o u g h a r c h i t e c t u r a l i n n o v a t i o n . T h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n t a c k l e s d e s i g n m o t i v e s t h a t a i d i n t o b r e a k i n g t h e h e r m e t i c s e a l o f t h e o p e r a h o u s e w h i c h s e r v e s a s a m e t a p h o r f o r t h e s t a t e ’ s c o n d i t i o n .

1.

1717

1. section2. site model 3. north facade with translucent skin4. section

4.

3.

19

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

museum plaza annenberg center II forward residence

dee and charles wyly theater

munch museum oslo-norway

low2no helsinki munch masterplan

activision blizzard HQ clc & msfl towerswinter garden project R6

V&A museum at dundee vakko fashion centerkortrijk library

annenberg center Iguggenheim las vegas

oslo vestbane madison avenue (dollhouse) kunsthas zurich extension yongsan exp.

seattle public library w/omaThrough the reinvention of the program of a typical library Ramus argues that social integration and public space are a fundamental element in the library. Once again challenging spaces that tend to seek closure with strategies that implement social openness

1919

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

museum plaza annenberg center II forward residence

dee and charles wyly theater

munch museum oslo-norway

low2no helsinki munch masterplan

activision blizzard HQ clc & msfl towerswinter garden project R6

V&A museum at dundee vakko fashion centerkortrijk library

annenberg center Iguggenheim las vegas

oslo vestbane madison avenue (dollhouse) kunsthas zurich extension yongsan exp.

seattle public library w/oma

[ t i m e l i n e ]

The Dee and Charles Wyly theater would have to be the most striking built project in Joshua’s portfolio that encapsulates the architectural motives of his thesis. Both sharing almost similar programs, the most noteworthy ele-ment would be the common integrity of each and that is a pure dedication to dynamism.

Both the Opera in Norway and the theater in Dallas share a minimally designed translucent/perforated steel skin. Joshua’s desire in both was to “unveil the spectacle to the public” and to “educate the public by revealing the guts”.

It is rare for an architect to have his/her thesis almost transpire into reali-ty. Although unbuilt, the Munch museum in Oslo, Norway was a com-mission that maintains the same stream as his thesis. Besides just location, the flow is similar through wanting to create a social platform for the public. The building’s ability to manifest itself into a device that creates a magnetic field of attraction for people from different backgrounds, there-fore promoting diversity and public interaction along the harbor.

By designing a performance machine. The Wyly theater is equipped with an elaborate system of winches, pulleys, lifts, tracks, and catwalks to al-low the structure’s reconfiguration from a proscenium stage to a thrust or flat floor. The idea of dynamism is reinforced through a transformation of program within. Through this inventive technology an intrinsically demo-cratic and malleable architecture is allowed.

21

[ o f f i c e s t a t e m e n t ]

We c h a l l e n g e a n d a d v a n c e t y p o l o g i e s .R E X f e e l s i t ’ s t i m e f o r A r c h i t e c t u r e t o d o t h i n g s a g a i n , n o t j u s t r e p r e s e n t t h i n g s .

We s i d e w i t h n e i t h e r f o r m n o r f u n c t i o n .R E X b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n f o r m a n d f u n c t i o n i s s u p e r f i c i a l a n d u n p r o d u c t i v e . B y e m p h a -s i z i n g p e r f o r m a n c e i n s t e a d — a h y b r i d t h a t d o e s n o t d i s c r i m i n a t e b e t w e e n p r o g r a m , o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d f o r m — w e f r e e a r c h i t e c t u r e f r o m t h e t i r e d d e b a t e o v e r w h e t h e r i t i s a n a r t o r a t o o l . A r t p e r f o r m s ; t o o l s p e r f o r m . T h e m e a su r e o f h i g h p e r f o r m a n c e i s r e l a t i v e t o e a c h c l i e n t ’ s a s p i r a t i o n s a n d e a c h p r o j e c t ’ s c o n -s t r a i n t s .

We d e s i g n c o l l a b o r a t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n d i c t a t e s o l u t i o n s .T h e m e d i a s e l l s s i m p l e , c a t c h y i d e a s ; i t r e d u c e s t e a m s t o i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t i v e w o r k t o g e -n i u s s k e t c h e s . T h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f t h i s f a l s e n o t i o n o f “ s t a r c h i t e c t u r e ” d i m i n i s h e s t h e r e a l t e a m w o r k t h a t d r i v e s c e l e b r a t e d a r c h i t e c t u r e . R E X b e l i e v e s a r c h i t e c t s s h o u l d g u i d e c o l l a b o r a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n i m p os e s o l u t i o n s . We r e p l a c e t h e t r a d i t i o n a l n o t i o n o f a u t h o r s h i p : “ I c r e a t e d t h i s o b j e c t , ” w i t h a n e w o n e : “ We n u r t u r e d t h i s p r o c e s s . ”

We r e a c h f o r t h e u n e x p e c t e d b y e x p os i n g r o o t p r o b l e m s .We d o n ’ t i n n o v a t e f o r i n n o v a t i o n ’ s s a k e . N o r d o w e a c c e p t p r e d i g e s t e d s o l u t i o n s . We r e t u r n t o r o o t p r o b l e m s a n d d o g g e d l y e x p l o r e t h e m w i t h a c r i t i c a l n a i v e t é . U n p r e j u d i c e d b y c o n v e n t i o n , w e e x p os e s o l u t i o n s t h a t t r a n s c e n d t h os e w e c o u l d h a v e i n i t i a l l y o r i n d i v i d u a l l y i m a g i n e d . S o m e t i m e s w e d i s c o v e r u n c h a r t e d t e r r i t o r y ; s o m e t i m e s w e r e d i s c o v e r f o r g o t t e n t e r r i t o r y t h a t h a s r e n e w e d u s e f u l n e s s ; s o m e t i m e s w e r e a f f i r m c o n v e n t i o n s w i t h a ssu r e d c o n v i c t i o n .

We l o v e t h e b a n a l .R E X d a r e s t o b e d u m b .

2121

[ c o m p a r i s o n ] R E X t o d a y i s a f i r m t h a t h a s e m b o d i e d t o d a y s o m e o f J o s h u a ’ s c o r e i d e a l s w h e n h e c o m p l e t e d h i s t h e s i s . T h e r e l i e s a d e v o t i o n i n p r o m o t i n g s o c i a l s p a c e a n d i n t e g r a t i n g t h e p u b l i c w i t h t h e bu i l d i n g t o c r e a t e a f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d s o c i a l s p h e r e . T h e i n t e g r a l v a l u e s h a v e b e e n t r a n s c e n d e d y e t t h e r e h a v e b e e n a s h i f t i n d i r e c t i o n t h a t i s c l a r i f i e d w i t h i n t h e o f f i c e ’ s s t a t e m e n t . “ We l o v e t h e b a n a l , w e d a r e t o b e d u m b ! ” i s a h u m o r o u s a t t e m p t f o r R E X t o h a v e a p r e - j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e i r l e s s c r i t i c a l m o r e c o m m e r c i a l p r o j e c t s , t h u s a l l ow i n g t h e m t o b a s i c a l l y d o a n y t h i n g .

23

M O N I C A P O N C E D E L E O N N A D E R T E H R A N I

2323

N A D E R T E H R A N I

O f f i c e D Afounding partner 1991 -2011

O f f i c e D Afounding partner 1991 -2011

M P D L s t u d i oprinc ipal 2011 - present

N A D A A Aprinc ipal 2011 - present

H i s p r a c t i c e r e v o l v e s a r o u n d t h e i n c l u s i o n o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n , a n d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e s p a c e s

G S D + N o r t h e a s t e r n + U M + M i a m i + R I S D

G S D + N o r t h e a s t e r n + R I S D

d e a n o f U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n - T a u b m a n ( p r e s e n t )

h e a d o f M I T a r c h i t e c t u r e ( p r e s e n t )

w o r k

m o n i c a p o n c e d e l e o n n a d e r t e h r a n i

w o r k

Un i v e r s i t y o f M i a m i BA fine arts + BArch 89 ’

H a r v a r d Un i v e r s i t y Master of Architec ture in Urban Design 1991

e d u c a t i o n Rh o d e I s l a n d S c h o o l o f D e s i g nBA fine arts + BArch 86 ’

H a r v a r d Un i v e r s i t y Master of Architec ture in Urban Design 1991

e d u c a t i o n

[ b i o g r a p h y ]

25

[ s y n o p s i s ]

Th e p r o j e c t b y t h i s c o l l a b o r a t i v e t a k e s i n f l u e n c e s f r o m M a c h a d o ’ s “ U r b a n i t i e s ” a r g u i n g t h a t t h e o f f i c i a l v i e w o f u r b a n i t y i s a l i m i t e d o n e , t h a t o n l y a n -c h o r s i t s e l f i n t h e o b v i o u s p h y s i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n o f t h e t e r m . T h u s t h e y s e e k t o e x p l o r e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s o f t y p i c a l “ u r b a n ” o r r a t h e r a n t i - u r b a n p r o p os a l s t h a t r e s p o n d o n l y t o t h i s l i m i t e d v i e w a n d t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t s o f t h e m a r k e t , i n o r d e r t o a r g u e a g a i n s t t h e a n t i - u r b a n [ t h a t b l u r s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c a n d t h e p r i v a t e ] a n d d e v e l o p a p r o j e c t t h a t d o e s n o r f a l l i n t o t h i s c a t e g o r i z a t i o n .

Fo c u s i n g o n t h e c i t y o f M i a m i t h e p a r t i d e n t i f i e s s e v e r a l p r o b l e m s w i t h i t s c o n c e p t i o n o f u r b a n f a b r i c , i n c l u d i n g t h e l a c k o f p u b l i c s p a c e i n t h e c i t y , t h e l a c k o f c o o r d i n a t i o n b e t w e e n v a r i o u s p u b l i c w o r k s , a n d t h e u n e x p l o r e d p oss i b i l i t i e s o f t h e s i t e s t h e y f i n a l l y d e c i d e t o i n t e r v e n e i n , a t t e m p t i n g t o m a k e a s y n c h r o n i z e d e f f o r t t h r o u g h t h e i r r e f i t t i n g t o m a k e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d e n a b l e r o f p u b l i c s p a c e s

T h e y l a t e r e n su e i n a d i s c o u r s e t h a t c i t e s B a u d r i l l a r d , S i l v e t t i a n d o t h e r m a j o r f i g u r e s t h a t h a v e s t u d i e d t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f t h e r e a l , a n d t h e r e a l a r c h i -t e c t u r e . E l a b o r a t i n g f r o m t h e i r w r i t i n g s a t h e o r e t i c a l a r g u m e n t t h a t e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t b e c a u s e o f t h e t h e o r e t i c a l s h i f t t h a t h a p p e n e d a f t e r m o d e r n i sm , i n w h i c h t h e “ r e a l ” o f a r c h i t e c t u r e s t a r t e d t o b e u n d e r s t o o d a s m o r e t h a n i t s h i s t o r i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s , a n d r e l a t e d c l o s e r t o i t s p a r a d i g m a t i c c o n s t r a i n t s . I n o t h e r w o r d s a r c h i t e c t u r e p r e s e n t s a n i n t r i n s i c r e l a t i o n s h i p t o h ow i t i s d e v e l o p e d a n d i t s r e c e p t i o n i s d i r e c t l y r o o t e d i n s o m e f o r m o f s o c i a l p r a c t i c e , e n d -i n g w i t h a q u o t e t h a t a p p e a r s i n S i l v e t t i ’ s “ U n p r e c e d e n t e d Re a l i sm “ :

“ T h e s t a r t l i n g n o v e l t y i s t h a t M o d e r n A r c h i t e c t u r e , r e a l i s t i c i n t h e s e n s e t h a t i t u s e s a s f i g u r a t i v e s o u r c e f o r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o m e t h i n g e x i s t e n t ( bu t n o t a r c h i t e c t u r a l ) , d i s r e g a r d s w h a t m i g h t a s s o c i a l l y a n d c o l l e c t i v e l y b e l i e v a b l e a n d p l a u s i b l e a s i t s r h e t o r i c a l b a s i s f o r p e r su a s i o n . T h u s t h e t e r m s o f t h e v e r i s i m i l i t u d e s a r e i n v e r t e d , i n a s m u c h a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f r e a l i t y a n d t h e e f f e c t s i s n o t b a s e d o n a p r i o r i k n ow l e d g e o f w h a t , a s a r c h i t e c t u r e i s s o -c i a l l y b e l i e v a b l e o r n o t , b u t r a t h e r o n t h e “ t r u t h ” i n w h i c h t h e a r t i s t b e l i e v e s , s i n c e i t w i l l b e c o m e t h e f o c u s t h a t w i l l m a k e t h a t r e a l i t y e v i d e n t w h e n M a n i s , b y t h e s o l e p o t e n t p r e s e n c e o f a r c h i t e c t u r e , t r a n s f o r m e d . ”

2525

27

1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20121999

greene house il travalone millroad res. casa del roca

miami waterway

MOMA interfaith centertoledo art museum

suchard residence zahedi house witte arts center

1. upper crust2. world trade center 3. back bay residence4. mantra5. GSD offices6. material/immaterial

1. tongxian gatehouse2. elemental3. rose art museum4. mantra5. intergenerational center6. north point

1. papago trail2. sci arc transegrity3. PS14. RISD dorms

1. kuwait masterplan2. tulane murphy center

1. weston performing arts2. duxyang senior center

1. issam fares institute2. fleet library3. kuwait sports club4. change of state5. collyer quay6. west end bridge

1. obzee HQ2. numnum3. nobnob4. vorumuro5. helios house6. macallen bldg

1. boolean valley2. UofT architecture school3. kaist memorial4. gwangju cube5. noma artscape6. ff loft7.wcz

1. hinman research building2. gwanju3. MIT 150 liquid archive

1. DC house2. model home gallery 3. dortoir familial4. ordos 20+10

1. bina osteria2. elemental3. ordos hotel4. vorumuro5. banq rest.6. syracuse residence7. catenary clouds8. voruduo9. thunder stadium

1. koningin elisabethzaal2. newtown house

furniture products

1 2 3 4 5 6

-This 1993 refurbished vision of the thesis project won the firm one of their first awards, the 1993’s First Place at the BSA Unbuilt Architecture Competition, which allowed exposure for the firm in its earlier years.

-The project basically continues with the same theoretical framework as the conjoined thesis, now counting with office personnel for material production.

-It also limits its scope in order to make a more countoundent statement “This proposal treats three different moments in Miami as a means of addressing some of the programmatic, urbanistic, and architectural potentials of infrastructure.”

-They also distance themselves from part of the theory they had previously argumenta “The iconographic specificity of each pro-posal was seen as rhetorically crucial to create a link with Miami’s history, but also to give an air of reality and a sense of cultural immediacy to schemes that may otherwise remain utopian.”

2727

1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20121999

greene house il travalone millroad res. casa del roca

miami waterway

MOMA interfaith centertoledo art museum

suchard residence zahedi house witte arts center

1. upper crust2. world trade center 3. back bay residence4. mantra5. GSD offices6. material/immaterial

1. tongxian gatehouse2. elemental3. rose art museum4. mantra5. intergenerational center6. north point

1. papago trail2. sci arc transegrity3. PS14. RISD dorms

1. kuwait masterplan2. tulane murphy center

1. weston performing arts2. duxyang senior center

1. issam fares institute2. fleet library3. kuwait sports club4. change of state5. collyer quay6. west end bridge

1. obzee HQ2. numnum3. nobnob4. vorumuro5. helios house6. macallen bldg

1. boolean valley2. UofT architecture school3. kaist memorial4. gwangju cube5. noma artscape6. ff loft7.wcz

1. hinman research building2. gwanju3. MIT 150 liquid archive

1. DC house2. model home gallery 3. dortoir familial4. ordos 20+10

1. bina osteria2. elemental3. ordos hotel4. vorumuro5. banq rest.6. syracuse residence7. catenary clouds8. voruduo9. thunder stadium

1. koningin elisabethzaal2. newtown house

furniture products

1 2 3 4 5 6

[ t i m e l i n e ]

29

[ o f f i c e s t a t e m e n t ]

N a d e r T e h r a n i , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h p a r t n e r s D a n G a l l a g h e r a n d K a t h e r i n e F a u l k n e r , a n d a t e a m o f t w e n t y d e s i g n e r s , e s t a b l i s h e s a p r a c t i c e d e d i c a t e d t o d e s i g n i n n o v a t i o n , r e s e a r c h , t h e c u l t i v a t i o n o f n e w m e a n s a n d

m e t h o d s o f f a b r i c a t i o n , a n d t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y .

A s t h e f o u n d i n g p r i n c i p a l o f o f f i c e d a , N a d e r Te h r a n i d i r e c t e d t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f i n t e n s i v e d e s i g n r e s e a r c h , r a n g i n g f r o m f u r n i t u r e t o p r o d u c t d e s i g n , a r c h i t e c t u r e t o i n t e r i o r s , a n d u r b a n i s m t o i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . W i t h l o n g -t i m e p a r t n e r M o n i c a P o n c e d e L e o n , T e h r a n i w a s w i d e l y p u b l i s h e d a n d e x h i b i t e d , a n d r e c e i v e d n u m e r o u s a w a r d s i n c l u d i n g t h e C o o p e r - H e w i t t n a t i o n a l d e s i g n a w a r d i n a r c h i t e c t u r e , t h e A m e r i c a n A c a d e m y o f A r t s a n d L e t t e r s a r c h i t e c t u r e a w a r d , t h e H a r l e s t o n p a r k e r a w a r d , a n d 1 3 p r o g r e s s i v e a r c h i t e c t u r e a w a r d s . H i s w o r k h a s b e e n e x h i b i t e d a t i n s t i t u t i o n s i n c l u d i n g t h e m u s e u m o f m o d e r n a r t , t h e B o s t o n i n s t i t u t e o f c o n t e m p o r a r y a r t

a n d l a M o c a .

A s t h e v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f o f f i c e d a , D a n G a l l a g h e r o v e r s a w a r a n g e o f p r o j e c t s o f v a r i e d s c a l e a n d c o m p l e x -i t y , a m o n g t h e m : B a n q r e s t a u r a n t , t h e M a c a l l e n b u i l d i n g , t h e f l e e t l i b r a r y a t R h o d e I s l a n d S c h o o l o f D e s i g n ,

H e l i o s h o u s e i n L o s A n g e l e s , a n d t h e n e w l y o p e n e d H i n m a n r e s e a r c h b u i l d i n g a t t h e G I T .

K a t h e r i n e F a u l k n e r , A I A , j o i n s N A D A A A a f t e r t w e n t y y e a r s o f d e t a i l e d d e s i g n a n d m a n a g e m e n t e x p e r i e n c e i n l a r g e s c a l e p l a n n i n g , a c a d e m i c , i n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d h e a l t h - c a r e p r o j e c t s . F a u l k n e r r e c e n t l y c o m p l e t e d a n M B A a n d c o n t i n u e s t o f o c u s o n b u s i n e s s a n d b r a n d i n g t h r o u g h a r c h i t e c t u r e . A t N A D A A A s h e w i l l w o r k t o p o -

s i t i o n t h e f i r m w i t h i n a n e x p a n d e d m a r k e t .

N A D A A A r e p r e s e n t s a n e w p h a s e f o r T e h r a n i a n d s e r v e s a s a p l a t f o r m f o r d e s i g n i n v e s t i g a t i o n a t a l a r g e r s c a l e a n d w i t h a g r e a t e r g e o g r a p h i c r e a c h . N A D A A A i s c u r r e n t l y w o r k i n g o n n u m e r o u s p u b l i c , i n s t i t u t i o n a l ,

a n d p r i v a t e c o m m i s s i o n s , b o t h n a t i o n a l l y a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y .

2929

[ o f f i c e s t a t e m e n t ]

[ c o m p a r i s o n ] T h e f o c u s o f N a d e r ’ s p r a c t i c e , s u m m a r i z e d i n t h i s s t a t e m e n t , ( w h i c h b y h i s o w n a d m i s s i o n i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f o f f i c e d a ) m a n a g e s t o s h e d s o m e l i g h t i n t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h i s c o u p l e a n d t h e i r i n t e r e s t s ( l u c k i l y b e c a u s e P o n c e d e L e o n ’s o f f i c e i s s t i l l i n t h e w o r k s ) . T h e y b o t h d e f i n i t e l y s h i f t e d t h e i r b r o a d e r d e s i g n i d e a s t h a t r e l a t e d t o u r b a n d e s i g n i n t o a m o r e l o c a l a p p r o a c h t o

m a t e r i a l i t y , s e e k i n g , i n t h i s s e l d o m v i s i t e d a s p e c t o f c r i t i c a l i t y , a h a v e n i n d i s c o u r s e .

30

As t h e s i s d r a w s c l o s e r , o u r p e r c e p t i o n s o f t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l p r o j e c t i n o u r c a r r i e r s h a s t r u l y s h i f t e d . W h a t w e i n i t i a l l y b e l i e v e d t o b e a p r o j e c t , i n w h i c h w e w ou l d w o r k a n d d e v e l o p o u r i d e a s t o t h e f u l l e s t e x t e n t , i s n o t . A f t e r a n a l y z i n g t h e s e t h e s e s w e r e a l i z e t h a t a t h e s i s i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r e x p a n s i o n , a s i s a n y o t h e r p r o j e c t , w i t h h o l d a t i m e d i s t i n c t i o n . T h i s s h o u l d h a v e t w o m a j o r i m -p l i c a t i o n s o n t h e r e a d e r . T h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f e v e r y p r o j e c t ’ s c a p a c i t y t o b e c r i t i c a l a n d a c h a n g e i n m e n t a l i t y t h a t a r g u e s t h a t i d e a s d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y e n d o n a p a r t i c u l a r p r o j e c t . T h e y m i g h t b e b o r n t h e r e a n d e v e n c o n t i n u e t o t h e n e x t a d e q u a t e o u t p u t o p p o r t u n i -t i e s .

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Prince Ramus, Joshua. Popularizing Opera-- a National Opera House and Ice Rink in Oslo, Norway. Thesis. Harvard GSD, 1996. Cambridge, MA: HGSD, 1996. Print.

Ponce De Leon, Monica, and Nader Tehrani. The Role of Infrastructure in the Production of Public Spaces. Thesis. Harvard GSD, 1991. Cambridge, MA: HGSD, 1991. Print.

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“REX Architecture PC.” REX Architecture PC. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.rex-ny.com/>.“The Architect of a Different Kind of Organization.” Fast Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fastcompany.com/52933/architect-different-kind-organization>.“Conversation between Joshua Prince Ramus and Jonathan Raban.” Icon Eye. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.iconeye.com/read-previous-issues/icon-065-%7C-november-2008/con-versation-between-joshua-prince-ramus-and-jonathan-raban>.“The Koolhaas Kids Come of Age.” Buissness Week. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-02-22/the-koolhaas-kids-come-of-age>.“Login.” BIM Well With Others: James P. Barrett and Joshua Prince-Ramus. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.architectmagazine.com/bim/bim-well-with-others.aspx>.“REX Architecture / Joshua Prince-ramus Interview.” REX Architecture / Joshua Prince-ramus Interview. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/rex_architec-ture.html>.“The Young Savior of American Architecture Burying Frank Gehry.” Esquirecom Article. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.esquire.com/features/best-and-brightest-2008/josh-ua-prince-ramus-1208>.

Tehrani, Nader. “NADAAA | ARCHITECTURE | LANDSCAPE | URBAN DESIGN | NADER TEHRANI | KATIE FAULKNER | DAN GALLAGHER.” NADAAA. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nadaaa.com/>.Jones, Dora Epstein., Julianna Morais, and Martha Read. Zago Architecture and Office DA: Two Installations. Los Angeles, CA: Southern California Institute of Architecture, 2005. Print.Ponce, De León, Mónica., Nader Tehrani, Rodolphe El-Khoury, and Ojeda Oscar. Riera. Office DA. Gloucester, MA: Rockport, 2000. Print.Tehrani, Nader, and De León, Mónica. Ponce. Office DA: Monica Ponce De León & Nader Tehrani. Santiago De Chile: ARQ Ediciones, 2005. Print.

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