Join the Dallas Architecture Forum at the Magnolia Theater on Wednesday, April 25, to hear Christian Veddeler, director of Amsterdam-based UNStudio, talk about the elements and systemic thinking required of good architecture. If you aren’t familiar with UNStudio, the private residence pictured above is tiny taste of their design chops. The firm, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, has a portfolio stuffed with award-winning museums, municipal buildings, private residences, and my favorite, high-rises.
Veddeler is an architect and project leader who also inspires students and architecture buffs in venues like Harvard University, MIT, and the Acadia Conference. In addition to global projects, Veddeler has some Chicago experience having worked on one of the two temporary Burnham Pavilions in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Interestingly, last week’s Zaha Hadid designed the other.
I’ll be attending to hear about the firm’s design ethos and how an architecture firm started in Amsterdam by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos expanded into 200 staff with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and over 100 projects completed. I’m especially keen to understand how the firm crafts good design and avoids being sucked into the cartoonish modern architecture prevalent in some global cities. On the flip-side, I also hope to get a glimpse into how some cities, seemingly hell bent on utilitarian architecture, can be inspired to do better. (Gee, what city would I be talking about? Hmmm.)
I hope to see you there. As usual, Dallas Architecture Forum members can attend for free, while general admission is $20 (full-time students $5). The lecture starts at 7 p.m. but doors open at 6:15 for registration and a reception.
Remember: High-rises, HOAs and renovation are my beat. But I also appreciate modern and historical architecture balanced against the YIMBY movement. In 2016 and 2017, the National Association of Real Estate Editors recognized my writing with two Bronze (2016, 2017) and two Silver (2016, 2017) awards. Have a story to tell or a marriage proposal to make? Shoot me an email [email protected]. Be sure to look for me on Facebook and Twitter. You won’t find me, but you’re welcome to look.
