|
Lacaton & Vassal. Beyond Form Press Conference: Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 11:00 am Opening: Wednesday, 25 June 2003, 07:00 pm Exhibition: 26 June - 13 October 2003 Opening Hours: daily 10:00 am - 07:00 pm, Wednesday 10:00 am -09:00 pm Lecture by Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal: Thursday, 26 June 2003, 07:00 pm Press Release In cooperation with the arc en reve, Bordeaux, and the deSingel Internationaal Kunstcentrum, Antwerp, the Architekturzentrum Wien is presenting the first major show dedicated to the work of the French architects Anne Lacaton & Jean-Philippe Vassal in a German-speaking country. Following its venues at Bordeaux and Antwerp, the exhibition is being shown in an adapted form at the Az W. Anne Lacaton & Jean Philippe Vassal Lacaton & Vassal have excited the attention of the media and authorities in the field on an international level over the past few years, working their way with their projects and buildings to the top league of impulse-giving architects on a global level. The widespread interest in their architecture is based on the sovereign use of simple materials and the differentiated treatment of space and its social usage. The path that they have taken in creating a kind of "architettura povera" of unpretentious and calm buildings without idealising the aesthetic or moral while finding pragmatic and cost-saving solutions with a bonus, is representative for the basic approach of Lacaton & Vassal: simple modesty and a concentration on the essentials. The architecture of Lacaton & Vassal can be seen as providing an alternative to current architectural production: While many contemporary projects focus attention on the elaborated form as the development of a new architectural language, for them this issue has been a subsidiary one from the outset. The final appearance of a building is more the result of a consistent differentiated analysis of the existing situation in connection with the brief at hand. For them the question of form is not a basic element of the architectural commission: The form develops as the result of other prerequisites – it is never modelled like a sculpture. "…it’s the solution within that determines the external image…" is one of the basic principles in the approach of Lacaton & Vassal. This is why there are no models to be found in the development of their projects – as these would impose formal considerations on a view from the outside. Taking into consideration the agenda, a space is created from the inside outwards, maximising the volume as far as possible. Lacaton & Vassal have repeatedly succeeded in creating a maximum effect with a minimum of intervention. A prominent example of this conceptual approach is to be seen in the design of the café/restaurant Una for the Az W, which numbers among the most atmospheric spaces in the Vienna MuseumsQuartier, with its three vaults forming a sky of blue tiles. They made a name for themselves in a culture-political context with the completion of the Palais de Tokyo, where almost invisible interventions have made the new culture temple in Paris radiate. A particular focus of their work is the building of single-family houses with a minimal use of materials and prefabricated construction elements, creating systematic intelligent spaces of high architectural quality. The presentation of their single-family houses is a special focus in the exhibition. Viewing these projects in chronological order shows clearly how they respond to their clients’ requirements with a minimal use of materials, industrially prefabricated elements and systems, as well as reduced building costs to create intelligent spaces of high architectural quality. Starting from a long-lasting fascination for greenhouses, a commercially available greenhouse system became one of their preferred architectural test objects: directly implemented (e.g. the single-family house in Coutras), architecturally adapted (e.g. the apartment building in Mulhouse) or as a reference (e.g. the university in Grenoble). Even if Lacaton & Vassal have a reputation for building cheaply, this has never been a dictate in their work. The available budget is exploited with precision, and appropriate detail solutions are developed accordingly. However the employment of representative materials gives way to the creation of genuine luxury: space that makes living possible, that stimulates and inspires. "The space is more important, it’s the air, the atmosphere that counts" (Lacaton & Vassal). The Exhibition The exhibition is designed in accordance with Lacaton & Vassal"s approach: As there are no models in their work, and hardly any sketches and interim notes have been archived, the priority has been given to presenting atmospheric images. A series of snapshots on film describe the life within the buildings, conveying the atmosphere and quality created while transposing the visitor directly into the architecture itself. Plans and texts providing detailed information on the individual buildings represent the projects themselves, rendering them legible. There is a transition to the Architekturzentrum Wien café Una as architecture exhibited on a 1:1 scale. Publications A special issue of "hintergrund" is being published to accompany the exhibition, with project presentations and comprehensive coverage by Andreas Ruby, Dietmar Steiner and others. Approx. 80 pages, numerous black & white illustrations. Published in German by the Architekturzentrum Wien: Euro 4.40 In addition, issue 21 of the journal 2G – Revista Internacional De Arquitectura, dedicated to Lacaton & Vassal, is available at the Az W. English/Spanish, Euro 25.- Project coordination, Az W: Caroline Kufferath Exhibition design, Az W: Caroline Kufferath, Sebastian Michalski, Guy Vasold With the kind support of the AFAA – Association Francaise d"Action Artistique, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères and the French Cultural Institute Vienna. Az W Sponsors: Geschäftsgruppe Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr; Bundeskanzleramt Sektion Kunst; Wien Kultur; Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur; UNIQA Versicherungen AG, Zumtobel Staff Österreich Vertriebs-GmbH |
|
 |
|
© David Pradel |
|
Press page Current events Past events Gallery: Press Images Lacaton & Vassal Dates: Lacaton & Vassal Information: Ines Purtauf Tel.: +43 (1) 522 31 15 - 25 Fax: +43 (1) 522 31 17 Email: purtauf@azw.at |
| © Architekturzentrum Wien 2024 |
 |
|
|
|
|