Architecture + Urbanism recommends 'The World of Charles + Ray Eames'

THE WORLD OF CHARLES + RAY EAMES

On show at Barbican Art Gallery, London until 14 February 2016

Charles and Ray Eames are among the most influential designers of the 20th century. Enthusiastic and tireless experimenters, this husband and wife duo moved fluidly between the fields of photography, film, architecture, exhibition-making, and furniture and product design.

The Eames Office was a hub of activity where the Eameses and their collaborators produced an array of pioneering designs, communicating their ideas with a boundless creativity that defined their careers. The Eameses embraced the joy of trial and error and approached design as a way of life.

From personal letters, photographs, drawings and artwork, to their products, models, multi-media installations and furniture, 'The World of Charles + Ray' includes not only the designs for which they are best known, but provides an insight into the lives of the Eameses, the Eames Office and the breadth of their pioneering work, bringing their ideas and playful spirit to life.

Where are they now? Seen in 'New Light'!

2015 MA A+U graduate David Chandler has been shortlisted to exhibit his close reading of the urban structure of Stockport 'LITTLE UNDERBANK' in the forthcoming 'New Light: Real Northern Art' exhibition which is on show at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle 17 October 2015 - 7 February 2016. The acrylic on canvas painting (127 x 305 cm) records the view from David's window in the Manchester School of Art Marketplace Studios in Stockport, and represented his research process for his Master's thesis, uncovering hidden aspects of the town, a theme which chimes with the intention of the exhibition. As one of its judges, Laura Gascoigne, commented: “True to its name, New Light is a revelation. None of the open exhibitions I’ve judged in the past has tapped into such a pool of undiscovered talent. There are always a few established artists whose work one recognises, but nearly all the artists here were new to me and there were several I was astonished – and rather ashamed – not to have come across. I hope this exposure will make them more visible in future. The sheer variety of work, at all levels, was heartening – it bolstered my faith in the vigour of British painting.”

Following its run at the Bowes Museum, the exhibition tours to the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate, and finally the Panter and Hall Fine Art Gallery, London.

The exhibition website is http://newlight-art.org.uk/

Architecture + Urbanism recommends 'Palladian Design: The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected'

Andrea Palladio is the only architect who has given his name to a style – one that is still in use around the world after nearly 500 years. From the US Capitol to a 21st century Somerset cowshed, 'Palladian Design: The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected' introduces Palladio’s design principles and explores how they have been interpreted, copied and re-imagined across time and continents from his death in 1580 to the present day.

On exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, London 9 September 2015 - 9 January 2016

Architecture + Urbanism recommends 'Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture'

LOUIS KAHN: THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE

Design Museum, London

09 July 2014 – 12 October 2014

The American architect LOUIS KAHN (1901-1974) is regarded as one of the great master builders of the Twentieth Century. Kahn created buildings of monumental beauty with powerful universal symbolism.

This exhibition encompasses an unprecedented and diverse range of architectural models, original drawings, travel sketches, photographs and films. Highlights of the exhibition include a four-metre-high model of the spectacular City Tower designed for Philadelphia (1952-57). Each project is fully represented in this timely exhibition, which seeks to bring one of the twentieth century’s greatest master builders to a new audience.

MA A+U London Visit

February 13 saw MA A+U brave the inclement weather to visit a couple of architectural exhibitions in London. Our first stop was to THE BRITS WHO BUILT THE MODERN WORLD at RIBA. Over lunch in Chinatown a variety of views were shared among the students

Meisoon thought the visit to 66 Portland Place was a long-awaited dream come true

Jason was very excited to see the model of KK 100 Tower in Shenzhen and get the bird's eye view

Aidin expected the exhibition to be more analytical and interactive

Joanne would have liked to see even more sketches and design process for the buildings

David was hoping to see more original drawings

Vincent thought the exhibition was good but smaller than he expected, and wanted to see more design in process

Reece observed that the exhibition wasn't as ego-inflating as he'd anticipated

Charles was very impressed with the Allies & Morison model of Beirut in the 'New British Works' exhibition

Our lunchtime stroll through John Nash's London culminated in a visit to the Royal Academy and our second exhibition

SENSING SPACES: ARCHITECTURE REIMAGINED which we all agreed was a stunning and engaging experience

Where 4 are they now?

Luke Butcher graduated from MA A+U with Distinction in 2011 and completed his professional architectural education with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2012, achieving another Distinction and receiving the Hays Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Professional Studies". Luke is currently on the Graduate Management Training Programme at Mace in London. Luke says 'The Graduate Management Training Programme is an exciting opportunity that allows me to work alongside programme and project managers, specialists in construction delivery and cost consultancy, and facilities managers.'   Luke's MA A+U thesis The Architecture of the Profession is available to purchase here

From Spade to Olympic Torch

MA A+U are delighted to see that Richard Reynolds, the Guerilla Gardener, who spoke at the inaugural MA A+U Symposium in 2010 will be carrying the Olympic Torch at 12.00 noon on Thursday 26 July from Havil Street London SE5 along Peckham Road on its journey towards the Olympic Stadium. Here is a clip of Richard speaking at the Symposium.

Architecture + Urbanism recommends 'Building the Revolution: Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935'

Building the Revolution: Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935

Royal Academy of Arts, London until 22 January 2012

This exhibition examines Russian avant-garde architecture made during a brief but intense period of design and construction that took place from c.1922 to 1935. Fired by the Constructivist art that emerged in Russia from c.1915, architects transformed this radical artistic language into three dimensions, creating structures whose innovative style embodied the energy and optimism of the new Soviet Socialist state.

Exhibition website

A 1:40 scale recreation of Vladimir Tatlin's 1919 Monument to the Third International is displayed in the courtyard of Burlington House

Architecture + Urbanism recommends 'Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990'

Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990

at the Victoria and Albert Museum London 23 September 2011- 15 January 2012

Of all movements in art and design history, postmodernism is perhaps the most controversial. This era defies definition, but it is a perfect subject for an exhibition. Postmodernism was an unstable mix of the theatrical and theoretical. It was visually thrilling, a multifaceted style that ranged from the colourful to the ruinous, the ludicrous to the luxurious.

What they all had in common was a drastic departure from modernism’s utopian visions, which had been based on clarity and simplicity. The modernists wanted to open a window onto a new world. Postmodernism, by contrast, was more like a broken mirror, a reflecting surface made of many fragments. Its key principles were complexity and contradiction. It was meant to resist authority, yet over the course of two decades, from about 1970 to 1990, it became enmeshed in the very circuits of money and influence that it had initially sought to dismantle.

Postmodernism shattered established ideas about style. It brought a radical freedom to art and design, through gestures that were often funny, sometimes confrontational and occasionally absurd. Most of all, postmodernism brought a new self-awareness about style itself.

Graduate presentation at The Architecture Foundation

Nandi Marshal Han who graduated from MA Architecture + Urbanism in 2009 will be presenting his award winning project for the 2010 Kohn Pedersen Fox / Architecture Foundation Student Travel Award at The Architecture Foundation, London on 15 September 7.00 - 8.30 PM.

The event is free but booking is essential. Booking details here

The Greatest City Debate

Today BBC Radio 4 hosted The Greatest City Debate between Istanbul, London, Mumbai and New York