Photographer Iwan Baan on capturing life of different places
by Vladimir BelogolovskyJan 04, 2021
•make your fridays matter with a well-read weekend
by Meghna MehtaPublished on : Mar 03, 2020
Austrian architect Chris Precht, who had earlier set up his architecture firm Penda in Beijing, China, has now moved to the countryside of Austria to downsize his practice, now known as Precht. The architect recently visited the Nehru Centre Auditorium in Mumbai to address the students of architecture, among whom he is very popular. The annual talk was hosted by Rachana Sansad’s Academy of Architecture. On behalf of STIR, Arjun Malik, partner at Malik Architecture, spoke with Precht in an engaging interview about all things that affect contemporary architecture, especially in countries such as India, China and Austria.
In the dialogue, Chris Precht discussed various inspirations from nature and an immense gratitude for natural resources that he experienced after moving to the countryside from the city. "Cities are becoming smarter; we are losing the sense of community in the city and what it means to be a good neighbour," he says in the interview.
Precht delved into the differences between city life and country life, and how the fast pace of the former disconnects people and makes them isolated. “In a city, one loses what essentially makes us human,” he mentions to Arjun Malik. He discussed his time in Beijing where architectural execution and construction processes are fast-tracked vis-a-vis a democracy such as India where due to more part-takers, the process may be much longer to execute.
In a deeply creative profession as architecture, how does he manage processes? Chris Precht further discussed the collaboration with Mamou-Mani for Sandwaves, a 3D printed sand pavilion in Saudi Arabia. He observed that once goals are set, it is easier to together decide on a solid approach.
Their discussion further moved to sustainable materials and the value of abundant resources of techniques, heritage and art in both India and China. He said that ever since the Pritzker Prize was awarded to Wang Shu in 2012, there has been an eagerness amid younger architects in China to find their place in architecture by looking at the vernacular narrative and transporting it into the larger, contemporary context with technology and new ways of prototyping.
by Anmol Ahuja Jun 09, 2023
In its 22nd commission and under the French-Lebanese architect’s direction, the 2023 Serpentine Pavilion, À table, transpires to be a space for conversations and cultural exchange.
by Sunena V Maju Jun 08, 2023
The book Brutalist Paris by Nigel Green and Robin Wilson, published by Blue Crow Media, presents the first cohesive study of brutalist architecture in Paris.
by Zohra Khan Jun 05, 2023
In an ongoing exhibition titled London Calling, the Berlin-based architectural illustrator presents a series of drawings that allow the city to speak for itself.
by Dhwani Shanghvi Jun 03, 2023
The landscape and its accompanying architecture for the project is designed to be experienced as a walkthrough with serendipitous encounters with submerged masses.
make your fridays matter
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