Stadtschloss reloaded

(I’m citing from Berliner Morgenpost, art Magazin and Baunetz.com for photos)

The dice is cast.

On 28.11.2008 the winner of the competition for the reconstruction of the Berin Stadtschloss has been published: Francesco „Franco“ Stella, Italian architect from Vicenza, sees himself as „classical-modern rationalist“ following Aldo Rossi. And actually he’s more or less unknown.

Surprisingly the jury chose him in unison. What about the critics about the retro-postulations of the competition few weeks ago (read more here)?

Stella – whose private name is Francesco, but as architect he calls himself Franco – is known as a specialist for building with historical ensembles. so far, he’s only been known among experts. His biggest project is the fair hall in Padova. Since 1990, Stella is professor at the architectural faculty of Genua, and participated  on the Venice Biennial several times.

There’s no English entry to Wikipedia yet (!!), not even an Italian one, only the German Wikipedia has been supplemented with a short entry (which dates from 29./30.Nov.2008).

Yet, he’s not unknown in Berlin – as he took part in the competitions of the Kanzleramt (Chancellery) and the Auswärtiges Amt (State Department). And he was member of the jury of the architectural competition for the area around the Spree Island (on the Spree Island, the so-called Museums Islands, there’s also the Stadtschloss area) …

His entry has been chosen because of his „sensitive treatment of the Eastern facade“ – while the Northern, Western, and Southern facades had to be designed in retro-baroque style (replicas of the original palace), as well as the Schlüter Courtyard, the Eastern facade and the interiors were free to design.

We’ll have to wait for the reactions on this decision as well as on, well, let’s face it, the financial situation to clear off. Officially, the construction works are to start in 2010, the budget projected on 552 Mio. Euro (enough?!). And besides – it’s still not really decided what’s to happen with the palace once it ‘ll actually stand: it is thought to house a Humboldtforum. But what’s that?

A lot of questions still wide open.

A little too much retro-ado about nothing?

…………………………..

All competing projects can be seen at Deutsches Kronprinzenpalais,

3. – 21. December

daily, 12.00 – 20.00 h

Email-Interview Soavina Ramaroson

I’m pleased to introduce you another artist / architect and am glad that he found the time to answer some questions!

Soavina Ramaroson (*1977) is a young architect and artist from Madagascar, residing in Paris.

Being a graduate architect, Ramaroson works as both architect and artist.His wish to improve the human conditions made him choose the profession of architecture.

During his studies, he had to do a study about urbanism which led him to the underprivileged quarters of Antananarivo, the Malgasy city where he was born. Here, he shot his photo series “vis-à-vie” which, according to Ramaroson, shows the simplicity and pragmatism, the smile and hospitality of Madagascar – a very impressive portrait.

To find out more about “vis-à-vie” and to view some photos, please go to the artist’s website.

Ramaroson has already taken part in several exhibitions, with a special focus on young + contemporary African art, in France, Germany, Africa, and Japan (for an overview please read on here).

I’m free, 80 x 120 cm, 2008

Presently his works can be seen at the “Spot on…Bamako” exhibitions at the IFA Galleries in Berlin (24.10.2008 – 11.01.2009) and Stuttgart (30. Jan. to 21. Mar. 2009).

…………………………………………………………………..

Why does an architect become artist?

Well… the right question can be « how does an artist become an architect »

But actually, I don’t consider myself as an artist or an architect, even if the diploma says that I’m DPLG (« Diplomé Par Le Gouvernement », graduate by the government).

Let’s says, I’m looking for a way… just trying to be…

How does architecture and your studies of architecture influence your artistical work?

I can say that my studies, or architecture make my work be realistic (opposite of abstract).
But, the main thing is that I use the same method when I want to create: the idea, then the drawing and finally the object…

And the other way round: does your art influence your architectural work?

Yes, I work like an architect, in a big company… Let’s say beginner, I didn’t make my proof yet. So I can not answer this question

You mostly photograph, but do you also work with other mediums or techniques? Drawing, collage, …..?

I didn’t find my way yet, so I work with what I can catch with my hands…

How did you find your medium(s)?

By luck…

What are your ambitions with your works?

I feel a need to create things I see beautiful, with sense, with messages.

How do you choose your motifs?

Let’s say, they find me…

Do you include a political / social critical connotation in your works? What is your aim?

I think I’ve been fed of everything around me, images, politic, thought… that I need to interprete and show it my way… I guess, it’s called critics… Aim? to start a dialogue.

Who / What are your role models? Who / What influenced your work?

…

Since your work also deals with urban situations: What do you think about the recent urban developments?

….

What – in your opinion – is characteristic of your work and your working method?

I’m too young to answer…

Architecture online…

Da ich bei der Arbeit an diesem Blog – ist es Arbeit? ;-) – immer wieder interessante Entdeckungen in der Welt des WWW mache, die Link-Liste rechts aber nicht allzu viel Platz einnehmen soll und meine „Favourites“ schon aus allen Nähten platzen, werde ich an dieser Stelle Links zum Thema Architektur sammeln. Ergänzungen sind natürlich sehr willkommen!

Die Liste ist ohne Wertung und wird nach und nach in mehr oder weniger regelmäßigen Abständen ergänzt werden.

While working on this blog – well, is it work? ;-) – I happen to discover interesting sites in the WWW again and again, but as the blog roll on the right isn’t to grow too big and my „favourites“ is already bursting at the seams, I’m starting to collect interesting links about architecture here. Pointers and additions are very welcome, of course.

The list is sorted without valuation and will be completed step by step more or less regularly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Architecture Magazines (German)

detail.de Das Architekturportal

Bauwelt.de

zeno.de

der Architekt (Zeitschrift des Bundes Deutscher Architekten BDA)

www.baunetz.de

www.urbanophil.net (Netzwerk für urbane Kultur)

Architecture Magazines (English)

inhabitat.com

e-architect.co.uk

Africa Architect Online

Architektur Clips

Arch +

Architecture-related Blogs (Arts, Design,…)

David Report Blog

LA Curbed

ArchiBlog

Zaha Hadid Blog

Hochparterre International / Barcelona Blog

A Daily Dose of Architecture (NY)

What a waste (what not to build – lost opportunities, wasted time, materials, money, urban & social impact)

mirage.studio.7 (Blog claiming: architecture is poetry)

Architektur- und Bau-Blog (“Zeige mir, wie du baust, und ich sage dir, wer du bist”)

Architecture Networks

MyarchN

ArchNet

Ludwigshafen am Rhein – fotografiert von Jörg Heieck (Ausstellung im Wilhelm-Hack-Museum)

Ludwigshafen am Rhein ist nicht wirklich eine Stadt, die man auf seinem „Da muss ich hin“-Reisekalender dick markieren würde (und – zugegeben: – es auch nicht müsste). Trotzdem gibt es in der BASF-Stadt gerade im Kunst- und Kulturbereich einiges zu entdecken. Auf die Miró-Wand und das Wilhelm-Hack-Museum habe ich schon einmal hingewiesen.

Dass es aber auch in den unscheinbarsten Städten besondere Ecken zu entdecken gibt und dass oft ein Wechsel der Perspektive ganz neue Ansichten und Einblicke bieten kann, scheint daher gerade bei einer Stadt wie Ludwigshafen vielversprechend:

Im Rahmen des 150. jährigen Stadtjubiläums (150. Wiederkehr der Verleihung der Stadtrechte) Ludwigshafens zeigt der Fotograf Jörg Heieck rund 100 Panoramafotografien der Stadt; die Fotoarbeiten sind zum Teil bis zu sechs Quadratmeter groß.

Weiter heißt es in der offiziellen Beschreibung der Ausstellung:

Über ein Jahr lang hat Jörg Heieck Ludwigshafen aus seinem Blickwinkel porträtiert und die Stadt im Wandel der Tages- und Jahreszeiten begleitet. Entstanden ist dabei eine Vielzahl von Panoramabildern.

Besonders klar und deutlich sind auf den Fotografien kleinste Einzelheiten zu erkennen. Hergestellt wurden die Ausstellungsstücke im Diaplex-Verfahren. Dabei wird eine dauerhafte Verbindung von Abzug und Acrylglas hergestellt. Dies erhöht den ästhetischen Effekt bei der Präsentation. Durch die lichtbrechungsfreie Verbindung mit der Bildebene wird auch der optische Tiefeneindruck erheblich verstärkt.

Im Museum wird während der Ausstellung noch gearbeitet, um die rund 16-monatige Modernisierungsphase rechtzeitig zur Wiedereröffnung am 31. Januar 2009 abzuschließen, wenn das Museum dann seine gesamte Sammlung unter dem Titel „alles“ vorstellt.

Außerdem wird eine Auswahl von 50 Fotografien in einem Bildband publiziert.

Mehr zu Jörg Heieck hier sowie auf der Website des Fotografen.

…………………………………………

Ich habe die Ausstellung noch nicht selbst gesehen. Die im Internet verfügbare Bildauswahl sieht jedoch interessant aus – ich denke, die großen Dimensionen lassen die Arbeiten sehr eindrucksvoll wirken, auch wenn die Bilder, die offenbar vor allem mit besonderen Detailaufnahmen oder ungewohnten Ausschnitten arbeiten, wohl mehr verstecken, als sie zeigen. Trotzdem verspricht die Ausstellung einige ungewohnte und ungewohnt ästhetische Ansichten von Ludwigshafen.

Ludwigshafen am Rhein – fotografiert von Jörg Heieck

Ausstellung zum Jubiläum „150 Jahre Stadt Ludwigshafen am Rhein“

Dauer: 1.11.08 – 6.1.09

Di, Mi & Fr: 12 – 18 Uhr

Do: 12 – 20 Uhr

Sa & So: 10 – 18 Uhr

Eintritt 5€, ermäßigt 3€

Hanging Gardens 2008

Well, I don’t really know how to categorize the following topic – architecture? art? interior design? artful interior architecture?! Nevertheless, as it merges a little bit of each, it’s definitely worth mentioning Boskke’s Sky Planters. Why? Because they’re upside down!

And this is how the designer describe their pot plants of the future (cited from their website):

We’ve turned thinking about gardening quite literally on its head.

The SKY PLANTER allows you for the first time to grow plants upside down inside your home or office.

Using a ground breaking internal reservoir system to feed water directly to the roots, means no water evaporates or drips. We also lock in the soil so there’s no mess.

With a SKY PLANTER you only water your plants once a month, leaving you time to relax on the beach knowing they’ll be thriving when you return. It’s also a great way to conserve water.

The SKY PLANTER is suspended from your ceiling, so it takes up zero floor space, making it a practical solution for smaller apartments, where space is limited.

In short: The internal reservoir system feeds water directly tot he roots, no leaks, no evaporation, using 90% less water than the ordinary pot. The soil is locked in, so no mess with drizzling soil. Thus you’re plant is happy if you just don’t forget to water it once or twice a month.

And this is what the Sky Planter – winner of the U.K. New Designers ceramic design award 2006 – might look like:

I’ve not found out yet whether the plants do actually like to grow upside down, or if there’s certain kinds that do, while others don’t. In any way it does look innovative and sounds rather eco-friendly!

More about the New Zealand design artists Boskke. And the article on inhabitat that brought them to my attention.

Reconstruction of the Berlin Stadtschloss: A neverending story?!

(I’m citing an article on Spiegel Online, photo ib.)

I wrote about the Berlin Mitte situation a little while ago (read more here). It has been 6 years now since the German parliament decided to have the Berlin Stadtschloss (City Palace) reconstructed. Since then, hot and ambitious discussions have been had about the project’s „face“ – and apparently, still no end in sight:

On November 28th the jury will decide about the winning project which is to have at least 3 out of 4 facades reconstructed true to the original baroque building. Now most of the architect jurors, among them Vittorio Lampugnani, question this guideline. Why so suddenly?

We’ll have to wait for the final decision in less than 2 weeks.

No lucky star…

Nevertheless, the planned reconstruction of the palace doesn’t really seem to be under a lucky star – for about 18 years now it is highly debated, donations only drop in (according to Spiegel Online, a society wanted to collect 80 Mio.€ – whereof only 17 Mio.€ have been collected so far).

Historical Background

(Summary cited from wikipedia:) In 1945, the Stadtschloss was twice struck by Allied bombs, the building was struck by incendiaries, lost its roof and was largely burnt out.

The end of the war saw the Stadtschloss reduced to a blackened shell, although the building was structurally sound and with a huge cash influx could have been restored, as many other bombed-out buildings in central Berlin were after unification. But the area in which it was located was with the Soviet Union’s zone of occupation, and later in the German Democratic Republic. The new regime saw the Stadtschloss as a symbol of Prussian militarism, although some parts of the building were repaired and used from 1945 to 1950 as an exhibition space. Between September and December 1950, therefore, the building was demolished, with only the balcony from which Liebknecht had declared the German Socialist Republic being preserved.

PodCast: REVISITING POSTMODERNISM. A Digital Archive Series

This week the Architectural League New York - one of the premier forums for new work and ideas in architecture and urbanism for more than 125 years – launches a new podcast series of original audio recordings from the early and mid-1980s:

Revisiting Postmodernism
a multi-part digital archive series featuring lectures and presentations by leading theorists and practitioners of 1980s postmodernism, curated from the League’s historic audio/video archive of lectures and panel discussions dating back more than thirty years.

Through the Digital Archive Project, selections from the League’s archive of more than six hundred audio/video recordings are being digitized and made available for online audiences.

The series includes presentations by leading theorists and practitioners of postmodernism, including John Burgee, Michael Graves, Charles Jencks, Charles Moore, James Stirling, and others.  New presentations will be available once a week over the next several weeks.

Today the series starts with Charles Jencks: Postmodern Classicism, recorded on November 17, 1980, c. 1:30h. (Download here).

Charles Jencks’ first lecture at the Architectural League on postmodernism is a strong and witty argument for what he calls „the consensus of postmodern classicism.“ Jencks builds his argument through a comprehensive series of case studies ranging from the classcial to the (then) contemporary. He begins his lecture with an extended analogy, equating Modernism in architecture with the Christian Reformation.

Upcoming Episodes are:

Charles Moore: Work in Progress (Recorded on November 4, 1980)
From Bauhaus to Our House: A Panel Discussion (Recorded on December 1, 1981)
Charles Jencks: Freestyle Classicism: The New Rules (Recorded on April 5, 1982)
Michael Graves: The Portland Building* (Recorded on November 30, 1982)
John Burgee: Is this Postmodern? (Recorded on April 4, 1983)
James Stirling: Monument Informal (Recorded on May 16, 1985)
Charles Jencks: Symbolic Architecture (Recorded on October 22, 1985)

More information here.

PS: The Digital Archive Project offers more interesting audio feeds – just browse the named website a little more!

Coop Himmelb(l)au: Get off of my Cloud

As I’m working on Coop Himmelb(l)au’s deconstructivist (or not) tendencies currently, I had to go through their „Get off of my Cloud“, too. With over 500 pages it is quite a tome!

By the way, I’m writing about the German edition.

Published in 2005 – in German -, it assembles selected texts by the Austrian Architects from 1968 (the year of their foundation) to 2005. Structured in 6 chapters, the book presents „Programmatic Texts“ (these texts can hardly be missing in any publication of the Coop), „Selected Projects Texts“ (Conceptual descriptions of some important projects, like Villa Rosa, Open House, Wien, Melun-Sénart), Speeches, Interveiws, Comments „About friends and foes“ and „other texts“. Prefaces by Jeffery Kipnis and Christian Reder.

Particularly helpful and revealing are both speeches and interviews, even though they often repeat certain ideas and comments. As the pictures are in black-white and the volume is enormous – the pages can’t be easily turned over. Well, of course, turning them over is not the problem, but keeping them open while reading is. You know how it is with such a bulky tome). So I’d say – to watch the illustrations (it’s actually not that many illustrations), better choose other publications or the architects’ website, but for a collection of informative texts and a overview of 40 years of Coop Himmelb(l)au as well as a first approach to their theoretical thinking, the book is definitely worth its money.

Another „by the way“:

Get off of my cloud is the second international No.1 hit single by the Rolling Stones in 1965/66 – as Coop Himmelb(l)au not only have been avowed fans of the Stones and Rock’n'Roll since the 60s, but also have always included the ideas of clouds, sky, lightness, changeability, the title probably couldn’t have been chosen better.

Architektur im TV? / Architecture in TV? (Umfrage / Survey)

For an English summary of this text please read on below

Spätestens seit der Verleihung – oder genauer: der Nicht-Verleihung – des Deutschen Fernsehpreises ist die Diskussion um Sinn oder Nicht-Sinn des Fernsehprogramms salonfähig geworden. Bei allem Respekt für Reich-Ranickis offene Kritik, die ohne Frage einen sehr wunden Punkt getroffen hat, so bin ich doch nicht uneingeschränkt seiner Meinung.

Das Fernsehen ist zu einem der bestimmenden Medien geworden, ob man dies gut finden mag oder nicht. Trotz allem kann man unter all den Nannys, Restauranttestern, Auswanderern, getauschten Frauen, Superstars… auch „gute“ Sendungen finden – ganz abgesehen von der Frage, was denn letztendlich „gute“ Fernsehsendungen sind -:

„Es gibt gute Fernsehsendungen, auf einigen (öffentlich-rechtlichen) Kanälen mehr, auf anderen (privaten) Kanälen weniger, aber es reicht, um sich jeden Tag einen schönen Fernsehabend zu machen – bis der Sandmann kommt.“

Kritisch wird es wie so oft durch das Übermaß. Wenn nur noch gekocht, gesungen, frauengetauscht, getalkt, reality-ge-soapt wird.Vielleicht ist auch dem ein oder anderen Leser der Film „Free Rainer“ ein Begriff…

Weiter will ich auf diese Diskussion nicht eingehen, da es nicht das Thema meines Blogs ist. Recht gut auf den Punkt gebracht wird die Problematik in dieser Kolumne, aus der auch das genannte Zitat stammt.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Zurück zur Architektur: Aus gegebenem Anlass möchte ich folgende Fragen in den Webspace stellen:

Wo im TV hat sich die Architektur versteckt? Gibt es empfehlenswerte Sendungen und Filme zum Thema?

Programmtipps, Meinungen, Kommentare ausdrücklich erwünscht!

Where to look for good TV series, films, … about architecture?

Opinions, comments, programme advice very welcome!

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Ein paar erste Überlegungen zum Thema:

Arte ist einer der wenigen TV-Sender, die ausdrücklich auch Architektur in ihrem Programm haben. Zum einen gibt es die Reihe „Baukunst“, auch auf DVD erhältlich, allerdings ohne Untertitel, was sehr schade ist. Bisher wurden 29 Bauwerke aus allen Epochen beleuchtet worden.

Gesehen habe ich die „Baukunst“ bisher noch nicht so oft, da sich Sendezeiten und Arbeitszeiten oft überschneiden,… Ich werde mich aber um die DVDs bemühen und Feedback geben.

Zum anderen bin ich schon häufiger bei Chic, dem Lifestylemagazin von Arte, und Metropolis hängen geblieben, die immer mal wieder verschiedene Bauten und Architekten vorstellen, meist unter Design-Aspekten. Auch hier gibt es hin und wieder Interessantes zu entdecken.

Von diesen Doku-Beiträgen in Kultursendungen abgesehen sieht es in architektonischer Hinsicht allerdings eher mau aus im TV.

Andererseits: In vielen Filmen spielt die Architektur, obwohl oft nicht wirklich bemerkt, keine unwesentliche Nebenrolle – ganz aktuell etwa James Bond beim stilechten „City-Hopping“. Ohne eindrucksvolle Bauten wären viele Szenen nur halb so effektvoll, und meistens gar nicht zu erkennen, dass es sich um London / Moskau / Siena / … handelt.

Darüber hinaus spielen ausgerechnet in Fantasy- und Horrorfilmen oft Gebäude eine wichtige Rolle. Verwunschene, verhexte, verfluchte Häuser mit zugigen Fluren, dunklen Ecken, unheimlichen Kellern, klapprigen Fensterläden gehören zum Standardrepertoire.

Fängt man erst einmal an nachzudenken, findet man plötzlich einige Beispiele – was wäre Harry Potter ohne Hogwarts, eine Rosamunde-Pilcher-Schmonzette (ja, auch ich zappe!) ohne Cornwall Manson, Sex and the City ohne stylische Apartments mit Blick auf den Central Park, ….

Ich freue mich auf eure Meinung!

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Few weeks ago a little „scandal“ happened in the German media-scape when a famous ex-TV host and „literature pope“ – that’s what he’s called as he hosted a literature show – refused to accept an award for his lifetime achievements (he’s 82 yrs) while accusing the actual TV scene being rubbish. All this happening during the taping of the festivities of the German TV Award. Consequently the discussions about sense and nonsense in TV are getting hot and I guess in their general consensus the controversies and critics can be applied to the TV scene elsewhere, too.

I think that among all those topmodels, pop idols, super talents,… you can still find “good” TV – you just have to look out for it (the question aside what actually “good” means in this context). As everywhere else it gets critical when there’s “too much” of something.

This is why I want to put the questions out there:

Where to look for good TV series, films, … about architecture?

Opinions, comments, programme advice very welcome!

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Some thoughts about the topic:

The German-French cooperation TV channel „Arte“ is one of the few channels in German TV which is thematising architecture, too. They have a series “Baukunst” / “Art of Building” having focused 29 edifices of all periods from all around the world (so far).

Furthermore, there are some lifestyle magazines presenting architecture and architects every now and then.

But apart from these short docu reports in culture programmes there’s not much architecture in TV.

On the other hand: even though not really noticed, architecture often plays an not so unimportant role in many films. Topnotch example: James Bond doing “city hopping”. Without the impressive buildings most scences wouldn’t be as striking. And often not even recognizable as London / Moscow / Siena / …

Moreover, buildings have an important part in fantasy and horror films – of all things. Enchanted, jinxed, cursed houses with draughty corridors, dark corners, mysterious cellars, rattly shutters are classical equipment of this sort of films.

And once you start thinking you happen to find numerous examples – what would be Harry Potter without Hogwarts, Sex and the City without stylish apartments with Central Park view, the average lovestory without the romantic manson, …

I’m looking forward to read your thoughts!

Circulation(s). Photography exhibition, Paris

All good things come, well, in two: I have another exhibition tip to tell you about:

Circulation(s)
Photography exhibition with 17 photographers.
Opening on the 5th November, from 19h00.
La Cartonnerie
12 rue Deguerry 75011 Paris
From the 4th to the 29th November.

More information at www.fetart.org and especially here (Press Info / Pdf)

According to their website, fetart presents their exhibition „Circulation(s) – Mois de la Photo-OFF 2008 , regards de jeunes photographes européens“, i.e.  views of young European photographers.

FêtArt is a team of 5 voluntary co-workers. The online gallery is devoted to exhibiting and discovering young contemporary photography artists.

Just quickly browsing the website, I noticed several interesting works which are worth a second, and more intensive glance (not all of them have a special focus on architecture, of course, but still there are some interesting discoveries to make which I ‘ll try and specify a little more soon)

Among the 17 photographers is Inês d’Orey. The other photographers are:

Dana Cojbuc, Romania / Loulou D’Aki, Sweden / Gabrielle Duplantier, France / Ben Elwes, England / Nicolas Fussler, France / Sarah Gerats, Finland / Camille Hervouet, France / Elis Hoffman, Sweden / Maureen Kägi, Switzerland / Stéphanie Lacombe, France / Federico Mannella, Italia / Davide Monteleone, Italia / Christel Ooms, Holland / Myrto Papadopoulos, Greece / Bostjan Pucelj, Slovenia / Malene Nors Tardrup, Denmark