TEDWomen 2016
Jeanne Gang: Buildings that blend nature and city
Filmed:
Readability: 4.4
1,605,835 views
A skyscraper that channels the breeze ... a building that creates community around a hearth ... Jeanne Gang uses architecture to build relationships. In this engaging tour of her work, Gang invites us into buildings large and small, from a surprising local community center to a landmark Chicago skyscraper. "Through architecture, we can do much more than create buildings," she says. "We can help steady this planet we all share."
Jeanne Gang - Architect
With an eye for nature’s forms and lessons learned from its materials, Jeanne Gang creates iconic environments that stand in curvy relief to blocky urban cityscapes. Full bio
With an eye for nature’s forms and lessons learned from its materials, Jeanne Gang creates iconic environments that stand in curvy relief to blocky urban cityscapes. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I'm a relationship builder.
0
914
2206
00:15
When you think of a relationship builder,
1
3144
1972
00:17
don't you just automatically
think "architect?"
think "architect?"
2
5140
2300
00:19
Probably not.
3
7922
1423
00:22
That's because most people think
architects design buildings and cities,
architects design buildings and cities,
4
10077
4206
00:26
but what we really design
are relationships,
are relationships,
5
14307
2354
00:29
because cities are about people.
6
17383
2107
00:31
They're places where people come together
for all kinds of exchange.
for all kinds of exchange.
7
19514
3382
00:34
And besides, skylines
are highly specific urban habitats
are highly specific urban habitats
8
22920
3217
00:38
with their own insects,
plants and animals,
plants and animals,
9
26161
2318
00:40
and even their own weather.
10
28503
1633
00:42
But today, urban habitats
are out of balance.
are out of balance.
11
30650
2744
00:45
Climate change, together with political
and economic troubles,
and economic troubles,
12
33803
4032
00:49
are having an impact;
13
37859
1152
00:51
they're adding up
and stressing out cities and us,
and stressing out cities and us,
14
39035
3312
00:54
the people who live in them.
15
42371
1531
00:57
For me, the field of ecology
has provided important insight,
has provided important insight,
16
45000
3625
01:00
because ecologists don't just look
at individual species on their own,
at individual species on their own,
17
48649
4209
01:04
they look at the relationships
between living things
between living things
18
52882
3193
01:08
and their environment.
19
56099
1249
01:10
They look at how all the diverse parts
of the ecosystem are interconnected,
of the ecosystem are interconnected,
20
58554
3878
01:14
and it's actually this balance,
this web of life, that sustains life.
this web of life, that sustains life.
21
62456
4298
01:19
My team and I have been applying
insights from ecology to architecture
insights from ecology to architecture
22
67268
4592
01:23
to see how physical space
can help build stronger relationships.
can help build stronger relationships.
23
71884
3994
01:28
The projects I'm going to show you today
24
76304
1962
01:30
use the idea of building relationships
as the key driver for design.
as the key driver for design.
25
78290
3703
01:34
Here's an example of what I mean.
26
82852
1833
01:36
Recently, we were asked to design
a center for social justice leadership
a center for social justice leadership
27
84709
4149
01:40
called the Arcus Center.
28
88882
1550
01:43
They asked us for a building
that could break down traditional barriers
that could break down traditional barriers
29
91102
3522
01:46
between different groups
30
94648
1284
01:47
and in doing so, create possibilities
for meaningful conversations
for meaningful conversations
31
95956
4247
01:52
around social justice.
32
100227
1504
01:54
The students wanted a place
for cultural exchange.
for cultural exchange.
33
102233
2657
01:56
They thought a place for preparing
food together could do that.
food together could do that.
34
104914
3799
02:00
And they wanted to be welcoming
to the outside community.
to the outside community.
35
108737
2731
02:03
They thought a fireplace
could draw people in
could draw people in
36
111492
2663
02:06
and help start conversations.
37
114179
2296
02:09
And everybody wanted the work
of social justice to be visible
of social justice to be visible
38
117553
3465
02:13
to the outside world.
39
121042
1419
02:15
There really wasn't a precedent
for this kind of space,
for this kind of space,
40
123568
2741
02:18
so we looked around the globe
and found examples
and found examples
41
126333
2467
02:20
of community meeting houses.
42
128824
1745
02:22
Community meeting houses are places
43
130974
2190
02:25
where there's very specific
relationships between people,
relationships between people,
44
133188
3361
02:28
like this one in Mali,
where the elders gather.
where the elders gather.
45
136573
3172
02:32
The low roof keeps everybody seated
and at equal eye level.
and at equal eye level.
46
140189
3552
02:35
It's very egalitarian.
47
143765
1223
02:37
I mean, you can't stand up
and take over the meeting.
and take over the meeting.
48
145012
2478
02:39
You'd actually bump your head.
49
147514
1513
02:41
(Laughter)
50
149051
1653
02:42
In meeting houses,
there's always a central space
there's always a central space
51
150728
2614
02:45
where you can sit around a circle
and see each other.
and see each other.
52
153366
2651
02:48
So we designed a space just like that
53
156041
2021
02:50
right in the middle of the Arcus Center,
54
158086
1979
02:52
and we anchored it
with a fireplace and a kitchen.
with a fireplace and a kitchen.
55
160089
2990
02:55
It's pretty hard to get a kitchen
and a fireplace in a building like this
and a fireplace in a building like this
56
163103
3472
02:58
with the building codes,
57
166599
1204
02:59
but it was so important
to the concept, we got it done.
to the concept, we got it done.
58
167827
2802
03:03
And now the central space
works for big social gatherings
works for big social gatherings
59
171288
3781
03:07
and a place to meet one-on-one
for the very first time.
for the very first time.
60
175093
3238
03:10
It's almost like
this three-way intersection
this three-way intersection
61
178355
2079
03:12
that encourages bumping into people
and starting a conversation.
and starting a conversation.
62
180458
3574
03:16
Now you can always pass the kitchen
and see something going on.
and see something going on.
63
184676
3144
03:19
You can sit by the fireplace
and share stories.
and share stories.
64
187844
3347
03:23
You can study together
in big groups or in small ones,
in big groups or in small ones,
65
191754
3197
03:26
because the architecture
sets up these opportunities.
sets up these opportunities.
66
194975
3237
03:31
Even the construction
is about building relationships.
is about building relationships.
67
199641
2603
03:34
It's made of cordwood masonry,
68
202268
1861
03:36
which is using logs
the way you would use bricks.
the way you would use bricks.
69
204153
2937
03:39
It's super low-tech and easy to do
and anyone can do it --
and anyone can do it --
70
207114
2971
03:42
and that's the entire point.
71
210109
1677
03:43
The act of making is a social activity.
72
211810
2967
03:48
And it's good for the planet, too:
73
216412
2008
03:50
the trees absorbed carbon
when they were growing up,
when they were growing up,
74
218444
3096
03:53
and they gave off oxygen,
75
221564
1644
03:55
and now that carbon
is trapped inside the walls
is trapped inside the walls
76
223232
2741
03:57
and it's not being released
into the atmosphere.
into the atmosphere.
77
225997
3173
04:01
So making the walls is equivalent
to taking cars right off the road.
to taking cars right off the road.
78
229194
4071
04:06
We chose the building method
79
234149
2269
04:08
because it connects people
to each other and to the environment.
to each other and to the environment.
80
236442
3946
04:13
But is it working?
81
241435
1151
04:14
Is it creating relationships
and nurturing them?
and nurturing them?
82
242610
2266
04:16
How can we know?
83
244900
1318
04:18
Well, more and more people
are coming here, for one,
are coming here, for one,
84
246242
3411
04:21
and as a result of the fireside chats
85
249677
2320
04:24
and a full calendar of programming,
86
252021
2098
04:26
people are applying
for the Arcus Fellowships.
for the Arcus Fellowships.
87
254143
2588
04:28
In fact, applications have increased
tenfold for the Arcus Fellowship
tenfold for the Arcus Fellowship
88
256755
4299
04:33
since the building opened.
89
261078
1265
04:34
It's working. It's bringing
people together.
people together.
90
262367
2670
04:38
So I've shown how architecture
can connect people
can connect people
91
266254
2368
04:40
on this kind of horizontal campus scale.
92
268646
2158
04:43
But we wondered if social relationships
could be scaled up --
could be scaled up --
93
271345
3498
04:46
or rather, upward -- in tall buildings.
94
274867
2653
04:50
Tall buildings don't necessarily lend
themselves to being social buildings.
themselves to being social buildings.
95
278381
4037
04:54
They can seem isolating and inward.
96
282442
1993
04:56
You might only see people
in those awkward elevator rides.
in those awkward elevator rides.
97
284826
4532
05:02
But in several major cities,
I've been designing tall buildings
I've been designing tall buildings
98
290676
3511
05:06
that are based on creating
relationships between people.
relationships between people.
99
294211
3341
05:09
This is Aqua.
100
297576
1476
05:11
It's a residential high-rise in Chicago
101
299076
3574
05:14
aimed at young urban professionals
and empty nesters,
and empty nesters,
102
302674
2611
05:17
many of them new to the city.
103
305309
1643
05:19
With over 700 apartments, we wanted to see
if we could use architecture
if we could use architecture
104
307817
3926
05:23
to help people get to know
their neighbors,
their neighbors,
105
311767
2071
05:25
even when their homes are organized
in the vertical dimension.
in the vertical dimension.
106
313862
3250
05:31
So we invented a way to use balconies
as the new social connectors.
as the new social connectors.
107
319088
3716
05:35
The shapes of the floor slabs
vary slightly and they transition
vary slightly and they transition
108
323569
3540
05:39
as you go up the tower.
109
327133
1369
05:40
The result of this
is that you can actually see people
is that you can actually see people
110
328526
3901
05:44
from your balcony.
111
332451
1345
05:45
The balconies are misregistered.
112
333820
2133
05:47
You can lean over your balcony
and say, "Hey!"
and say, "Hey!"
113
335977
2144
05:50
just like you would across the backyard.
114
338145
2201
05:53
To make the balconies more comfortable
115
341147
1879
05:55
for a longer period of time
during the year,
during the year,
116
343050
2277
05:57
we studied the wind
with digital simulations,
with digital simulations,
117
345351
2466
05:59
so the effect of the balcony shapes
breaks up the wind
breaks up the wind
118
347841
2862
06:02
and confuses the wind
119
350727
1311
06:04
and makes the balconies
more comfortable and less windy.
more comfortable and less windy.
120
352062
3057
06:08
Now, just by being able
to go outside on your balcony
to go outside on your balcony
121
356110
2949
06:11
or on the third floor roof terrace,
122
359083
2075
06:13
you can be connected to the outdoors,
123
361182
2085
06:15
even when you're way above
the ground plane.
the ground plane.
124
363291
2131
06:17
So the building acts to create community
125
365446
2735
06:20
within the building and the city
at the same time.
at the same time.
126
368205
2621
06:22
It's working.
127
370850
1166
06:24
And people are starting to meet each other
on the building surface
on the building surface
128
372863
4000
06:28
and we've heard --
129
376887
1156
06:30
(Laughter)
130
378067
1056
06:31
they've even starting getting
together as couples.
together as couples.
131
379147
2768
06:34
But besides romantic relationships,
132
382756
2627
06:37
the building has a positive social effect
133
385407
2240
06:39
on the community,
134
387671
1937
06:41
as evidenced by people
starting groups together
starting groups together
135
389632
2687
06:44
and starting big projects together,
136
392343
1846
06:46
like this organic community garden
on the building's roof terrace.
on the building's roof terrace.
137
394213
3976
06:51
So I've shown how tall buildings
can be social connectors,
can be social connectors,
138
399874
3016
06:54
but what about public architecture?
139
402914
1992
06:56
How can we create better
social cohesion in public buildings
social cohesion in public buildings
140
404930
3863
07:00
and civic spaces,
141
408817
1357
07:02
and why is it important?
142
410198
1433
07:04
Public architecture
is just not as successful
is just not as successful
143
412070
2097
07:06
if it comes from the top down.
144
414191
1924
07:09
About 15 years ago in Chicago,
145
417493
2098
07:11
they started to replace
old police stations,
old police stations,
146
419615
3107
07:14
and they built this identical model
all over the city.
all over the city.
147
422746
3170
07:18
And even though they had good intentions
148
426499
2561
07:21
of treating all neighborhoods equally,
149
429084
2498
07:23
the communities didn't feel
invested in the process
invested in the process
150
431606
2420
07:26
or feel a sense of ownership
of these buildings.
of these buildings.
151
434050
2514
07:28
It was equality in the sense that
everybody gets the same police station,
everybody gets the same police station,
152
436588
3527
07:32
but it wasn't equity
in the sense of responding
in the sense of responding
153
440139
3354
07:35
to each community's individual needs.
154
443517
2358
07:37
And equity is the key issue here.
155
445899
2841
07:40
You know, in my field, there's a debate
156
448764
3400
07:44
about whether architecture
can even do anything
can even do anything
157
452188
2591
07:46
to improve social relationships.
158
454803
2185
07:49
But I believe that we need architecture
and every tool in our tool kit
and every tool in our tool kit
159
457012
5434
07:54
to improve these relationships.
160
462470
1938
07:57
In the US, policy reforms
have been recommended
have been recommended
161
465313
3383
08:00
in order to rebuild trust.
162
468720
1804
08:02
But my team and I wondered
163
470548
1408
08:03
if design and a more inclusive
design process
design process
164
471980
3039
08:07
could help add something positive
to this policy conversation.
to this policy conversation.
165
475043
3653
08:10
We asked ourselves simply:
166
478720
1686
08:12
Can design help rebuild trust?
167
480430
1956
08:15
So we reached out to community members
and police officers in North Lawndale;
and police officers in North Lawndale;
168
483108
4322
08:19
it's a neighborhood in Chicago
169
487454
1559
08:21
where the police station
is perceived as a scary fortress
is perceived as a scary fortress
170
489037
2816
08:23
surrounded by a parking lot.
171
491877
1689
08:26
In North Lawndale,
people are afraid of police
people are afraid of police
172
494254
2618
08:28
and of going anywhere
near the police station,
near the police station,
173
496896
2205
08:31
even to report a crime.
174
499125
1287
08:32
So we organized this brainstorming session
175
500843
2753
08:35
with both groups participating,
176
503620
1658
08:37
and we came up with this whole
new idea for the police station.
new idea for the police station.
177
505302
3180
08:41
It's called "Polis Station."
178
509141
1905
08:43
"Polis" is a Greek word that means
a place with a sense of community.
a place with a sense of community.
179
511070
4720
08:48
It's based on the idea
180
516528
1620
08:50
that if you can increase opportunities
for positive social interactions
for positive social interactions
181
518172
3937
08:54
between police and community members,
182
522133
2293
08:56
you can rebuild that relationship
183
524450
2195
08:58
and activate the neighborhood
at the same time.
at the same time.
184
526669
2714
09:02
Instead of the police station
as a scary fortress,
as a scary fortress,
185
530183
3105
09:05
you get highly active spaces
on the public side of the station --
on the public side of the station --
186
533312
4457
09:09
places that spark conversation,
187
537793
1510
09:11
like a barbershop, a coffee shop
188
539327
2560
09:13
or sports courts as well.
189
541911
1573
09:15
Both cops and kids said they love sports.
190
543508
2179
09:18
These insights came directly
from the community members
from the community members
191
546339
3391
09:21
and the police officers themselves,
192
549754
2332
09:24
and as designers, our role
was just to connect the dots
was just to connect the dots
193
552110
3759
09:27
and suggest the first step.
194
555893
1622
09:29
So with the help
of the city and the parks,
of the city and the parks,
195
557853
2614
09:32
we were able to raise funds
and design and build a half-court,
and design and build a half-court,
196
560491
4286
09:36
right on the police station parking lot.
197
564801
2340
09:39
It's a start.
198
567165
1441
09:40
But is it rebuilding trust?
199
568630
1868
09:42
The people in North Lawndale say
the kids are using the courts every day
the kids are using the courts every day
200
570854
3576
09:46
and they even organize tournaments
like this one shown here,
like this one shown here,
201
574454
3349
09:49
and once in a while an officer joins in.
202
577827
2614
09:54
But now, they even have basketballs
inside the station
inside the station
203
582264
2666
09:56
that kids can borrow.
204
584954
1265
09:58
And recently they've asked us
to expand the courts
to expand the courts
205
586243
2492
10:00
and build a park on the site.
206
588759
1943
10:04
And parents report something astonishing.
207
592639
2368
10:07
Before, there was fear of going
anywhere the station, and now they say
anywhere the station, and now they say
208
595491
4231
10:11
there's a sense that the court is safer
than other courts nearby,
than other courts nearby,
209
599746
3487
10:15
and they prefer their kids to play here.
210
603257
2274
10:18
So maybe in the future,
211
606277
1590
10:19
on the public side of the station,
212
607891
1646
10:21
you might be able to drop in
for a haircut at the barbershop
for a haircut at the barbershop
213
609561
3705
10:25
or reserve the community room
for a birthday party
for a birthday party
214
613290
2649
10:27
or renew your driver's license
215
615963
1643
10:29
or get money out of an ATM.
216
617630
2098
10:32
It can be a place for neighbors
to meet each other
to meet each other
217
620204
2691
10:34
and to get to know
the officers, and vice versa.
the officers, and vice versa.
218
622919
2687
10:38
This is not a utopian fantasy.
219
626781
1944
10:40
It's about how do you design
to rebuild trust,
to rebuild trust,
220
628749
3988
10:44
trusting relationships?
221
632761
1487
10:47
You know, every city has parks,
libraries, schools
libraries, schools
222
635009
3791
10:50
and other public buildings
223
638824
1394
10:52
that have the potential
to be reimagined as social connectors.
to be reimagined as social connectors.
224
640242
4186
10:57
But reimagining the buildings
for the future is going to require
for the future is going to require
225
645134
4030
11:01
engaging the people who live there.
226
649188
2108
11:03
Engaging the public can be intimidating,
and I've felt that, too.
and I've felt that, too.
227
651979
3888
11:07
But maybe that's because
in architecture school,
in architecture school,
228
655891
2281
11:10
we don't really learn how to engage
the public in the act of design.
the public in the act of design.
229
658196
4007
11:14
We're taught to defend
our design against criticism.
our design against criticism.
230
662227
3110
11:17
But I think that can change, too.
231
665774
2068
11:20
So if we can focus the design mind
232
668993
2573
11:23
on creating positive,
reinforcing relationships
reinforcing relationships
233
671590
3980
11:27
in architecture and through architecture,
234
675594
1980
11:29
I believe we can do much more
than create individual buildings.
than create individual buildings.
235
677598
3866
11:34
We can reduce the stress
and the polarization
and the polarization
236
682245
3195
11:37
in our urban habitats.
237
685464
1564
11:40
We can create relationships.
238
688280
1865
11:42
We can help steady
this planet we all share.
this planet we all share.
239
690169
2799
11:46
See?
240
694142
1159
11:47
Architects really are
relationship builders.
relationship builders.
241
695325
2239
11:49
(Laughter)
242
697588
1362
11:50
Thank you very much.
243
698974
1152
11:52
(Applause)
244
700150
2045
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Jeanne Gang - ArchitectWith an eye for nature’s forms and lessons learned from its materials, Jeanne Gang creates iconic environments that stand in curvy relief to blocky urban cityscapes.
Why you should listen
American architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang is the founding principal of Studio Gang, an architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago and New York. Gang is recognized internationally for her socially engaged design process that foregrounds the relationships between individuals, communities, and environments. Drawing insight from ecological systems, her analytical and creative approach has produced some of today's most compelling architecture, including the Aqua Tower and Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her current major projects include an expansion of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the next United States Embassy in Brasília, Brazil.
Committed to working on global and local issues, Gang brings design to a wide range of projects beyond architecture's conventional boundaries. She collaborates and innovates with experts across fields on pursuits ranging from the development of stronger materials to fostering stronger communities. Through teaching, speaking, writing, advocacy and advising, she engages with others to make a positive impact at multiple scales.
Jeanne Gang | Speaker | TED.com