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Location: Architekturzentrum Wien - New Hall
Exhibition: 11 April 2002 - 05 August 2002
Opening: Wednesday, April 10, 2002, 7:00 P.M. Press preview: Wednesday, April 10, 2002, 11:00 A.M.
THE EXHIBITION Idea and Phenomena. Steven Holl is the first major monographic exhibition presented by the Architekturzentrum Wien after the inauguration of the new premises in October 2001. The show approaches the oeuvre of this New York based architect, an outstanding exponent of contemporary American architecture, from different angles: watercolors and architectural models visualize Holl’s complex conceptional designing process, the presentation of realized architectural projects moves phenomena of the interplay of space, light and material into focus. Conceptually, the exhibition in the new Az W hall reaches out beyond the common monographic presentation in that it offers a reflexive re-creation of architectural effort - the idea - and individual perception - phenomena, which in effect permits an approach to architecture as such and concentrates on the architect’s intentions.
THE ARCHITECT STEVEN HOLL For almost three decades now, the New York architect Steven Holl has been developing his architectural position and reflection with determined consistence. Apart from exceptional contributions to architectural competitions he made, he was able to complete a number of significant building projects in the USA, in Japan and Europe. To Steven Holl, architectural design is a continual process of dialogue between `idea and phenomenon’. The idea is the starting concept of every project, which responds to the essential quality and unique architectural possibilities of a given site. The crucial point for him is this analogous approach which becomes manifest in the drawing of `watercolors’ as the most immediate link between mind and hand. In this early design stage already, Holl goes about the building and its spatial effect with much insight into perceptional and psychological relations and effects. Digital construction plan drawing then has to follow this concept. `The link between idea an phenomenon only comes about once the building is completed’, Steven Holl points out. It is only then that the real `spatial fields’ unfold, that individual perception sets in, confronting personal experience with the `newness’ of the built space and its sensory components.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF STEVEN HOLL The success of Steven Holl’s architecture derives from his sculptural shapes, his interest in the poetics of space color, and material, as well as his fascination with scientific phenomena. His work refers to urban history and the potentials of modern science. Some of his most important buildings show iconic facades on the outside, behind which a daring web of spaces is hidden, full of overlaps and intersections, images, shapes and ideas fading into one another. Steven Holl is a virtuoso of light: starting from the specific requirements of use, he conducts a kind of basic research of the connections between light and space and their perception. The lighting of the interiors and the orchestration of varied shades of color in dialogue with the spatial layout results in a convincing whole. This is direct, empirical architecture which supplies a wealth of fundamental perceptual material. Steven Holl truly creates experiences with his buildings.
PROJECTS BY STEVEN HOLL FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION University of Iowa, Art and Art History Building, Iowa City, Iowa (USA) / Undergraduate Residence 2001, MIT, Cambridge, Mass. (USA) / Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington, D. C. (USA) / Museum of Human Evolution, Burgos (E) / Fondation Francois Pinault pour L’Art Contemporain, Ile Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt (F) / Musée des Confluences de Lyon (F) / Wine Pavillion and Hotel, Langenlois (A) / Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki (FI)
THE CATALOGUE The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in German and English language published by Lars Müller Publishers, Baden. Essential text contributions by Dietmar M. Steiner, Yehuda E. Safran and Wolf D. Prix and a large illustrations section provide in-depth information on the nexus of idea and phenomenon; with the comprehensive list of works, this is an up-to-date standard work on Steven Holl. In the person of Lars Müller as catalogue designer and publisher a partner was found who congenially translated Steven Holl’s architectural intentions into print. The catalogue will be presented at the press preview. (136 pages, numerous color illustrations, edited by Architekturzentrum Wien, museum edition Euro 35,- / bookstore edition Euro 50,-). German edition (ISBN 3-907078-94-2) / English Edition (ISBN 3-907078-88-8)
Thursday, April 11, 2002, 6:30 P.M. "Idea and Phenomena" Lecture by Steven Holl at the Cashier’s Hall of the Postsparkasse (Postal Savings Bank) Main Building Georg-Coch-Platz 2, A-1010 Vienna (lecture held in English)
Tickets: 7 Euro / 5 Euro Available daily from 10:00 A.M.- 7:00 P.M. at the Az W Shop Accreditation for members of the press Tel.:++43-1-522 31 15-23 or press@azw.at
Friday, June 14, 2002, 7 pm "Building Books" Lecture by Lars Müller (Lars Müller Publishers, Baden - Switzerland), lecture held in german In the Architekturzentrum Wien, Podium
PRESS / INFORMATION: Ulrike Kahr-Haele Phone: (+431) 522 31 15-23 fax: (+43 1) 522 31 17 e-mail: press@azw.at
Supported by: Geschäftsgruppe Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr, Stadt Wien Wien Kultur Kunst Bundeskanzleramt Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur Arch+Ing, W, NÖ, B
Sponsors: UNIQA Versicherungen AG Zumtobel Staff Österreich Vertriebs-GmbH
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© Paul Warchol
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