2015
Jan Gehl receives the Bertha-and-Carl-Benz-Prize 2015
In 2015 the Bertha-and-Carl-Benz-Prize will be awarded for the third time. The jury, lead by senior mayor Dr. Peter Kurz, suggested the Danish city planner Prof. Jan Gehl as recipient. The city council agreed to this proposal unanimously in a closed meeting on 24 November.
Jan Gehl has had an enormous influence on improving the quality of mobility. He has especially worked towards a mobility that is more ecological, more social or easier to use. With this work he fulfills all criteria to receive the Bertha-and-Carl-Benz-Prize.
In 2015 the Bertha-and-Carl-Benz-Prize will be awarded for the third time. The jury, lead by senior mayor Dr. Peter Kurz, suggested the Danish city planner Prof. Jan Gehl as recipient. The city council agreed to this proposal unanimously in a closed meeting on 24 November.
Jan Gehl has had an enormous influence on improving the quality of mobility. He has especially worked towards a mobility that is more ecological, more social or easier to use. With this work he fulfills all criteria to receive the Bertha-and-Carl-Benz-Prize.
IAKS All Time Award
for the Berlin Olympic Stadium
On 27 October the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) awarded an All Time Award for the Berlin Olympic Stadium at Koelnmesse’s Congress Centre North. The award was given in honor of both the operating company, Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, and the designers of the extensive conversion (2000 to 2004), gmp – Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, Berlin.
In preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the demanding task facing gmp – Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners was to carefully refurbish the building, which was listed as a historic monument, while also modernizing it into a multi-functional arena in accordance with modern requirements. The construction and design of the roof constituted a key element in the overall design. In order to be able to keep open the historic opening of the listed monument (with all its political implications) towards the adjoining Maifeld sports ground to the west, with its bell tower and Langemarckhalle (a National Socialist reference to the idea of a burial temple which, since 2006, has been used as a documentation center with a permanent exhibition entitled „Olympic Park – Historic Site“ and designed by gmp Architects), the designers decided against a closed ring construction. Instead, a steel tube space frame structure with a span of 68 meters and bearing on 20 very slender tree columns around the upper spectator ring covers all of the nearly 75,000 seats. With its delicate construction and choice of material – the skin of the roof is formed by a translucent membrane – the roof is in deliberate contrast to the solid structure of the historic building.
Since then, the architects have demonstrated their competence in the design of this type of building with numerous additional stadium projects such as those for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the UEFA 2012 European Championship (in Poland and Ukraine). In China they completed the Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre and the Universiade Sports Center amongst other projects, and construction on the SIP Sports Center in Suzhou has just started.
On 27 October the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) awarded an All Time Award for the Berlin Olympic Stadium at Koelnmesse’s Congress Centre North. The award was given in honor of both the operating company, Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, and the designers of the extensive conversion (2000 to 2004), gmp – Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, Berlin.
In preparation for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the demanding task facing gmp – Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners was to carefully refurbish the building, which was listed as a historic monument, while also modernizing it into a multi-functional arena in accordance with modern requirements. The construction and design of the roof constituted a key element in the overall design. In order to be able to keep open the historic opening of the listed monument (with all its political implications) towards the adjoining Maifeld sports ground to the west, with its bell tower and Langemarckhalle (a National Socialist reference to the idea of a burial temple which, since 2006, has been used as a documentation center with a permanent exhibition entitled „Olympic Park – Historic Site“ and designed by gmp Architects), the designers decided against a closed ring construction. Instead, a steel tube space frame structure with a span of 68 meters and bearing on 20 very slender tree columns around the upper spectator ring covers all of the nearly 75,000 seats. With its delicate construction and choice of material – the skin of the roof is formed by a translucent membrane – the roof is in deliberate contrast to the solid structure of the historic building.
Since then, the architects have demonstrated their competence in the design of this type of building with numerous additional stadium projects such as those for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the UEFA 2012 European Championship (in Poland and Ukraine). In China they completed the Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre and the Universiade Sports Center amongst other projects, and construction on the SIP Sports Center in Suzhou has just started.
Exhibition at MoMA: Endless House
Intersections of Art and Architecture
The MoMA exhibition Endless House considers the single-family home and archetypes of dwelling as themes for the creative endeavors of architects and artists. Through drawings, photographs, video, installations, and architectural models drawn from MoMA’s collection, the exhibition highlights how artists have used the house as a means to explore universal topics, and how architects have tackled the design of residences to expand their discipline in new ways.
Works from architects and artists created over a period of seven decades are shown, among them material of Endless House, a project designed by Freidrich Kiesler, which was never realized. Intriguing house designs—ranging from historical projects by Mies van der Rohe, Frank Gehry, Peter Eisenman, and Rem Koolhaas, to new acquisitions from Smiljan Radić and Asymptote Architecture—are juxtaposed with visions from artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Bruce Nauman, Mario Merz, Rachel Whiteread, and a recently purchased work of Annett Zinsmeister. Together these works demonstrate how the dwelling occupies a central place in a cultural exchange that crosses generations and disciplines.
The MoMA exhibition Endless House considers the single-family home and archetypes of dwelling as themes for the creative endeavors of architects and artists. Through drawings, photographs, video, installations, and architectural models drawn from MoMA’s collection, the exhibition highlights how artists have used the house as a means to explore universal topics, and how architects have tackled the design of residences to expand their discipline in new ways.
Works from architects and artists created over a period of seven decades are shown, among them material of Endless House, a project designed by Freidrich Kiesler, which was never realized. Intriguing house designs—ranging from historical projects by Mies van der Rohe, Frank Gehry, Peter Eisenman, and Rem Koolhaas, to new acquisitions from Smiljan Radić and Asymptote Architecture—are juxtaposed with visions from artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Bruce Nauman, Mario Merz, Rachel Whiteread, and a recently purchased work of Annett Zinsmeister. Together these works demonstrate how the dwelling occupies a central place in a cultural exchange that crosses generations and disciplines.
MAKE CITY Festival
JOVIS is founding partner of MAKE CITY—Festival for Architecture and Urban Alternatives, which takes place in Berlin from June 11 to June 28. The Festival is addressing the current discourse on urban resources and urban planning in a time when investors take over large parts of Berlin, and hence its free spaces— its urban commons—become increasingly precious resources.
The Festival will embed itself throughout the city in diverse ways: it rethinks the back yard, climbs on roofs and asks, if high-rises of the future will be made out of wood. It looks back on the concept of “Electropolis” and envisions new forms of living. Over 100 founding partners are sponsors of the festival and took part in developing the program, which is available on www.makecity.berlin.
During the time of the festival over 30 curated studio talks and 40 uniquely devised city tours take place. The Czech Centre in the Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin Mitte, will be the place where the international discourse and exchange comes together. The festival invites partners to contribute to a variety of formats. MAKE CITY is decentralized; a city-wide conversation; one that forms cross-links between the architecture, art, and design scenes and makes new connections with the public. The formats will reflect the scales of urban design and engagement from the micro to the macro.
JOVIS is founding partner of MAKE CITY—Festival for Architecture and Urban Alternatives, which takes place in Berlin from June 11 to June 28. The Festival is addressing the current discourse on urban resources and urban planning in a time when investors take over large parts of Berlin, and hence its free spaces— its urban commons—become increasingly precious resources.
The Festival will embed itself throughout the city in diverse ways: it rethinks the back yard, climbs on roofs and asks, if high-rises of the future will be made out of wood. It looks back on the concept of “Electropolis” and envisions new forms of living. Over 100 founding partners are sponsors of the festival and took part in developing the program, which is available on www.makecity.berlin.
During the time of the festival over 30 curated studio talks and 40 uniquely devised city tours take place. The Czech Centre in the Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin Mitte, will be the place where the international discourse and exchange comes together. The festival invites partners to contribute to a variety of formats. MAKE CITY is decentralized; a city-wide conversation; one that forms cross-links between the architecture, art, and design scenes and makes new connections with the public. The formats will reflect the scales of urban design and engagement from the micro to the macro.
Expo Milano—Japan Pavilion
Atsushi Kitagawara Architects have designed the Japan pavilion for the Expo Milano 2015. The Expo will take place from May 1 to October 31, 2015 in Milan under the theme ”Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. Titled ”Harmonious Diversity” the exhibition at Japan pavilion represents Japan’s knowledge, experience, and techniques within the produce and food culture. The pavilion architecture fuses Japan’s traditional culture and materials with modern technologies, such as systems for energy conservation. More about the pavilion and its architecture can be found here.
Atsushi Kitagawara Architects have designed the Japan pavilion for the Expo Milano 2015. The Expo will take place from May 1 to October 31, 2015 in Milan under the theme ”Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. Titled ”Harmonious Diversity” the exhibition at Japan pavilion represents Japan’s knowledge, experience, and techniques within the produce and food culture. The pavilion architecture fuses Japan’s traditional culture and materials with modern technologies, such as systems for energy conservation. More about the pavilion and its architecture can be found here.