AD Interviews: Steven Holl

Summary

Steven Hall, an architect based in New York with an office in Beijing, discusses his firm's global reach and recent projects, including a horizontal skyscraper in Shenzhen and a surf museum. He emphasizes the importance of architecture as an art form that can transform lives, focusing on the relationship between concept, form, and experience. Hall also highlights the need for architects to be environmentally responsible, experimental, and to challenge traditional programming. He encourages students to experience architecture firsthand and to remain idealistic, treating every project as an opportunity to create meaningful spaces.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker, Steven Hall, is an architect with an office in New York and Beijing, working globally with a team of 45 people.
• 🏙️ They recently completed a 'horizontal skyscraper' in Shenzhen and are set to open a new museum in Nanen.
• 📅 Steven travels extensively, approximately 150 days a year, and uses a small sketchbook and watercolor pad for concept drawings during his travels.
• 🎨 Architecture is described as a manifold of space, light, material, and time, with a focus on the experience and how it can change the way we live.
• 🌐 The importance of the site in architecture is emphasized, as it provides a 'metaphysical link' and is transformed by the architectural design.
• 💡 The concept of architecture as an 'organic link' between concept and form is highlighted, where the idea drives the design and the experience is in the phenomena.
• 🏛️ The speaker discusses the importance of an architect's role in urban architecture, suggesting the need to rewrite and enrich the program of a project.
• 🌿 There is a strong emphasis on creating the greenest possible architecture and the architect's responsibility to bring sustainable buildings into existence.
• 🤝 Collaboration is key in the architectural process, with networking starting from the initial stages of a project and involving various stakeholders.
• 🌐 The internet plays a significant role in the office's workflow, allowing for 24-hour work cycles and real-time collaboration between offices.
• 🏛️ Physically experiencing buildings is crucial, especially in an era dominated by images, and students are encouraged to travel and see architecture firsthand.

Q & A

Where is Steven Hall's architectural firm based?

Steven Hall's architectural firm is based in New York, with an additional office in Beijing.

What significant project did Steven Hall's firm recently complete in China?

Steven Hall's firm recently completed the horizontal skyscraper in Shenzhen, China.

What is the name of the new museum that Steven Hall's firm is opening in Nanen?

The new museum being opened by Steven Hall's firm in Nanen is called the Museum of Surf in the Ocean.

How often does Steven Hall travel for work?

Steven Hall travels for work approximately 150 days a year.

What tool does Steven Hall use to work on his concept drawings while traveling?

Steven Hall uses a small sketchbook and watercolor pad, which he refers to as his 'secret weapon', to make concept drawings while traveling.

What is Steven Hall's view on the importance of architecture?

Steven Hall views architecture as one of the most important arts that can change the way we live, emphasizing its role in creating a manifold of space, light, material, and time.

What does Steven Hall believe is the architect's role in urban architecture?

Steven Hall believes that an architect today, especially in urban settings, needs to rewrite the program, adding different functions for living, working, and recreation, essentially creating a city within a city.

How does Steven Hall approach the concept of 'green' architecture?

Steven Hall believes in inspiring the greenest possible architecture, emphasizing the architect's responsibility to bring the greenest building into existence without letting greenness become the sole focus of the architecture.

What was the unique approach Steven Hall took for the Nelson Atkins Museum project?

For the Nelson Atkins Museum project, Steven Hall chose to break the competition rules by not building on the north side of the existing building. Instead, he proposed a scheme that merged into the landscape, which ultimately won the competition.

How does Steven Hall describe the experience of architecture?

Steven Hall describes the experience of architecture as an 'enmeshed experience' that needs to be felt with the body moving through space, engaging all senses and testing the architecture through the quality of material, smell, sound, and light.

What advice does Steven Hall give to architecture students?

Steven Hall advises architecture students to travel and physically experience buildings, make sketches, and take notes about the buildings' characteristics and how they feel, emphasizing the importance of experiencing architecture in three dimensions.

What is the significance of teamwork in architecture according to Steven Hall?

According to Steven Hall, teamwork is crucial in architecture as it involves a group of people working together towards a common ideal or goal, which is key to the success of any architectural project.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Global Architectural Practice Insights

Steven Hall, based in New York with an office in Beijing, leads a team of 45 people working on projects worldwide, particularly in China. They recently completed a horizontal skyscraper in Shenzhen and are set to open the Museum of Surf in Nantong. Hall travels extensively for work, utilizing a sketchbook and watercolor pad to create concept drawings on the go. He emphasizes the importance of architecture as an art form that can transform lives and the significance of the site in shaping a building's design. Hall's approach to architecture is rooted in the relationship between concept and form, with the idea driving the design and the experience being the true test. He discusses the importance of the physical experience of architecture, moving through space, and engaging with the material, light, and sounds that create a 'meshed experience.'

05:00

🌿 Embracing Green Architecture and Innovation

Hall discusses the responsibility architects have to create the greenest possible buildings, especially in China where there is a strong client interest in sustainability. He believes that green architecture should not just be about sustainability but also about creating a poetic and subjective experience. Hall encourages architects to rethink and enrich the given program of a project, using the example of the Nelson Atkins Museum where he broke competition rules to propose a design that merged with the landscape. He stresses the importance of taking an idealistic approach, transforming the program, and questioning the site. Hall also highlights the need for architects to remain experimental, exploring new materials and formal possibilities, and the importance of networking with collaborators, artists, and critics to enrich the design process.

10:01

🌐 The Power of Global Collaboration and Idealism

Hall talks about the benefits of global collaboration, using the internet to work around the clock with his team in Beijing and New York. This allows for continuous work and the ability to complete projects much faster. He also emphasizes the importance of physically experiencing buildings, especially in a world saturated with images that may not accurately represent the true essence of architecture. Hall advises students to travel and see great works of architecture firsthand, to sketch and take notes, and to understand the importance of experiencing architecture in three dimensions. He encourages remaining idealistic in all architectural endeavors, regardless of the project's scale, and stresses the importance of teamwork and having trusted collaborators in achieving architectural success.

Keywords

💡Horizontal Skyscraper

The term 'Horizontal Skyscraper' refers to a type of skyscraper that is elongated horizontally rather than vertically, often incorporating unique structural designs to allow for such a layout. In the context of the video, Steven Hall mentions completing a 'horizontal skyscraper' in Shenzhen, China, which showcases their architectural firm's innovative approach to urban design and their ability to create structures that stand out in the skyline.

💡Architecture

Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. In the video, Steven Hall discusses the importance of architecture as an art form that can change the way we live. He emphasizes the role of an architect in creating spaces that are not just functional but also enhance the quality of life through the interplay of space, light, material, and time.

💡Concept Drawings

Concept drawings are preliminary sketches that represent the initial ideas or concepts for a design project. Steven Hall describes using a small sketchbook as his 'secret weapon' while traveling, allowing him to create concept drawings and quickly share them digitally. This method exemplifies the integration of traditional sketching with modern technology in the architectural design process.

💡Metaphysical Link

A 'metaphysical link' refers to a deep, often abstract or philosophical connection between elements. In the video, Hall speaks of the site of a building as having a metaphysical or poetic link to what the building can become, emphasizing the importance of the site in shaping the architecture and its transformative potential.

💡Program

In architecture, a 'program' outlines the requirements and functions that a building must fulfill. Steven Hall discusses the need for architects to 'rewrite the program,' suggesting that they should be proactive in adding functions and enriching the building's purpose beyond the initial brief. This approach is exemplified in the 'Linked Hybrid' project, where they added various functions to create a 'city within a city'.

💡Green Architecture

Green architecture, also known as sustainable architecture, focuses on designing buildings with consideration for the environment, aiming to reduce their ecological footprint. Hall mentions the importance of architects inspiring the 'greenest possible architecture,' reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility and the integration of sustainable practices in design.

💡Networking

Networking in the context of the video refers to the collaborative process of working with various professionals such as engineers, artists, and critics. Hall highlights the importance of networking in the early stages of a project, emphasizing the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping the final design.

💡Experiential Architecture

Experiential architecture is an approach that prioritizes the sensory and emotional experiences of the users within a space. Hall talks about the 'meshed experience' of architecture, which involves the interaction of material quality, smell, sound, and light, and how these elements contribute to the overall experience of moving through a space.

💡Idea and Phenomena

The phrase 'idea and phenomena' is used by Hall to summarize his architectural philosophy. The 'idea' drives the design, referring to the initial concept or vision for a project, while 'phenomena' refers to the tangible and intangible experiences that result from the architecture. This concept is central to understanding how Hall's firm approaches design, with a focus on both the conceptual and experiential aspects.

💡Experimental

The term 'experimental' in the video refers to the willingness to try new materials, forms, and techniques in architectural design. Hall stresses the importance of remaining experimental to keep architecture fresh and relevant, avoiding reliance on established methods and instead exploring uncharted territories in design.

💡Teamwork

Teamwork is the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the field of architecture. Hall emphasizes the importance of having a team of trusted collaborators who share a vision and work together to achieve it, highlighting that success in architecture is not an individual endeavor but a collective one.

Highlights

Steven Hall discusses the global reach of his architectural practice with offices in New York and Beijing and a team of 45 people.

Completion of the horizontal skyscraper in Shenzhen and the upcoming opening of a new museum in Nanen.

The importance of being on the move and the use of a small sketchbook and watercolor pad for concept drawings during travel.

Architecture's role as a manifold of space, light, material, and time, and its potential to change the way we live.

The significance of the site in architecture and its metaphysical and poetic link to a building's potential.

Architecture as an organic link between concept and form, with the idea driving the design and experience in the phenomena.

The concept of 'idea and phenomena' used to summarize their work at the Architecture Zentrum in Vienna.

The test of architecture lies in the experience, including moving through space and the overlapping perspectives.

The film 'The Body in Space' highlighting the body as the measure of architecture through sensory experiences.

The potential of architecture to bring essences back into existence through the control of every aspect of a building.

The need for architects to write and rewrite the program, especially in urban architecture, to create a city within a city.

The role of architects in inspiring the greenest possible architecture and the difference in approach between China and America.

The importance of not letting greenness become the sole focus of architecture, but rather a part of a more poetic and subjective approach.

The process of rethinking the program and imagining new concepts and programs to enrich the architectural experience.

The story of the Nelson Atkins Museum competition and the unconventional approach that led to winning the project.

The importance of taking an idealistic approach and being disobedient in the beginning to achieve the highest level of a project.

The necessity for architecture to remain experimental, exploring new materials and formal possibilities.

The value of networking with collaborators, artists, and critics from the beginning of a project to foster dialogue and innovation.

The impact of the internet on their ability to work 24 hours a day with their China office, accelerating project development.

The belief in the importance of physically experiencing buildings to truly understand their impact and design.

Advice for students to travel, see architecture in person, and make notes about the experience and feelings evoked.

The importance of remaining idealistic in every project, avoiding a double standard, and treating all work as architecture.

The value of having trusted collaborators and the significance of teamwork in achieving architectural success.

Transcripts

[Music]

I'm Steven Hall here in New York where

we're based we have an office in Beijing

and together we're 45 people we're

working uh sort of all over the world in

uh in China uh we just completed the

horizontal skyscraper in

Shenzhen and uh we're excited to be

opening the new Museum in nanen um we're

opening a new building in beitz on the

25th of June the Museum of surf in the

ocean it's an exciting moment for

architecture I think and uh for our

practice with many sites but that

requires me to be on the plane often

going over the North Pole traveling

let's say 150 days a year which is that

means I must work when I travel and uh I

I work with a small Sketchbook uh a

watercolor pad which is kind of my

secret weapon because I can make concept

drawings and photograph them with my

iPhone and send them back in midair so

it's a wonderful uh way of

working the architecture is a manifold

of space light and material and time

this sort of phenomenal relation of

architecture really can change the way

we live I think it's one of the most

important Arts that in that way and for

me architecture is about a universal in

the specific the site uh is really

important architecture is bound to

situation and I feel like the site is a

metaphysical link a poetic link to what

a building can be architecture isn't so

much bound to situation as it transforms

the situation for me architecture is an

organic link between concept and form

the idea drives the design but the

experience is in the phenomena once I

had an exhibition try to summarize our

work with the with the term idea and

phenomena that was at the architecture

zentrum in in Vienna and the the idea

drives the design but the real test of

Architecture is in the experience

the the moving through space the

overlapping perspectives the incomplete

perception and how a building can draw

you through the the quality of material

the qu the the smell the sound the

quality of the light the these things

are all interacting in what I call and

meshed experience and that kind of and

meshed experience is is something that

really needs to be felt uh with the body

moving through space another time there

was a film about my work and our work

our collaborative work and it was titled

the body in space so the body becomes

the measure of architecture As you move

through spaces with all your senses uh

acute you really are testing the

architecture so for me it's always this

uh let's say this dialogue between the

idea that drives the design but the

experience the experience of the

architecture really is the

test

I think the architecture has has the

potential to put Essences back into

existence and and that's when the

architect is in control of everything

and every part of a building the

material the light the spaces that's

really something I think is is the

highest let's say

aspiration but on an urban level I think

an architect today especially now now

now that we've been working in China for

let's say 8

years an architect needs to write the

program rewrite the program in other

words in urban uh uh uh architecture uh

often there's a kind of bereft set of

programs and like in in our case of the

linked hybrid we added many different

functions for living working recreation

in a in a sort of city within a city

circumstance and all these programmatic

parts we invented and and you know

suggested to the client so today I think

more than ever an architect has to

really be writing the programs as well

as just receiving the brief another

thing I

think we have to do is to let's

say Inspire the greenest possible uh

architecture and I I think that we come

to clients and especially in China they

want the projects to be green but in

America we have to sort of twist arms

and convince them to do do certain

things but I think in every situation an

architect has it has the sort of let's

say responsibility to bring the greenest

possible building into existence I think

this is especially important but I think

it's also important that that greenness

is not architecture in and of itself

something more subjective and more

poetic that brings all the manifold

parts and pieces

[Music]

together

I always felt that the the the brief the

program that you're given is just so

many bananas you know that you really

need to rethink the program so in

starting a project we we you know read

the brief study the site but then put it

aside and try to

imagine you know whatever concept that

we're working on imagine how to enrich

that experience and imagine other

programs coming to coming into being

coming into play

and as much as possible transforming uh

the existing situation and I think

especially in the work in China we've

been amazed at how receptive the client

was to changing the program and often I

change the site like in the case of the

Nelson Atkins

Museum uh it was a competition and all

the six competitors were required to

build on the north side of the building

and I went to the site and I said that's

not the way to do this you shouldn't

even touch the existing building and we

made a scheme which went down the side

merged into the

landscape and basically Breaking All the

Rules of the competition and I I

apologized when I made a presentation to

the trustees I said you know I got the

courage to break all your rules because

in your stone facade it says the soul

has greater need for the ideal than for

the real and they laughed and uh we won

W the competition and you know I mean in

in fact we won the competition with a

unanimous vote from the trustees so

that's just an example of what I say is

to take always take the idealistic

approach and and and try to transform

the program add to it make enrich the

program but also question the site to to

in a way to be as disobedient as

possible in the beginning in order to

get to the highest level of of of a of a

project I think it's very

important I think architecture has to

remain experimental we always uh in our

office every time we start a project

we're experimenting with materials we're

experimenting with different formal

possibilities I think that's a key to

the life of architecture that it can't

rely on you know sort of the already

proven the already built the already

thought it has to in in a way explore

the not yet felt in that sense it's

always in a way in touch with the latest

possible developments in materials and

in

techniques you know first of all we're

always uh networking when we're working

with our collaborators like Matia

Schuler and trans solar uh in terms of

the green aspects that starts right in

the beginning of a project working with

G nordenson in terms of structure that

starts right in the beginning uh when

we're just tentatively beginning a

project

but I think also networking with artists

with critics we have pin-ups in our

studio where we'll have two or three

versions of a design and we'll bring

artists and critics in and have

incredible uh dialogues that might

change the design could go in One

Direction or another and I think that's

an exciting aspect we're in the internet

is very important uh we have a Facebook

page which is updated every week uh

telling news and uh the our website uh

which I think is updated every week gets

something like 22,000 hits a week so I'm

sure that that's a communicating link

that that has really uh uh Advanced our

office in in a way but I think more

important is the way we can work

together with our our China office we

can work back and forth in such an inter

inter interlocked networking that we can

work 24 hours a day so when we're doing

a competition we'll put four people in

Beijing and four people in New York and

we'll just send the files back and forth

every 12 hours so we can continuously

work uh in 24 hours so we can basically

do the work of 6 months and 3 months

it's kind of an exciting uh possibility

with the

internet well I believe you really must

go and physically experience buildings

especially today when we're bombarded

with images uh some of which aren't Act

actually true to the experience of the

building as a student I think the most

important thing is to travel and to see

great works of architecture in the flesh

and and take note and and and make

sketches and and make notes about what

these buildings are about and how they

feel I think some of the greatest

architecture uh in history can't be

photographed it needs to be felt in

three dimensions and to move through it

in a sequence of spaces which never

comes over in a single image so this is

for a student I think the most important

thing really is to to go out to travel

to see buildings in the

flesh I would say remain

idealistic that's the most important

thing remain idealistic and that means

not I mean to make every single thing

you do a work of architecture whether

it's a a bedroom uh renovation or a or a

garage or a carport whatever project you

work on make it the to the most extent

you can make it a work of architecture

and that is not to work on a double

standard not to work with some projects

bringing in money and other projects you

say are going to be architecture I think

being idealistic was the key to the

success of our office and uh I guess

perhaps because I had worked in San

Francisco in an office where they did

projects that they said said these

projects aren't architecture there to

support the office and the problem is

with a double

standard your whole value system starts

to collapse so I think it's really

important it's very important to make to

remain idealistic uh in and also it's

important to have collaborators that you

can trust I mean architecture is about

teamwork it's really about a group of

people who who see something an aim an

ideal and they're working on it to

achieve it together and I think that's

that's a key uh aspect of any success of

any office is

[Music]

teamwork