Steven Holl Interview: Spaces Like Music

Summary

In this insightful transcript, renowned architect Steven Holl discusses the transformative power of architecture, emphasizing its potential to change lives. He highlights his work on the Glasgow School of Art and the Kiasma Museum in Helsinki, detailing how light, structure, and space intertwine to create dynamic experiences. Holl advocates for an architecture deeply rooted in its context, rejecting the notion of a signature style, and instead champions a design philosophy that organically connects concept, structure, light, and material. He also touches on his approach to designing spaces with light as a material and the significance of the golden section ratio in his work, showcasing his commitment to creating spaces that resonate with both the individual and the collective.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The speaker believes that architecture has the potential to change people's lives and is grateful for the opportunity to create spaces that can make a difference.
• 🎨 The Glasgow School of Art is highlighted as a project that will change lives, with students showing great appreciation for the spaces created.
• 🤔 The speaker mentions criticism and resistance from critics who didn't understand the design and tried to prevent the building from being constructed.
• 🌟 The architecture of the Glasgow School of Art is described as being about the experience of moving through it, with a focus on structure, light, and circulation.
• 🌐 Steven Holl's architectural philosophy is rooted in Scandinavian origins and emphasizes the importance of place and meaning in design.
• 🏛 The Kiasma Museum in Helsinki was a pivotal project for Holl, marking a significant shift in his architectural career and reputation.
• 🏗️ Holl's approach to architecture involves starting with a concept and then developing the design from the inside out, focusing on the experience within the space.
• 💡 Light is considered a material in architecture, and the shaping of space is crucial, with a focus on how space works with light within a building.
• 🏞️ The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is an example of Holl's work, where he broke traditional rules to create a building that integrates with the landscape.
• 🏆 The Nelson-Atkins Museum was recognized by Time magazine as the best new museum of the year, showcasing the importance of interior spaces and light.
• 🎶 The speaker draws a parallel between architecture and music, suggesting that the conceptual underpinnings of a design should enhance the experience without needing to be understood explicitly.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe about the impact of architecture on people's lives?

The speaker believes that architecture has the potential to change people's lives and feels grateful for the opportunity to create spaces that can make a difference.

What is the significance of the Glasgow School of Art in the speaker's work?

The Glasgow School of Art is significant because the speaker believes it will change lives, as evidenced by the students' love for the spaces and the building's unique design that focuses on the experience of moving through it.

How does the speaker describe the design philosophy behind the Glasgow School of Art?

The design philosophy is based on the experience of going through the building, with a focus on how structure, light, and circulation intersect in a dynamic way to create a fantastic spatial energy that connects different art forms.

What is the speaker's background and how does it influence his architectural approach?

The speaker's origin is Scandinavian, with his grandfather being from Norway. This heritage, along with his manifesto 'Paradox' from 1988, influences his architectural approach, which emphasizes the importance of context and place in design.

What was the speaker's seminal project and why was it significant for him?

The Sverre Fehn's Kiasma Museum in Scandinavia was a seminal project for the speaker. It was significant because it was an international competition he won, which helped establish his career and reputation as an architect.

How does the speaker view the role of light in architecture?

The speaker views light as a material and believes that architecture is about shaping space with light. He emphasizes the importance of how light interacts with the structure, space, and materials in his designs.

What is the speaker's opinion on the trend of architects creating a 'signature style'?

The speaker is against the idea of creating a signature style that is applied across different cities and cultures. He believes architecture should be reinvented for every situation and be deeply connected to the place and its meaning.

What is the concept behind the design of the Kiasma Museum?

The concept behind the Kiasma Museum's design is the intertwining of culture and art, influenced by the low angle of the sun in the region. The building is designed to catch and bring in light, creating a unique experience.

How does the speaker approach the design of a new building in relation to an existing one?

The speaker believes in keeping the original building intact and creating a new building that integrates into the landscape, as demonstrated by his approach to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of the golden section ratio in architecture?

The speaker believes in the perfection of the golden section ratio, which is found in nature and has been a consistent element in all his architectural designs, contributing to the harmony and proportion of his buildings.

How does the speaker describe the experience of visiting the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art?

The speaker describes the experience as one that avoids museum fatigue due to the variety of experiences, the sequence of movement, and the integration of interior spaces with light, all of which contribute to a dynamic and engaging visit.