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.