wolf prix interview

8/12/2019 Wolf Prix Interview

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WOLF PRIX INTERVIEW

ALEXANDRA MOISI

R1170158


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1. Is housing still necessary in our times, and is it a place for real innovation?

Of course housing is still necessary and it will always be, while innovation is possible

anywhere and hopefully everywhere. The goal is to present architecture as an action and as

a processsee the Cloud" project or the "house with the flying roof", which was lifted by a

balloon in the air.

2. The idea of flying involves always implies a certain degree of utopia. Is this not perhaps

the requirement to find innovative solutions? Do you have to not only dream to finally

create something pragmatic as a functioning housing building?

You know what I always tell my students: You have to set at least 180 goals so that you then

achieve 80. If you only target 100, -20 come out of it. So the vision and imagination of

utopian memories are very important points in our work, as well as the truly boundless

optimism that every architect must have, otherwise he would never finish a building, may it

be a simple housing one. This is certainly very important. Architects have to have the desire

for the next step, the new way of thinking... how the new society can live and how cities

could look like.

3. Would it work on a mass scale? Or just with individual investors(patrons)?

When I think that it has taken forty years, until they could convince clients to believe that a

cloud can not only be thought about but also built - and the client then also financed the -

then you can calculate approximately how long it will take until the cloud will move again.

The technical possibilities for this are available.

4. Did the housing scheme get a new meaning, due to our recent economic struggle?

What's your take on this subject?

We always wanted to get through with our radical ideas. No compromising on one hand; on

the other hand, if you build large projects you have to think in real terms as well.

Architecture expresses the tensions that exist between three forces: art, business and

politics, thus it has to constantly be up to date and adapt to the permanently shifting

situation.


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5. The architect is a an extinct breed in our current economic society. How can an

architect prevail in the face of these conflicting forces?

He has to think strategically. He cannot allow himself to be the mere agent of the developer

and bow to alleged factual restraints, although that happens with increasing frequency.

Architects would then indeed cease to exist. We would become painters of pictures

conveying special moods.

6. Is there a difference between the North American scheme, the European one, Asian or

Middle East one except for its scale?

The problem of modern cities and mega-projects and the master planning are they are old-

fashioned, because they only put big buildings next to each other. They transfer these ideas

of the old American cities to Dubai and the Arabian and Chinese cities, and it's a pity. They

should reconsider.

7. In a recent interview with Home & Lifestyle, you called your youthful dream of creating

a revolutionary form of architecture nonsense. You went on to say your designs are

polarizing. Could you sum up your current vision of architecture and what you envision

for the future of architectural design as a whole?

Ten years ago, I had no idea how young architects should take a stand. The global

architectural development was really global in terms of looking alikeall computer-

generated. I mean that one couldnt distinguish whether a given project was a museum, a

train station or a shopping mall. But now, because of the upcoming social crisis, I would

propose not to concentrate on computer-generated shapes anymore, but to show attitude

in designing a new form of living.

8. Is housing architecture for you just visionary design or does it also involve making thatvision a reality?

Built architecture is the three-dimensional expression of our society. The more complex the

society, the more complex the architecture has to be. It's interesting what we can learn from

our brain to develop future cities. Our brain uses the idea and system which is better for

solving the outstanding problems.


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9. What should we be doing to prepare students of architecture for the future?

We should be giving them strategic training on conception and realisation. Integrative

thinking and development of strategies is the future for architects. Our school is positioned,

just as we are, at the juncture of idea, conception and realisation.

10. What's your take on the 3d printed house?

Architects have to be avant-garde and strategic in their thinking, but I find the idea of 3D-

printing a house unfuturistic and only applicable on a rather small scaleboth in size and

spreading.

wolf prix interview

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