schmidt hammer lassen architects
Founded in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1986 by architects Morten Schmidt, Bjarne Hammer and John F. Lassen, schmidt hammer lassen (SHL) architects has grown substantially with offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, London, and Shanghai and employs over 140 staff. The practice is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian architectural traditions based on democracy, welfare, aesthetics, light, sustainability and social responsibility.
The company which has a track record for being a designer of high-profile cultural buildings, art galleries, educational complexes and libraries, is led by CEO Bente Damgaard with reference to a professional board of directors. The creative management is led by the Creative Director Bjarne Hammer together with the other four partners John F. Lassen, Morten Schmidt, Kim Holst Jensen and Kristian Ahlmark, along with the four associated partners Trine Berthold, Kasper Heiberg Frandsen, Chris Hardie and Rasmus Kierkegaard.
With more than 25 years of experience, SHL architects is one of Scandinavia's most recognised, award-winning architectural practices committed to innovative and sustainable design. The practice has established an international reputation for projects that interact with their urban context. It places particular emphasis on the use of natural light as an integral part of the design process. The functionality – meeting the specific needs of the users – is also key, as are all aspects of sustainability. Where possible, the practice will explore the vital relationship between art, design and architecture.
The Practice Architectural Philosophy
Common to all the practice's work is a democratic approach to architecture which creates modern, open and multi-functional spaces that are consistent with schmidt hammer lassen architects' ethical considerations – a building revolves around people and is not merely an architectonic shape. Architecture should be closely integrated with its surroundings, with close consideration of its functions and social context. SHL architects designs buildings that are essentially open to the outside world.According to the practice, the great things always happen when an artist and an architect have the opportunity to collaborate from the outset on a given project. At SHL architects, we have always tried to ensure that each project enshrines the possibility for a real collaborative effort. We know how to deal with complex architecture.
Alongside our collaborators, we develop entire sustainable solutions with high emotional value that benefits the environment, the users and the overall economy. Working many years on cultural buildings, office buildings, mixed use and master planning, we are used to solve complex and contradictive issues.
We develop integrated end-to-end solutions of the highest quality in a constant search for new ways and answers. We embrace the idea that architecture at its best creates unique, indefinable emotions and values, both from form, space, light and materials. SML creates architecture with a powerful, straightforward and significant attitude and constantly challenge the concept of sustainability, because each project must reach new standards.
In addition to above, the practice believes in architecture within a budget. All planning and building stages are tasked to achieve the most value for money, without compromising building size, construction methods, and quality of materials, technical equipment, and sustainability.
Prestigious Projects
In Scandinavia, schmidt hammer lassen architects is best known for the prestigious extension to the Royal Library – The Black Diamond, the ARoS Aarhus Museum of Art and the Cultural Centre of Greenland in Nuuk. The practice has a distinguished track record as designers of high-profile cultural buildings, such as art galleries, educational complexes and libraries. Recent projects include the Amazon Court office building in Prague, the City of Westminster College in London, the Thor Heyerdahl School in Norway, Aberdeen University New Library in Scotland and a number of construction projects and master plans in China and Eastern Europe, with a total of approximately two million square metres currently under development.The firm has also recently won the international architectural competition to design a 188 meter office tower in the financial district of central Warsaw, Poland. The 60,000 m2 highrise building is to replace the existing 'Ilmet' building and will stand out as a modern landmark clearly identifiable in the Warsaw skyline by its unique elegant shape and appearance. The Jury was impressed by the high quality and innovation evident in the urban, architectural and technical concepts of the winning design.
schmidt hammer lassen architects is a member of the Danish Association of Architectural Firms (DANSKE ARK) and is a RIBA Chartered Practice. More than 50% of the company turnover comes from international projects.
Awards
The firm had its major breakthrough with the Katuaq Culture Centre in Nuuk, Greenland, completed in 1997. The project in Nuuk was followed by first prize in the international competition for the extension of the Danish Royal Library on the harbourfront in Copenhagen. Completed in 1999, the library extension, colequally known as the Black Diamond, has become one of the practice's most known buildings.The practice has won number of awards and recognition. The recent ones include: the Concrete Society Awards, shortlisted for City of Westminster College, Aarhus Municipality Award for Villa Busk/ Vibevej 27, Denmark, LEAF Award for The Crystal, Denmark, World Architecture Festival Awards, shortlisted in the categories learning for City of Westminster College, England and offices for The Crystal, Denmark, European Steel Design Award for The Crystal, Denmark, New London Award for City of Westminster College, England, LEAF, shortlisted in the category public buildings for City of Westminster College, England, RIBA Award in London for City of Westminster College, England, and many more.
Studio AVT: From Thought into Reality..
According to the Design Consultancy firm, 'An-V-Thot' is a hybrid of two words, (anvit) Sanskrit & (thought) English. "Anvit" means followed by, so it is actually a studio followed by a thought, and as the name suggests, the firm is always eager to and strives to define its endeavors in a thought evolving and settling manner.
It is the firm's endeavor to design and develop an environment for storeys to take birth and remain, where true feelings are captured and felt with a sense of belonging, only to resonate through time. "We intend to breathe" is what the firm's motto is.
Born in 1985, Ankita Sweety is graduated with a distinction in her Architectural Degree from NIT Patna and during the course, also won numerous National and State level Design Contests of repute. She was associated with the leading design firms before starting her own studio.
Pratyoosh Chandan (D.O.B. 01.11.1984), the other partner, after graduating in Architectural Technology & Construction Management from Rai University, worked with an established firm in Delhi for three years wherein he led various design projects of diverse nature. He then went to UK to further pursue his architectural critique, from University of Brighton, UK. Thereafter he co-created Studio an-v-thot with Ankita to provide design solutions and won several awards and recognitions.
Architect Hafeez Contractor - An Icon
Who could believe that a student who was once scolded by his teacher for drawing structures of forts, bikes, guns, etc. in his notebook and also got prophecy out of anger and frustration that 'you will grow only as an architect', has today become the most famous icon of architecture in India who hardly needs any introduction. He is none other than Ar. Hafeez Contractor who at that time was not even aware with the meaning of the word 'architect'.
Demand Triggers Innovation from Architects
Today with over four decades of successful stint in Architecture and innumerable projects to his credit, Ar. Hafeez Contractor had just not grown only as a well-known face in the architecture fraternity for his avant garde and surrealistic designs but also as a man whose design approaches are in response to current demand. His vision has given a new meaning to highrise construction in India. He believed that architecture should be honest and respond to the spirit of times characterized by distinct ideas, disparate mission, contrasting conviction and divergent preferences.Being a controversial architect for unrealistic ideas and thoughts, his designs are not bound to one set of beliefs but he keeps playing with infinite possibilities and out of the box concepts. Speaking to Maria R. about his stints in the architecture world, flight of imaginations, and generation of innovative ideas with changing demand trends, Ar. Hafeez Contractor says, "Dreaming for anything is completely open as I'm dreaming for houses without water supply pipes and hopeful also to get them soon. 'I think demand is a vital thing which triggers innovation from architects. Vertical and sustainable construction is the need of the hour considering accommodation to huge population, thus maintaining a perfect harmony between increasing population and limited land. Architect while designing for today, should always keep future in mind. My desire is to work on such projects where a design and construction gives shelter to more people at a time as my wish is to see every Indian have his own house to live in." Excerpts:
Minerva
Since my childhood I was fond of sketching, drawing and designing sections of buildings, fort etc. So in short I will say that my passion drew me here.
Will you please give an overview of your journey since inception to present stature?
Firstly, I would like to say that there were lots of hurdles in my way to become an architect as my mother was not in a financial position to bear the expenses of my architectural studies which was quite expensive that time as per the income of my family. Secondly, I was also weak in studies and scored low marks up to SSC which refrained me from getting admission in any architecture college but I didn't leave the hope and kept trying and finally after a short time came to know about the Academy of architecture where admission was possible only if I qualified the entrance test. And I did it. I believe that creativity is vital to become an architect, not the marks.
After completing the architectural studies from the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai my career began in 1968 as an apprentice with my uncle Architect T. Khareghat. Later, after I completed my Master from New York's Columbia University, I became an associate partner in my uncle's firm in 1977.
In 1982, I started my own practice, with dedication to design excellence, efficient delivery and sophistication in building technology. We have over 550 employees, comprising architects, town planners, interior designers, landscape artists, civil engineers, CAD operators, and graphic designers.
Main - ONGC, Dehradun
So far, I have worked in executing wide range of architectural projects like bungalows, residential developments, hospitals, hotels, corporate offices, banking and financial institutions, commercial complexes, shopping malls, educational institutions, recreational and sports facilities, townships, airports, railway stations, urban planning and civic redevelopment, and infrastructure projects. The firm has to its credit over 2500 satisfied clients with 72 crores square feet of ongoing projects in 100 cities and 5 countries.
ONGC, Mumbai
What architecture means to you? A word about your Design Philosophy?
Architecture is a part and parcel of my life.' It is something to me which is priceless and can't be expressed in words what I feel for it. Keep creating and designing something innovative and out of self- expectation is my passion. Moreover, I believe that architecture should be honest and should respond to the spirit of time characterized by distinct ideas, disparate missions, contrasting convictions, and divergent preferences.
My design philosophy is not restricted to one but it varies from project to project, construction sites, clients' demand, budget, etc. I am an architect, who has always felt that the need of a client is of paramount significance because it comes out of necessity and my role is to satisfy that need rationally.
An architect should be very clear for whom (clients) he is creating; what should be incorporated in design that becomes unique once completed and draws others' attention and also he should consider what will be its impact on the society, people and environment. Architect should design for today, keeping future in mind.
Do you have any particular role model in the architectural and technological industries that have inspired you most?
Universal Majestic, Mumbai
How do you see at the current architectural trends?
Architecture is always based on current demand which inspires architects to think innovative ideas that meet the demand by coming into reality. Seeing the huge population of our country, I am advocating for layered infrastructure, vertical growth of cities, judicious land use and the need for sustainable compact cities to maintain a perfect harmony between increasing population and limited land resources.
As we are living in such a country which has a huge population so it is our moral duty being an architect to design in such a way that gives shelter to many at a time. Vertical construction is one way we can provide accommodation to lots of people on limited space. For the past 25 years, I have been propagating that we need to expand vertically and not be restricted by limited FSI (Floor Space Index). I would like to say that limiting FSI and restricting height of structure has been the biggest cancer destroying our cities. I had worked with a developer in Gurgaon and convinced the government that highrise development had more advantages in terms of quality life versus intense low rise structures dotting the landscape.
Moreover, with land becoming a scarce resource, we need new imaginative policies which preserve land, pave the way for new compact cities with intense development. We have to find out new ways and have a new approach towards designing our cities. For me a sustainable compact green city is the answer. We need compact cities and intense development for better taxation, connected centers of social and commercial activities, community based society, rich urban landscaping and proximity reducing waste of energy. Special emphasis should be on social housing to irradiate the housing shortage. These cities would be cheaper and easier to run rather than sprawled out, evolved existing cities.
MIAL- CSI - T1C
Your name is associated with several iconic projects including the recent Infosys software development block in mysore, global education centre infoys Mysore or other projects such as DLF Aralias, Gurgaon, Imperial Tower, Mumbai, GIFT Gujarat and many more. What always inspired you to think and design out of the box concept? How do you get the ideas?
I think demand is the most important thing which triggers innovation from architects. I will also say that the capability to think out of the box is God gifted and one has to keep it polishing and nourishing through his/her firm determination, dedication, and passion.
As you are seeing that today for most of the mega projects in India, developer/contractor are generally contacting international renowned architects like moshe safdie (khalsa heritage-punjab), ADRAIN Smith (imperial tower or Mumbai master plan), John Portman (park hyatt hotel Hyderabad), Ar. James Cybertecture (cybertecture egg, Ohm Tower in Mumbai) etc. Do you think it will be a drawback for the Indian architects as they will not get chance to show their creativities?
Competition is any way better. We have to show the world that we are the best. But my only concern is that why we are allowing the international architects to compete in our land when we are not getting chance in their country.
The Aralias- PAN
What is your take on Green construction?
Many people think that I am against the green building construction or development. But I want to make it clear that I am also advocating for green construction. Only there is a difference of definitions. I think that green or sustainable construction means not just to use energy efficient building materials and products in your projects but it should be in your design too where emphasis should be on judicious use of land to save it as much as possible. As once exhausted, land can't be produced or replenished anyhow.
I feel that Green construction is of no value when just to win gold or platinum rating, we will misuse our precious commodity i.e land but it would be worth when land along with energy will be preserved. Optimum use of land is Green and Sustainable to me and I must say that Architect should design for today, keeping future in mind.
Which building material such as glass, steel etc you love to work with?
All materials are good and nothing wrong with anyone. The only thing is that you should know its proper usage and method to apply. I believe that glass is a material of future.
Being reputed as one of the most innovative designers who is committed to create unique, inspirational, path breaking and sustainable structures; what new idea/theme is in your mind that you are looking for to work on?
Currently, my focus is also on social housing as I have a dream that every Indian should have his own house and in this government role and support is of utmost importance.
What according to you are the mantras/secrets of your successful life?
Hardwork, dedication, understanding of the social & environment needs and client's demand are the vital elements to get success in life. One should also keep abreast with changes and always adopt changes with time.
Architect Suman Sorg
"By designing in India I feel I have come full circle. Having been brought up here during my childhood and then being trained in architecture in the US I think I can stride that cultural gap through my designs. Architecture has given me the medium through which I can express Indian philosophy of being in a modern idiom." - Architect Suman Sorg
Born in New Delhi, India, Suman Sorg, FAIA emigrated to the United States in 1968 and settled in Washington, DC. After completing her architectural studies and serving in the Peace Corps in West Africa, she started her practice in 1986 which has grown to be one of the largest solely woman owned architecture firms in the United States. With a portfolio rooted in the design of complex and public buildings in the US and abroad, Suman Sorg guides Sorg Architects as Principal in-Charge and Chief Designer. In 2010, Suman's journey came full circle with the expansion of her practice in a branch office in New Delhi, geared toward assisting the firm's expanding portfolio of significant projects throughout India.
Suman Sorg's work has been recognized with numerous honors, including 28 awards from the American Institute of Architects, among others. She has lectured extensively and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Suman began her studies at the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi, India and completed her Bachelor of Architecture at Howard University in Washington, DC. She went on to study Design and Historic Preservation at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Design Philosophy
Suman's overall philosophy of design is characterized by a strong commitment to thoughtful modern architecture that explores spatial, material and visual experience. Rather than imposing a style irrespective of context, she carefully examines the unique characteristics of each place (site, climate, culture, community), along with programmatic requirements, and looks to this intersection as the catalyst for an architectural concept. A long-standing practice in historic preservation and interest in vernacular architecture complement her modernist leanings. By combining contemporary techniques and design strategies with the innovative handling of traditional architectural language and indigenous buildings materials, she endeavors to create architectural compositions that relate to their extended contexts in a meaningful way.Suman emphasizes a philosophy of "light touch," striving for simplicity and clarity of design. She advocates an integrated approach to preserving and protecting the environment which is focused on an examination of project specific relationships to our core sustainability concepts. She believes that when a building serves its function and the people who inhabit it, the project is successful in providing a transparent solution that reflects its human purpose.
Architect Dieter Blocher, Blocher Blocher India
"Architecture needs visions. It must fulfil its responsibility and serve the people. This is why aesthetics, functionality and sustainability determine our way of thinking." – Ar. Dieter Blocher.
Ethereal lights whiz over the facade. They bath the night in warm colours, sparkling like the millions of lights on Diwali. There's no doubt about it: Mondeal Square is a unique building ensemble in the 3.5 million city Ahmedabad, a witness of a new era which raises the epicenter of Gujarat on one level with other world metropolises. Responsible for the architecture was the internationally renowned office Blocher Blocher India. "Architecture," says International Chairman Dieter Blocher, "is always influencing the character of a city and, at the same time, an echo of a social movement. Some projects even have a guiding function besides their actual purpose. They stand for a departure, an evolution, a paradigm shift." Dieter Blocher is an architect by passion. His buildings always form a harmonious unit with their surrounding; at the same time they radiate self-confident individuality. A balancing act which the German architect early learned to master. After his studies in Germany and the USA, he gathered experience at different architecture firms. In 1989, he founded the office Blocher Blocher Partners in Stuttgart, Germany - together with his wife, an interior designer.
After a short time, the course towards the international reputation was set, thanks to the success at two huge architectural competitions – one for the new conception of an urban health quarter, the other for the modernization of one of Europe's most influential retail companies. As a consequence, first European jobs came in addition and then worldwide tasks. Until today, many clients from back then have remained faithful to Blocher Blocher Partners - which is by no means self-evident in such a hard-fought market. "The balance between consistency and innovation has made a long-lasting impression on our clients," explains Mr Blocher.
Today, the internationally renowned office employs 160 architects, interior designers, site managers, product designers, graphic designers, visual merchandisers, and journalists. Together with the subsidiary firms Blocher Blocher Shops and Blocher Blocher View, the group offers a wide range of services like brand development, monobrand concepts, corporate design, retail graphics, publishing or public relations.
Set off for new shores
The German office community answered to the growing requests from Asia with the foundation of a subsidiary firm in Delhi. Especially for the Indian clients it was important to have an office on location. So, Dieter Blocher founded Blocher Blocher India – together with Angela Kreutz who took over the management. The special competence of the office is the interlocking of structural design and interior design. The business activities involve all facets of design, reaching from building construction, façade design, site development and interior design. This holistic approach is hardly reached by any other architectural firm. "We are convinced, that such a one-stop concept is the best solution for companies, because all areas fit together like the parts of a puzzle", explains Dieter Blocher. To stay true to the own demands, the 12-headed team around Head-of Hartmut Wurster and CEO Angela Kreutz never stands still. "We are always up-to-date regarding current developments and trends. This is why we travel to the world's most interesting hotspots; to be close to the action," Mrs Kreutz says. Another secret of success: the architects and interior designers work closely with their clients, always deeply committed. "Architecture can set a statement. Not only by creative design but also by the detailed execution. We stand for both," explains Mrs Kreutz. Evidently a smart and successful strategy: quite recently, Blocher Blocher India has been awarded with the prestigious VM&RD Award. But the Indian office does not only convince juries. Companies and private persons from around the world also praise its competencies and abilities. Amongst the well-known Asian clients of Blocher Blocher India are Reid & Taylor, Central or Odel.Additionally, the office develops and realizes concepts for the Future Group, SKNL and Adityabirla, to name a few.
2013 was another successful year for Blocher Blocher India. From all the thrilling projects of this year, one especially shines out: The Mondeal Retail Park. The architects provided the building ensemble with an absolutely original and beautiful façade.
Blocher Blocher India belongs among the successful architectural offices in India. But what are the plans for the future? The answer is simple: to be where the wishes of the customers are. "We will keep offering our clients the highest quality and sophisticated aesthetics," Dieter Blocher explains. "Furthermore, our journey through India has just begun. Sure enough there are many exciting tasks waiting for us."
Adding he says, "Life is a learning process. I personally can never stand still. This is why I want to further discover the diversity of cultures. During my travels through Asia and around the globe, I learned to see the world with different eyes. I experienced things from different angles which had a long-lasting and positive influence to me – for my professional work as much as for my private life. It may sound a bit cheesy but it is simply important for me to think outside the box."
Architect Adrian Smith
"Tall buildings allow for a great number of people to be housed very comfortably on a very small footprint of land. And if they are designed well, they can offer many of the amenities that people need for a high quality of life. In many ways, the very tall tower is a key element of the city of the future, in India and elsewhere." - Architect Adrian Smith
World's foremost expert of supertall towers, Architect Adrian Smith, grew up in California, building sandcastles as he wanted to see how high he could make them. Today, this American architect has number of renowned skyscrapers' design to his credit such as the Burj Khalifa, Jin Mao Tower, Trump Tower, Kingdom Tower, and so forth.
Since his childhood, he has always been inspired by the idea of tall buildings. He always enjoyed drawing as a child and in a high school mechanical drawing class, his first drawing was of a 40-storey skyscraper in dramatic perspective. When he came to Chicago during his college years, he was quite impressed by the skyline and the idea that humankind could make its own mountains out of buildings. He wanted to be a part of that and today by the grace of God he is recognized for building tall, taller, and the tallest.
In addition to designing super-tall, sustainable buildings, Adrian is committed to the greening of existing structures and helping the building design industry meet its goal of "zero net energy" buildings by the year 2030. Towards that end, AS+GG developed plans for a "green" retrofit of Chicago's Willis Tower, popularly known as the Sears Tower, that could cut the building's electricity usage by 80%.
Born in August 19, 1944, Adrian's journey to the height of his profession began with four years of architecture study at Texas A&M from 1962-1966, before he was lured to Chicago for a summer internship, where he eventually finished his degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago and landed a job at Skidmore, Owings & Merill. He stayed at SOM for four decades, advancing through the ranks and eventually serving as chief executive officer during 1992 – 95, before leaving in 2006 to start AS + GG.
Adrian has been a practicing architect for more than 40 years. His unique design approach emphasizes sensitivity to the physical environment. He considers each project holistically, taking into consideration site orientation, climate and geography, cultural and social influences to create highly sustainable projects that achieve contextualism within the global environment.
"We use a holistic, integrated design approach that explores symbiotic relationships with the natural environment." - Architect Adrian Smith
During the early part of his working career with Bruce Graham at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, he learned about the science of architecture and how to build and detail and about the importance of proportion. In the late 1970s, while working on a project in Mexico, he was associated with Ricardo Legorreta, who introduced 21, the concept of contextualism which meant that a building should have a relationship to its surrounding context and draw from the culture and character of the place. The nature of the site, the climate, wind and soil conditions were all to be factored into the design of the project as well. More recently, Adrian has broadened his contextual principles to include the introduction of harvesting the energy sources from the earth, wind and sun by integrating wind turbines and photovoltaic systems into the design of the building projects in an expressive way that adds to the vocabulary of contextual architecture. This results in a kind of global environmental contextualism.
Due to his approach for creating and developing high-performance, energy-efficient, sustainable architecture, he has a number of recognitions and awards to his credit. Recently, Adrian, designer of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and a champion of sustainable design, received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Texas A&M at spring commencement. Widely regarded as the world's leading authority on super-tall buildings, Smith is an outstanding alumnus of the College of Architecture and founding principal of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. His honorary degree was authorized by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents at their Jan. 31, 2013 meeting, following recommendations from the Texas A&M Faculty Senate and University President R. Bowen Loftin.
Throughout his career, Adrian has played an active role in international projects and developments. Projects under his design direction have won over 110 major awards for design excellence, including five international awards, eight National AIA awards, 23 Chicago AIA awards, and two ULI Awards for Excellence. His work has been featured in major museums in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Imperial Tower, India
At 116 stories and 400 meters tall, Imperial Tower was designed to be the tallest building in the city and a prototype for Mumbai, a densely developed but mostly low-rise metropolis whose urban future revolves around tall residential towers.The softly curvilinear form of this tall, elegantly slender tower is aerodynamically shaped to “confuse the wind,” minimizing the negative effects of wind action on the tower. Wind vortex shedding is also mitigated by the north- and south-facing sky gardens, which break up wind currents around the tower. The sky gardens also provide unprecedented access to light, views and connection with the natural world that are unprecedented in Mumbai.
Imperial Tower will also offer the most spacious and luxurious residences in Mumbai. The 76,272- square-meter tower includes 132 residential units of between 195 and 1,115 square meters, along with serviced apartments of between 72 and 252 square meters. All of the upper-story condominiums offer breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.
Architecturally, the exterior wall provides a strong visual contrast with the heavy masonry cladding of most surrounding buildings. The exterior wall is highly sustainable, blocking heat gain and diffusing direct sunlight in the hot and humid climate of Mumbai.
The sustainability of Imperial Tower is also evident in its treatment of water, one of the area's most precious resources. Water from mechanical systems is collected and treated as greywater; rainfall is also collected for re-use by the units. Highefficiency mechanical systems, a greenwall podium and the use of native plants in the landscaping and sky gardens also adds to the project's sustainable performance.
Ar. Moshe Safdie
"Architecture affects the lives of people directly. It comes with an extraordinary responsibility. I think one needs to take that responsibility very seriously. It's the quality of life it gives to its inhabitant." — Moshe Safdie
The architect and urban planner, Moshe Safdie is the world renowned for his head turning designs. Having an expertise of working on wide range of projects including cultural, educational, and civic institutions; neighborhoods and public parks; mixed-use urban centers and airports; and master plans for existing communities and entirely new cities around the world, he always embraces a comprehensive and humane design philosophy and is committed to architecture that supports and enhances a project's program; and is informed by the geographic, social, and cultural elements that define a place; and also that responds to human needs and aspirations.
He believes that a successful building must embody a sense of its purpose, place and tectonics. Most importantly, a work of architecture must give expression to the life for which it is intended. It not only satisfies the requirements of the program competently, but also its form should resonate with the diverse spaces and activities it contains. Born in Haifa, Israel, in 1938, Safdie moved to Canada with his family at a young age. He graduated from McGill University in 1961 with a degree in architecture. After working two years in the office of Louis I. Kahn in Philadelphia, he started his own practice in Montreal in 1964.
He was approached by Sandy van Ginkel, his thesis advisor, to develop the master plan for the 1967 World Exhibition. Influenced by his graduate thesis at McGill, Safdie refined a series of "Habitat" designs which revolved around a cellular housing scheme. Initially his ideas proved expensive and difficult to construct, but Safdie introduced the cellular scheme in several areas including New York and Puerto Rico where his ideas were successfully initiated.
In 1970, Safdie established a Jerusalem branch office, commencing an intense involvement with the rebuilding of Jerusalem. He was responsible for major segments of the restoration of the Old City and the reconstruction of the new center, linking the Old and New Cities. Over the years, his involvement expanded and included the new city of Modi'in, the new Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, and the Rabin Memorial Center. During this period, Safdie also became involved in the developing world, working in Senegal, Iran, Singapore, and in the northern Canadian arctic.
In 1978, after teaching at Yale, McGill, and Ben Gurion Universities, Safdie relocated his residence and principal office to Boston. He served as Director of the Urban Design Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design from 1978 to 1984, and Ian Woodner Professor of Architecture and Urban Design from 1984 to 1989. In the following decade, he was responsible for the design of six of Canada's principal public institutions, including the Quebec Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery of Canada, and Vancouver Library Square.
Safdie Architects' Design Philosophy
Safdie Architects conceives architecture as a natural extension of its surroundings—urban or rural, northern or southern, ancient or entirely new—and recognizes its responsibility to contribute richly to its setting and enduringly to its community. According to the practice, to achieve a successful fit between a building's purpose and its design, it needs the architects and the clients together engage in a process of exploring the values and choices that will evolve into the final form of the building. As an architectural program lists quantitative requirements, but often misses many qualitative issues. So through dialogue or interaction, Safdie Architects draws out these subtleties and addresses the complex issues of a building's character, image and symbolism. In accord to practice, for a single project whether commercial or residential, there are a number of options and ways but they search for the most appropriate solution in the context of each particular place and time."I think you need to, as an architect, understand the essence of a place and create a building that feels like it resonates with the culture of a place. So my buildings in India or in Kansas City or in Arkansas or in Singapore, they come out different because the places are so different." —Moshe Safdie
Safdie's Architectural designs are based on the following philosophy:
- One of the most important goals in architecture is to create meaningful, vital and inclusive social spaces. We are responsible for shaping not only a project's program but also its large civil role of enabling and enriching the community.
- Architecture is not about building an impossible structure but about building what makes sense for a specific program and for a particular setting. The notion of ‘inherent buildability' is central to our work.
- We believe that architecture grows out of a vision of the way it can affect the lives of the individuals for whom buildings and public spaces are created.
- As an architect, we are responsible for designing buildings that address human needs and aspirations. For example, a school above all else, must be a wonderful place for learning. Every element of each design must be an expression of the life intended in a building.
- The strength of our practice lies in the geographical and cultural diversity in which we work.
- Sustainability has been a guiding principle of our work. As architect, we have a responsibility to respond to the issues of energy conservation, of ecology and of renewable materials. We have to use resources efficiently while we advance our clients goals.
Prestigious projects
Moshe Safdie's works are known for their dramatic curves, arrays of geometric patterns, use of windows, and key placement of open and green spaces. He has worked with a wide range of clients, including municipal entities and government agencies, colleges and universities, private developers, non-profit making organizations and civic institutions. Many of his firm's buildings have become beloved regional and national landmarks, including Exploration Place Science Center, Wichita, Kansas; Salt Lake City Public Library, Salt Lake City, Utah; Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts; Springfield Federal Courthouse, Springfield, Massachusetts; Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, California; LesterB. Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Canada; the National Gallery of Canada; Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Jerusalem etc.His recent works include: Mamilla Alrov Center, a dynamic urban center near the Old City in Jerusalem; Marina Bay Sands, a mixed-use integrated resort in Singapore; Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex, the national museum of the Sikh people in Punjab, India; the United States Institute of Peace Headquarters on the Mall in Washington, D.C.; the National Campus for the Archeology of Israel in Jerusalem; the West Edge project, a mixed-use facility in Kansas City, Missouri; the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri; and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards, honorary degrees, and civil honors, including the Companion Order of Canada and the Gold Medal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Virasat-e-Khalsa, Punjab, India
Virasat-e-Khalsa (formerly known as Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex) is a museum located in Anandpur Sahib. Designed by the architect and urban planner Moshe Safdie, the Virasat-e-Khalsa celebrates 500 years of Sikh history and the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa, the scriptures written by the tenth and last Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, founder of the modern Sikh faith. The museum aims to illuminate the vision of the Gurus, their message of peace and brotherhood and the culture and heritage of Punjab.
Deeply rooted in its surrounding landscape and resonating with regional architecture, the Centre seemingly rises from nearby sand cliffs. Clad with local sandstone and evoking the fortress cities of Rajasthan, Gwalior, and Punjab, the Centre acknowledges the Sikhs' history as celebrated warriors. The upwardly curving roofs of the museum's tower-like galleries are covered in stainless steel, designed in counterpoint to the rich tradition of gold domes that crown sacred Sikh buildings such as the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The museum campus is composed of two functionally integrated sets of buildings. The western complex, forming a gateway to Anandpur Sahib, houses exhibition galleries; a two-level library centered around a grand reading room overlooks water gardens; a facility for storing rare archival materials; and a 400-seat auditorium. A 540-foot bridge from the western complex crosses a seven-acre network of reflecting pools, providing access to the eastern complex, which houses permanent exhibitions presenting Sikh history, religion, and culture.
Arranged in groups of five, the galleries reference the Five Virtues of Sikh religion. The symbolic themes of earth and sky, mass and lightness, and depth and ascension are represented by the museum's sandstone towers and reflective silver roofs, and are further echoed inside the museum's galleries. Safdie and his associate architect, Ashok Dhawan of New Delhi, worked closely with the exhibition designer, Amardeep Behl of Design Habit in New Delhi, to achieve a successful integration of architecture and display.
Architect Ben van Berkel
Photo courtesy: Inga Powilleit |
"Fundamental to our practice is the idea that new concepts for architecture can be generated almost everyday." --- Architect Ben van Berkel
57 year old Dutch architect Ben van Berkel is a director and a co-founder of international architectural practice, UNStudio, which is today recognized as a network of specialists in architecture, urban development and infrastructure. The firm was established by Architect Ben and his wife Caroline Bos in 1998.
Born in 1957, Ben van Berkel studied architecture at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and at the Architectural Association in London and received the AA Diploma with Honours in 1987. In 1988, he and Caroline Bos set up an architectural practice in Amsterdam, extending their theoretical and writing projects to the practice of architecture. The Van Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau has realized, amongst others projects, the Karbouw office building, the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen, the Moebius House and the NMR facilities for the University of Utrecht.
Education Executive Agency and Tax Offices, Groningen, NL Photo courtesy: Ronald Tilleman |
In 1998, Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos recognized that they were no longer working in a linear manner anymore, and the whole production of drawings was different. Moreover, clients approach had also changed and they no longer came alone to the table, but instead came accompanied by numerous specialists. This way the firm began to work alongside these specialists and learned to work in a relational, rather than in a linear way. This is how the architect duo got an idea of the "united network" concept and established a new firm: UNStudio that stands for United Network Studio, referring to the collaborative nature of the practice.
According to Architect Ben van Berkel, "Our ideas and solutions differ to a large extent in each our projects. Fundamental to our practice is the idea that new concepts for architecture can be generated almost everyday. We at UNStudio strive to create fully contemporary works and to be fully absorbed in the process. And for this we have many experts from a wide variety of fields involved in our projects as we call our practice a United Network."
Tour Bioclimatique, Paris (UNStudio) |
Throughout over 25 years of international project experience, UNStudio has continually expanded its capabilities through prolonged collaboration with an extended network of international consultants, partners, and advisors across the globe. This network, combined with its centrally located offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai, enables it to work efficiently anywhere in the world. With already over seventy projects in Asia, Europe, and North America, the Studio continues to expand its global presence with recent commissions in among others China, South-Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Germany and the USA.
Ben van Berkel has lectured and taught at many architectural schools around the world. Currently, he is Professor of Conceptual Design at the Staedelschule in Frankfurt am Main and was recently awarded the Kenzo Tange Visiting Professor's Chair at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Central to his teaching is the inclusive approach of architectural works integrating virtual and material organization and engineering constructions.
Ben van Berkel received many personal awards and affiliations, such as the Eileen Gray Award (1983); the British Council Fellowship (1986); the Charlotte Köhler Award (1991); Member of Honor of the Bund Deutscher Architekten (1997); the 1822-Kunstpreis 2003 (Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart) (2003); the Charles Jencks Award (2007); RIBA International Fellowship (2009); Member of advisory board for Gehry Technologies (2011); the Honorary Fellowship AIA (2013) and many more.
Oscar & Ponni Architects, Chennai
"Our design philosophy is to use as much as eco-friendly materials, natural daylight and save the earth's natural resources. We firmly believe in using green building materials and products for designing sustainable architecture."
Winning 13 awards in a single year which is unprecedented in the Indian history, the architectural firm 'Oscar & Ponni Architects,' has really amazed all with their incredible achievements. Established in 1995 in Chennai by Ar Oscar Concessao and Ar Ponni Concessao, after getting their Master's degree in Architecture and gaining valuable architectural experience in the leading firms in New York City, the architectural practice, Oscar & Ponni Architects, Chennai was set up with a vision to save earth's natural resources as much as possible and build Sustainable Architecture.
Over the years, Oscar & Ponni Architects' worked on versatile projects such as Universities, Engineering and Medical Colleges, Stadiums, Information Technology Parks, Bio-tech Parks, Nano Technology Parks, Townships, Hospitals, Apartments, Hotels, Resorts, Malls, Corporate Offices, Luxury Bungalows, Factories, SEZ, several Government and State buildings and so on. The husband and wife team of architects has not only worked across India, but also designed projects in Middle East and the Far East.
Flash Back
Ar Oscar and Ar Ponni have completed their B.Arch Degree from the Regional Engineering College, now NIT Tiruchirapalli in 1986, and 1987. After completing his graduation in India, Oscar went to the USA on a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, Norman and did his Master's degree in Architecture in Urban Design in 1987. Ponni also went to USA, with a Tata scholarship and completed her Master's in Architecture from Cornell University in 1989. Both Oscar and Ponni have done their advanced professional studies specialization at Harvard University and have also been conferred with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Malaysia and University of Milano for Modern Architecture and Architectural Science. They both worked in New York City with leading architects specializing in Skyscrapers, Institutional buildings, Hotels, Hospitals and Stadiums and returned to India after gaining lot of experience and settled in Chennai, Ponni's hometown and started their Architectural and Interior design practice.For choosing Chennai to get settled, the duo informed that this city is a blend of historic and contemporary, traditional and advances urban elements in a unique way. They anticipate that there is a big demand for housing in the affordable and the high end segment and also in the commercial office and retail spaces as Tamil Nadu being the leading state in the country to offer employments in the IT, Manufacturing, Financial Educational, and Tourism sectors which will certainly be a need for several office spaces, commercial, shopping and housing developments.