Richard Rogers: Putting the 'Tec(h)' in Architecture (original) (raw)

Architecture Sat May 10 2008

From the Architecture & Design Society of the Art Institute:

"On Thursday, May 15th, Richard Rogers, 2007 Pritzker Prize Laureate will be speaking at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Richard Rogers, of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, has had a long, distinguished, and influential career in architecture. He trained as an architect at the Architectural Association School in London and then at Yale as a Fulbright Scholar. The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (1971-77), which he designed in partnership with Renzo Piano, brought him considerable notoriety due to its groundbreaking design which took the interior structure, pedestrian circulation, and mechanical systems¬--normally housed on the inside of a building--and placed them on the outside, freeing up internal space for exhibition galleries. It is indicative of a style that, in the architect's words, embraces "buildings...which are what we call legible-you can read how the building is put together."

Although the site has been down every time I visited it, for more info and to register go here.

Richard Rogers falls into a general category of architect whose grasp of both technology and building form is extraordinary. Rogers ascends from the general category with his ability to avoid creating a technological "fun house" where the use new methods nauseates any composition of a clear, understandable design. However, like others who utilize this high-tech approach (see note below), his buildings seem to be at threat for becoming quite dated. John Ruskin would not approve of Rogers' designs which feel relatively fragile and, despite their industrial qualities, may benefit from more solidity and permanence. Regardless, Richard Rogers has constructed an architectural resume more than worthy of the Chicago-based Pritzker Prize, which he was awarded in 2007. Unlike many of his architectural peers, who avoid the political realm, he is actively engaged in British Parliament and other causes, recalling the early days of Modernism when architects had the gravitas to explain their message in any forum available.

To learn more about Richard Rogers, the Pritzker Prize website has available the acceptance video, press kit and photo collection of his projects.

Note: Locally, Helmut Jahn shares a similar approach to Rogers; however, as with the Thompson Center, often to a less successful end.