


Koolhaas has just designed this 3-in-1 structure for Prada. It's currently in Korea. Take a look at the website for yourself.
http://prada-transformer.com/
In the same way that a sofa bed is often not a good sofa or a good bed, I suspect that this will not be a very good exhibition space, cinema or fashion show space as it is trying to accomplish too much at once. How does this 'pavilion' allow the user to adapt and change it over time? Or it intended to stop the users from being able to adapt it as the need arises. We have become silly, making architecture that has such a small lifespan due to the complete nature of its design.
Looking towards the new design for the National Theatre, it's more about a non-architecture...a collection of spaces that are transformable and able to be recreated according the vastly differing and transformable nature of the company using it at any given time, and their work.
Patrick Bouchain is a figure that is much more inspirational. An architect from France, he builds with a much more sustainable and human approach in mind. Less of a controller and more of an opportunity creator, he first builds a temporary building that the builders and public use to eat lunch, socialize, and watch films in. Once this space is established, and relationships have been fostered between the public, builders and himslef, the architect, the building can then start to be created. This approach, far less monumental becomes about community, engagement, and realistic usage pattterns rather than imposed methods. He socially activates a site in order to increase the worth of the architecture.

1 comment:
I completely agree! Interesting comparison and interesting analysis. Yes Patrick Bouchain and the guys of Exizt are among the most interesting architects in this moment.
Nicola Santini
( www.nicolasantini.blogspot.com )
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