ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Joshua Prince-Ramus - Architect
Joshua Prince-Ramus is best known as architect of the Seattle Central Library, already being hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary culture. Prince-Ramus was the founding partner of OMA New York—the American affiliate of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in the Netherlands—and served as its Principal until he renamed the firm REX in 2006.

Why you should listen
With one of the decade's most celebrated buildings under his belt, Joshua Prince-Ramus would seem well-positioned to become the world's next "starchitect." Except that he doesn't want the job. With his quiet intensity and intellectual bearing, Prince-Ramus is the antithesis of the egomaniacal master architect. He flatly rejects not just the title, but the entire notion of a "starchitect" designing with a genius stroke of the pen.
 
Prince-Ramus is best known for his work on the Seattle Central Library. The striking, diamond-windowed structure reimagines, to spectacular effect, the library's role in a modern urban context. "Seattle's new Central Library is a blazing chandelier to swing your dreams upon," Herbert Muschamp wrote in The New York Times. "In more than 30 years of writing about architecture, this is the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review."
 
Having founded the US practice of the radical Dutch architecture firm OMA in 2000, Prince-Ramus served as its Principal until he renamed the firm REX in May 2006. He continues to take what he describes as a performance-based approach to architecture, pushing logic and rational ideas to their limits to create buildings that are unexpected, but wholly appropriate to their environment and intended use. REX recently completed the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in Dallas, Texas and the Vakko Fashion Center and Power Media Center in Istanbul, Turkey. Current work includes Museum Plaza, a 62-story mixed-use skyscraper housing a contemporary art center in Louisville, Kentucky;the new Central Library and Music Conservatory for the city of Kortrijk, Belgium;and a 2,643,000 ft2 luxury residential development in Songdo Landmark City, South Korea.
More profile about the speaker
Joshua Prince-Ramus | Speaker | TED.com
TED2006

Joshua Prince-Ramus: Behind the design of Seattle's library

建筑大师雷默斯谈西雅图的图书馆

Filmed:
1,198,264 views

建筑师约书亚•普林斯•雷默斯带观众体验眼花缭乱的视觉之旅,它展示了近期的三件作品:西雅图中央图书馆、路易斯维尔(肯塔基州)的博物馆广场、以及达拉斯的查尔斯•威利剧院
- Architect
Joshua Prince-Ramus is best known as architect of the Seattle Central Library, already being hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary culture. Prince-Ramus was the founding partner of OMA New York—the American affiliate of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in the Netherlands—and served as its Principal until he renamed the firm REX in 2006. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:26
I'm going to present当下
three projects项目 in rapid快速 fire.
0
2000
2381
我将快速地展示三件作品
我时间不多
00:29
I don't have much time to do it.
1
4405
1571
00:30
And I want to reinforce加强 three ideas思路
with that rapid-fire熊熊大火 presentation介绍.
2
6000
3334
并且我想通过快速的展示来强化这三件作品的概念
第一件作品我将它的设计称之为高度理性主义
00:34
The first is what I like to call
a hyper-rational超级理性 process处理.
3
9358
2976
它几乎
00:37
It's a process处理 that takes rationality理性
almost几乎 to an absurd荒诞 level水平,
4
12358
3897
已经理性到了荒唐的境界
它已经超过了
00:41
and it transcends超越 all the baggage行李
5
16279
1905
人们通常可以接受的
00:43
that normally一般 comes
with what people would call,
6
18208
2644
理性的程度
00:45
sort分类 of a rational合理的
conclusion结论 to something.
7
20876
2100
00:47
And it concludes总结 in something
that you see here,
8
23000
2286
它包含了一些你看得见
但却想不到是理性主义的
00:50
that you actually其实 wouldn't不会 expect期望
as being存在 the result结果 of rationality理性.
9
25310
3781
一些元素
第二件
00:54
The second第二 --
10
30070
2696
00:57
the second第二 is that this process处理
does not have a signature签名.
11
32790
4990
这第二件作品
并没有署名
01:02
There is no authorship作者.
12
37804
1376
我们不知作者是谁,而通常建筑师很乐于署名
01:04
Architects建筑师 are obsessed痴迷 with authorship作者.
13
39204
2012
通常以团队形式
01:06
This is something that has
editing编辑 and it has teams球队,
14
41240
2484
事实上我们在这件作品中看不到
01:08
but in fact事实, we no longer
see within this process处理,
15
43748
2363
传统建筑大师的创造
01:10
the traditional传统 master architect建筑师
16
46135
1530
01:12
creating创建 a sketch草图
that his minions爪牙 carry携带 out.
17
47689
2716
而只是他的助手画出的草图
第三个,有点难度
01:16
And the third第三 is that it challenges挑战 --
18
51739
1836
01:18
and this is, in the length长度 of this,
very hard to support支持 why,
19
53599
3377
以它的长度,很难把所有这些
01:21
connect all these things --
20
57000
1302
连接在一起
但它挑战了最现代意义上的灵活性
01:23
but it challenges挑战 the high modernist现代主义
notion概念 of flexibility灵活性.
21
58326
3203
现代主义认为,我们创造
01:26
High modernists现代主义 said we will create创建
sort分类 of singular单数 spaces空间 that are generic通用,
22
61553
3640
一种共有的单一空间
几乎所有的事都能在那里发生
01:30
almost几乎 anything can happen发生 within them.
23
65217
1889
我把它称为射击的灵活性
01:31
I call it sort分类 of "shotgun滑膛枪 flexibility灵活性" --
24
67130
2026
把你的头转向这边,射击,你一定会打中目标
01:33
turn your head this way; shoot射击;
and you're bound to kill something.
25
69180
3161
这就是现代主义的预示
01:37
So, this is the promise诺言 of high modernism现代主义:
26
72365
2075
在单一空间里,所有的事都可能发生
01:39
within a single space空间, actually其实,
any kind of activity活动 can happen发生.
27
74464
3223
但正如我们看见的
01:42
But as we're seeing眼看,
28
77711
2265
01:44
operational操作 costs成本 are starting开始
to dwarf矮人 capital首都 costs成本
29
80000
2976
对于设计而言
01:47
in terms条款 of design设计 parameters参数.
30
83000
2039
运转费用超过了资本成本
一旦有了这种想法
01:49
And so, with this sort分类 of idea理念,
31
85063
1720
01:51
what happens发生 is, whatever随你 actually其实
is in the building建造 on opening开盘 day,
32
86807
3258
所有正在建造中的
或者所有看似最急迫的需求
01:54
or whatever随你 seems似乎 to be
the most immediate即时 need,
33
90089
2263
都会阻止想法的落实
01:57
starts启动 to dwarf矮人 the possibility可能性
and sort分类 of subsume归入 it,
34
92376
3272
以及最后设计成果的诞生
02:00
of anything else其他 could ever happen发生.
35
95672
1928
所以我们提出一种不一样的灵活性
02:02
And so we're proposing建议
a different不同 kind of flexibility灵活性,
36
97624
2597
我们称之为
02:05
something that we call
"compartmentalized条块 flexibility灵活性."
37
100245
4134
“分类的灵活性”
大致的概念就像
02:09
And the idea理念 is that you,
within that continuum连续,
38
104403
2339
02:11
identify鉴定 a series系列 of points,
and you design设计 specifically特别 to them.
39
106766
3128
你连续地确认一系列点,并对它们进行设计
它们会有点偏离中心
02:14
They can be pushed
off-center偏离中心 a little bit,
40
109918
2017
但最后你还是会得到
02:16
but in the end结束 you actually其实
still get as much
41
111959
2113
和你最初想要的类似的效果
02:18
of that original原版的 spectrum光谱
as you originally本来 had hoped希望.
42
114096
2880
02:21
With high modernist现代主义 flexibility灵活性,
that doesn't really work.
43
117000
2976
而现代主义的灵活性,这点却不能成立
现在我来谈一下,我打算建造西雅图中央图书馆
02:25
Now I'm going to talk about --
44
120463
1442
02:26
I'm going to build建立 up
the Seattle西雅图 Central中央 Library图书馆
45
121929
2309
你们可以看到五六个图表
02:29
in this way before your eyes眼睛
in about five or six diagrams,
46
124262
2781
这就是你们将看到的设计过程
02:31
and I truly mean this is the design设计
process处理 that you'll你会 see.
47
127067
2817
我们同图书馆委员会及工作人员一起
02:34
With the library图书馆 staff员工
and the library图书馆 board,
48
129908
2304
确定了两个核心设置
02:37
we settled安定 on two core核心 positions位置.
49
132236
1740
02:38
This is the first one, and this
is showing展示, over the last 900 years年份,
50
134000
3445
这是第一个,它显示了,在过去900年里,
书和其他技术的进化过程
02:42
the evolution演化 of the book,
and other technologies技术.
51
137469
3619
这图代表了我们对书的定位
02:45
This diagram was our sort分类
of position位置 piece about the book,
52
141112
2864
02:48
and our position位置 was,
books图书 are technology技术 --
53
144000
2516
书本就是技术
许多人忘了这点
02:51
that's something people forget忘记 --
54
146540
1588
但是我们需要借助其他技术或媒介
02:52
but it's a form形成 of technology技术
that will have to share分享 its dominance霸主地位
55
148152
3162
才能分享书的影响力
02:56
with any other form形成 of truly potent有力的
technology技术 or media媒体.
56
151338
3419
第二个预设,这个很难,
02:59
The second第二 premise前提 --
57
155130
1152
03:01
and this was something
that was very difficult for us
58
156306
2491
我们花了很大力气去说服图书管理员
03:03
to convince说服 the librarians图书馆 of at first --
59
158821
1966
它们自从
03:05
is that libraries图书馆, since以来 the inception成立
of Carnegie卡内基 Library图书馆 tradition传统 in America美国,
60
160811
3783
美国卡耐基图书馆的传统开始
就承担了一种第二性的社会责任
03:09
had a second第二 responsibility责任,
and that was for social社会 roles角色.
61
164618
2883
好了,现在,我们稍候再说这个,但是
03:12
Ok, now, this I'll come back
to later后来, but something --
62
167525
2588
那些图书管理员一开始会说:“不,这不是我们要管的”
03:14
actually其实, the librarians图书馆 at first said,
"No, this isn't our mandate要求.
63
170137
3207
我们管的是媒介,尤其是书
03:18
Our mandate要求 is media媒体,
and particularly尤其 the book."
64
173368
2706
所以你现在看到的其实是建筑的设计
03:22
So what you're seeing眼看 now
is actually其实 the design设计 of the building建造.
65
177463
3070
上面的图表
03:25
The upper diagram is what we had seen看到
66
180557
2452
是我们在整个当代图书馆里看到的
03:27
in a whole整个 host主办 of contemporary现代的 libraries图书馆
that used high modernist现代主义 flexibility灵活性.
67
183033
4541
它们运用到了现代主义的灵活性
就是那种,任何事在任何地方都可能发生的
03:32
Sort分类 of, any activity活动
could happen发生 anywhere随地.
68
187598
2402
03:35
We don't know the future未来 of the library图书馆;
we don't know the future未来 of the book;
69
190679
3702
我们不知道图书馆的未来,也不知道书的未来
所以我们用这个方法
03:39
and so, we'll use this approach途径.
70
194405
1579
我们看到的建筑千人一面
03:40
And what we saw were buildings房屋
that were very generic通用, and worse更差 --
71
196008
3180
更糟的是并不只是看上去非常相似
03:44
not only were they very generic通用 --
72
199212
1698
不只是阅览室和文印室
03:45
so, not only does the reading room房间
look like the copy复制 room房间
73
200934
2742
或者和杂志区长得差不多
03:48
look like the magazine杂志 area --
74
203700
1498
更重要的是它意味着
03:50
but it meant意味着 that whatever随你 issue问题
was troubling令人不安 the library图书馆 at that moment时刻
75
205222
3726
所有图书馆里发生的事
03:53
was starting开始 to engulf吞噬 every一切 other
activity活动 that was happening事件 in it.
76
208972
3515
都会相互干扰相互影响
在这种情况下
03:57
And in this case案件,
what was getting得到 engulfed吞没
77
212511
2249
书的社会责任之延伸将得不到发挥
03:59
were these social社会 responsibilities责任
by the expansion扩张 of the book.
78
214784
3016
所以我们提出了下面的这个图
04:02
And so we proposed建议
what's at the lower降低 diagram.
79
217824
2215
很土的办法
04:04
Very dumb approach途径:
simply只是 compartmentalize划分.
80
220063
3087
简化分类,将这些我们可以预料的事
04:07
Put those things whose谁的 evolution演化
we could predict预测 --
81
223174
2453
我并不是说我们可以预测未来发生什么
04:10
and I don't mean that we could say
what would actually其实 happen发生 in the future未来,
82
225651
3583
但是我们很确信有这种
04:14
but we have some certainty肯定 of the spectrum光谱
of what would happen发生 in the future未来 --
83
229258
3886
未来发生的可能性
把这些东西放在一个专门设计的盒子里
04:17
put those in boxes盒子 designed设计
specifically特别 for it,
84
233168
2250
而把那些无法预测的放在屋顶
04:20
and put the things that we can't
predict预测 on the rooftops屋顶.
85
235442
2694
这就是核心思想
04:22
So that was the core核心 idea理念.
86
238160
1247
现在,为了让图书管理员认识到这一点
04:24
Now, we had to convince说服 the library图书馆
87
239431
1694
我们必须说服他们
04:25
that social社会 roles角色 were
equally一样 important重要 to media媒体,
88
241149
3666
社会责任和媒介的作用一样重要
04:29
in order订购 to get them to accept接受 this.
89
244839
1779
你现在看到的左边的是他们的程序
04:31
What you're seeing眼看 here is actually其实
their program程序 on the left.
90
246642
3000
和我们拿到它时一样的色彩鲜艳
04:34
That's as it was given特定 to us
in all of its clarity明晰 and glory荣耀.
91
249666
4037
我们的第一步是重新组合它们
04:38
Our first operation手术 was to re-digest再消化 it
back to them, show显示 it to them and say,
92
253727
4288
回去跟他们说
“你们知道吗,我们一点都没动过
04:42
"You know what? We haven't没有 touched感动 it,
93
258039
1937
04:44
but only one-third三分之一 of your own拥有 program程序
is dedicated专用 to media媒体 and books图书.
94
260000
3387
但你们的程序只有1/3是和媒介及书有关的
而剩下的三分之二,就是下面的白色部分
04:48
Two-thirds三分之二 of it is already已经 dedicated专用 --
95
263411
1949
04:50
that's the white白色 band below下面,
the thing you said isn't important重要 --
96
265384
3111
你们说它不重要的
已经起到了社会功能
04:53
is already已经 dedicated专用 to social社会 functions功能."
97
268519
2009
所以,一旦我们把这个重新给他们看
04:55
So once一旦 we had presented呈现
that back to them,
98
270552
2181
他们同意这种核心概念能有效
04:57
they agreed同意 that this sort分类
of core核心 concept概念 could work.
99
272757
2571
我们可以回到最重要的
05:00
We got the right to go back
to first principles原则 --
100
275352
2354
第三个图表,我们把一切重新组合
05:02
that's the third第三 diagram.
101
277730
1210
05:03
We recombined重组 everything.
102
278964
1206
然后我们开始做新的决定
05:04
And then we started开始 making制造 new decisions决定.
103
280194
1958
你们看到的右边是对图书馆的设计
05:06
What you're seeing眼看 on the right
is the design设计 of the library图书馆,
104
282176
2873
尤其是面积空间上
05:09
specifically特别 in terms条款 of square广场 footage镜头.
105
285073
1921
左边,这里
05:11
On the left of that diagram, here,
you'll你会 see a series系列 of five platforms平台 --
106
287018
4958
你会看见
一系列的五个平台
05:16
sort分类 of combs梳子, collective集体 programs程式.
107
292000
1976
梳理整合好的程序
05:18
And on the right are the more
indeterminate不定 spaces空间;
108
294000
2405
而右边不确定的空间
比如阅览室
05:21
things like reading rooms客房,
109
296429
1251
05:22
whose谁的 evolution演化 in 20, 30, 40 years年份
we can't predict预测.
110
297704
2685
我们无法判断它未来20,30,40年的发展
所以这就是初步的设计
05:25
So that literally按照字面 was the design设计
of the building建造.
111
300413
2309
他们签字同意了,但让他们懊恼的是
05:27
They signed it, and to their chagrin懊恼,
112
302746
2135
05:29
we came来了 back a week later后来,
and we presented呈现 them this.
113
304905
3071
一个星期以后,我们回来,向他们展示了这个
05:32
And as you can see, it is literally按照字面
the diagram on the right.
114
308000
2897
你可以看到,这和那个图表面上看很契合
我们只是
05:35
(Laughter笑声)
115
310921
1001
05:36
We just sized大小 -- no, really,
I mean that, literally按照字面.
116
311946
2430
噢,我说真的,表面上看
左边这些
05:39
The things on the left-hand左手 side
of the diagram,
117
314400
2362
就像图上的,是盒子
05:41
those are the boxes盒子.
118
316786
1190
05:42
We sized大小 them into five compartments车厢.
They're super-efficient超高效.
119
318000
2929
我们把他们放进了五个部分
超级高效,我们预算很低
05:45
We had a very low budget预算 to work with.
120
320953
1872
我们就这样建造
05:47
We pushed them around on the site现场
121
322849
1580
非常清楚的上下关系
05:49
to make very literal文字
contextual上下文 relationships关系.
122
324453
2213
从阅览室里可以看到下面的水
05:51
The reading room房间
should be able能够 to see the water.
123
326690
2313
主入口前有一个广场
05:53
The main主要 entrance入口 should have
a public上市 plaza广场 in front面前 of it
124
329027
2781
遵守区域编号,排列
05:56
to abide遵守 by the zoning区划 code, and so forth向前.
125
331832
2121
你可以看到五个平台
05:59
So, you see the five platforms平台,
those are the boxes盒子.
126
334397
2453
五个盒子,每个专供一项特殊的用途
06:01
within each one, a very discrete离散的
thing is happening事件.
127
336874
2429
而中间是现代化的联结
06:04
The area in between之间
is sort分类 of an urban城市的 continuum连续,
128
339327
2347
这些我们无法预料未来发展进度的
06:06
these things that we can't predict预测
their evolution演化 to the same相同 degree.
129
341698
3350
为了向你们展现这种想法的强大力量
06:10
To give you some sense
of the power功率 of this idea理念,
130
345490
2486
06:12
the biggest最大 block
is what we call the book spiral螺旋.
131
348000
2976
最大的这一块我们称之为书螺旋
06:15
It's literally按照字面 built内置
in a very inexpensive便宜 way --
132
351000
2334
很简单,造价也不贵
它就像一个”停书场“
06:18
it is a parking停車處 garage车库 for books图书.
133
353358
2618
06:20
It just so happens发生 to be on the 6th
through通过 10th floors地板 of the building建造,
134
356000
3487
从6楼到10楼
但并不贵
06:24
but that is not necessarily一定
an expensive昂贵 approach途径.
135
359511
3275
06:27
And it allows允许 us to organize组织
the entire整个 Dewey杜威 Decimal十进制 System系统
136
362810
2826
它使得我们可以连续地使用杜威十进制图书排列法
06:30
on one continuous连续 run; no matter how it
grows成长 or contracts合同 within the building建造,
137
365660
3871
无论书的数量怎样扩张
还是可以整理得很清楚
06:34
it will always have its clarity明晰
to end结束 the sort分类 of trail落后 of tears眼泪
138
369555
4421
我们以前都曾对公共图书馆很无语
06:38
that we've我们已经 all experienced有经验的
in public上市 libraries图书馆.
139
374000
2729
经常找不到书
06:41
(Laughter笑声)
140
376753
1223
(笑声)
06:42
And so this was the final最后 operation手术,
141
378000
1731
而最后一步就是把这些楼层
06:44
which哪一个 was to take these blocks
as they were all pushed off kilter失衡,
142
379755
3121
整合在一起
设计一个漂亮的外观
06:47
and to hold保持 onto them with a skin皮肤.
143
382900
2076
06:49
That skin皮肤 serves供应 double duty义务,
again, for economics经济学.
144
385000
2976
这个外观必须有两层作用
06:52
One, it is the lateral stability稳定性
for the entire整个 building建造;
145
388000
2976
第一,维持整个建筑横向的稳定
06:55
it's a structural结构 element元件.
146
391000
1262
这是结构层面的,但它的作用不仅在于此
06:57
But its dimensions尺寸 were designed设计
not only for structure结构体,
147
392286
2627
它还必须保证所有玻璃的安装
06:59
but also for holding保持 on
every一切 piece of glass玻璃.
148
394937
2251
使得玻璃融合一体
07:02
The glass玻璃 was then --
I'll use the word impregnated浸渍 --
149
397212
2764
07:04
but it had a layer of metal金属
that was called "stretched拉伸 metal金属."
150
400000
3412
但它有所谓的一层受力金属
就像微型天窗
07:08
That metal金属 acts行为 as a microlouver微隔栅,
151
403436
1838
隔离外部的阳光
07:10
so from the exterior外观 of the building建造,
the sun太阳 sees看到 it as totally完全 opaque不透明,
152
405298
3381
却能保持室内光线通透
07:13
but from the interior室内,
it's entirely完全 transparent透明.
153
408703
2674
现在,我将带你们领略一下这个建筑
07:16
So now I'm going to take you
on a tour游览 of the building建造.
154
411401
2747
07:19
Let me see if I can find it.
155
414871
1374
我来找找看
07:21
For anyone任何人 who gets得到
motion运动 sickness疾病, I apologize道歉.
156
416269
3269
抱歉
这就是那幢建筑
07:25
So, this is the building建造.
157
420233
1428
我认为重要的是,当我们首次展示这个建筑
07:28
And I think what's important重要 is,
when we first unveiled亮相 the building建造,
158
424029
3857
公众普遍认为
07:32
the public上市 saw it as being存在
totally完全 about our whim怪念头 and ego自我.
159
427910
4066
这只是我们一时的野心和兴致
07:36
And it was defended辩护,
believe it or not, by the librarians图书馆.
160
432000
2842
但信不信由你们,这个建筑得到了图书管理员们的拥护
07:39
They said, "Look,
we don't know what it is,
161
434866
2024
他们说:”我们不知这是啥,
07:41
but we know it's everything
that we need it to be,
162
436914
2365
但根据我们观察
07:44
based基于 on the observations意见
that we've我们已经 doneDONE about the program程序."
163
439303
3136
它有了我们需要的一切“
这是个入口
07:49
This is going into one of the entries.
164
445085
1984
这是个很特别的公共图书馆
07:51
So, it's an unusual异常 building建造
for a public上市 library图书馆, obviously明显.
165
447093
3361
很显然
07:58
So now we're going
into what we call the living活的 room房间.
166
454000
3601
我们去看一下阅览室,错了,是大厅
这其实是我们发明的一个空间
08:02
This is actually其实 a program程序
that we invented发明 with the library图书馆.
167
457625
2872
将图书馆作为
08:05
It was recognizing认识 that public上市 libraries图书馆
168
460521
1917
一个公众的自由空间
08:07
are the last vestige痕迹 of public上市 free自由 space空间.
169
462462
2785
在西雅图市中心
08:10
There are plenty丰富 of shopping购物 malls商场
that allow允许 you to get out of the rain
170
465271
3428
有许多购物广场,你避雨的时候可以去
08:13
in downtown市中心 Seattle西雅图,
171
468723
1156
但却没有多少
08:14
but there are not so many许多 free自由 places地方
172
469903
2927
自由空间让你避雨
08:17
that allow允许 you to get out of the rain.
173
472854
1821
而这就是一个人们可以做很多事的空间
08:19
So this was an unprogrammed未编程 area where
people could pretty漂亮 much do anything,
174
474699
3586
包括吃,叫喊,下棋等等
08:23
including包含 eat, yell叫喊,
play chess and so forth向前.
175
478309
2109
现在我们往上
08:25
Now we're moving移动 up into what we call
the mixing混合 chamber.
176
480442
4006
这是一个混合区
也是整座建筑的主体
08:29
That was the main主要
technology技术 area in the building建造.
177
484472
2928
如果我走得太快,你们可以提出
08:32
You'll你会 have to tell me
if I'm going too fast快速 for you.
178
487424
2576
现在上来
08:39
And now up.
179
494201
1150
这个其实是我们特地设计的
08:45
This is actually其实 the place地点
that we put into the building建造
180
500566
2629
好让我向我妻子求婚,就是这里
08:48
so I could propose提出
to my wife妻子, right there.
181
503219
2033
(笑声)
08:50
(Laughter笑声)
182
505276
2119
08:52
She said yes.
183
508000
1159
她答应了
08:53
(Laughter笑声)
184
509183
2000
08:57
I'm running赛跑 out of time,
so I'm actually其实 going to stop.
185
512593
2581
我快没时间了,所以就此打住
我可以晚些再向你们展示
08:59
I can show显示 this to you later后来.
186
515198
1778
09:01
But let's see if I can very quickly很快
get into the book spiral螺旋,
187
517000
3283
但我们试试看能不能快点看一下书螺旋
因为我觉得它是最……
09:05
because I think it's,
as I said, the most --
188
520307
2064
这是主阅览室,书螺旋是整座建筑最独特的地方
09:07
this is the main主要 reading room房间 --
the most unique独特 part部分 of the building建造.
189
522395
3317
你们晕了吗?
09:11
You dizzy头晕 yet然而?
190
526768
1166
好,这就是书螺旋
09:13
Ok, so here, this is the book spiral螺旋.
191
529141
1825
看不清
09:21
So, it's very indiscernible无形,
192
536395
1933
但实际上它是不断在上升
09:23
but it's actually其实
a continuous连续 stair-stepping阶梯状.
193
538352
3501
09:26
It allows允许 you to, on one city block,
194
541877
1992
让你在一层楼
09:28
go up one full充分 floor地板,
so that it's on a continuum连续.
195
543893
2695
不断连续地向上
好,现在我们谈谈第二个作品
09:36
Ok, now I'm going to go back,
and I'm going to hit击中 a second第二 project项目.
196
551491
3485
09:39
I'm going to go very,
very quickly很快 through通过 this.
197
555000
2263
我会很快
这是达拉斯剧院,我们一个很特别的客户
09:42
Now this is the Dallas达拉斯 Theater剧院.
198
557287
1680
09:43
It was an unusual异常 client客户 for us,
because they came来了 to us and they said,
199
558991
3348
因为他们来找我们,说
我们需要你们建一栋新楼
09:47
"We need you to do a new building建造.
200
562363
1706
09:48
We've我们已经 been working加工
in a temporary临时 space空间 for 30 years年份,
201
564093
3426
我们已经在临时房里工作了30年
就是因为那临时房
09:52
but because of that temporary临时 space空间,
202
567543
1723
我们的剧院公司臭名昭著
09:54
we've我们已经 become成为 an infamous臭名昭著 theater剧院 company公司.
203
569290
2863
我们的剧院主要针对纽约,芝加哥,西雅图
09:56
Theater剧院 is really focused重点 in New York纽约,
Chicago芝加哥 and Seattle西雅图,
204
572177
2961
这是我们达拉斯剧院公司的一些期望”
09:59
with the exception例外
of the Dallas达拉斯 Theater剧院 Company公司."
205
575162
3097
而他们在临时性场地工作的事实
10:03
And the very fact事实 that they worked工作
in a provisional临时 space空间
206
578283
2696
说明他们可以随便弄垮一面墙
10:05
meant意味着 that for Beckett贝克特,
they could blow打击 out a wall;
207
581003
2443
或者像樱桃园一样在地上挖洞,等等
10:08
they could do "Cherry樱桃 Orchard果园" and blow打击
a hole through通过 the floor地板, and so forth向前.
208
583470
3742
所以要为他们造一幢新楼对我们是一项令人畏惧的工作
10:12
So it was a very daunting艰巨 task任务
for us to do a brand-new全新的 building建造
209
587236
3032
要保持完好无损的外表
10:15
that could be a pristine质朴 building建造,
210
590292
2054
又要允许他们在里面做各种试验性的事
10:17
but keep this kind of experimental试验 nature性质.
211
592370
2019
第二点是,这家公司是我们常说的
10:19
And the second第二 is,
212
594413
1198
10:20
they were what we call
a multi-form多形式 theater剧院,
213
595635
2878
多功能剧院
10:23
they do different不同 kinds
of performances演出 in repertory剧目.
214
598537
2606
他们安排各种剧目的表演
比如早上,
10:25
So they in the morning早上
will do something in arena竞技场,
215
601167
2809
他们会安排竞技场表演
10:28
then they'll他们会 do something
in proscenium前舞台 and so forth向前.
216
604000
2493
然后还有些幕前表演等等
所以他们需要很快地
10:31
And so they needed需要 to be able能够
to quickly很快 transform转变
217
606517
2349
在各种剧目间转换
10:33
between之间 different不同 theater剧院 organizations组织,
218
608890
1926
而由于预算
10:35
and for operational操作 budget预算 reasons原因,
219
610840
1685
现在一般的美国剧院公司
10:37
this actually其实 no longer
happens发生 in pretty漂亮 much
220
612549
2163
都不做这种形式
10:39
any multi-form多形式 theater剧院
in the United联合的 States状态,
221
614736
2240
10:41
so we needed需要 to figure数字 out
a way to overcome克服 that.
222
617000
2475
因此我们要想法克服这一点
所以我们的想法是把剧院放在前面
10:44
So our thought was to literally按照字面
put the theater剧院 on its head:
223
619499
2823
然后把前面说的这些分为前部和后部
10:47
to take those things
that were previously先前 defined定义
224
622346
2310
10:49
as front-of-house房子前方 and back-of-house房子的后面
225
624680
1675
以及上部和下部
10:51
and stack them above以上 house
and below下面 house,
226
626379
2008
把它建成一个剧院机器
10:53
and to create创建 what we called
a theater剧院 machine.
227
628411
2199
我们投钱进去
10:55
We invest投资 the money
in the operation手术 of the building建造.
228
630634
2483
所有的钱都会通过剧院的演出
10:57
It's almost几乎 as though虽然 the building建造
could be placed放置 anywhere随地,
229
633141
2822
11:00
wherever哪里 you place地点 it,
230
635987
1152
得到回报
11:01
the area under it is charged带电
for theatrical戏剧 performances演出.
231
637163
2730
这让我们回到最初
11:04
And it allowed允许 us to go back
to first principles原则,
232
639917
2322
重新设计舞台塔,音箱
11:07
and redefine重新定义 fly tower, acoustic
enclosure附件, light enclosure附件 and so forth向前.
233
642263
3582
灯光等
11:10
And at the push of a button按键,
234
645869
1470
同时,只要一按键
11:12
it allows允许 the artistic艺术的 director导向器
to move移动 between之间 proscenium前舞台, thrust推力,
235
647363
3627
艺术导演就可以在舞台,竞技场
之间穿梭
11:15
and in fact事实, arena竞技场
and traverse横过 and flat平面 floor地板,
236
651014
3791
11:19
in a very quick transfiguration改变形像.
237
654829
2395
这是一种很快的转换
所以事实上,用那些运营成本
11:22
So in fact事实, using运用
operational操作 budget预算, we can --
238
657248
3422
抱歉,是资本成本,我们可以达到
11:25
sorry, capital首都 cost成本 --
we can actually其实 achieve实现
239
660694
2192
11:27
what was no longer achievable实现
in operational操作 cost成本.
240
662910
2471
难以置信的效果
这意味着艺术导演
11:30
And that means手段 that the artistic艺术的 director导向器
241
665898
1953
11:32
now has a palette调色板 that he or she
can choose选择 from,
242
667875
2365
现在可以选择
不同表演方式
11:35
between之间 a series系列 of forms形式
and a series系列 of processions游行,
243
670264
3498
由于剧院设计的关系
11:38
because that enclosure附件 around the theater剧院
that is normally一般 trapped被困
244
673786
3124
原本孤立的前后部得以贯通
11:41
with front-of-house房子前方 and back-of-house房子的后面
spaces空间 has been liberated解放.
245
676934
3042
空间得到了有效的利用
11:44
So an artistic艺术的 director导向器 has the ability能力
to have a performance性能
246
680000
3269
艺术导演可以
表演一出瓦格纳的戏
11:48
that enters进入 in a Wagnerian瓦格纳 procession游行,
247
683293
2115
然后把它改变成
11:50
shows节目 the first act法案 in thrust推力,
248
685432
2335
希腊的过渡场景
11:52
the intermission幕间休息 in a Greek希腊语 procession游行,
249
687791
3185
11:55
second第二 act法案 in arena竞技场, and so forth向前.
250
691000
1818
再到竞技场表演第二幕,等等
我现在要展示给你们看,这到底意味着什么
11:58
So I'm going to show显示 you
what this actually其实 means手段.
251
693254
2351
这就是剧院
12:00
This is the theater剧院 up close.
252
695629
1768
其实周围的每一部分都可以秘密打开
12:02
Any portion一部分 around the theater剧院
actually其实 can be opened打开 discretely离散.
253
697421
3086
照明可以分开
12:07
The light enclosure附件 can be lifted取消
separate分离 to the acoustic enclosure附件,
254
702515
3898
这些都拿掉你可以演贝克纳
12:11
so you can do Beckett贝克特
with Dallas达拉斯 as the backdrop背景.
255
706437
2484
把达拉斯作为背景
周围打开,你可以让摩托车进去
12:14
Portions部分 can be opened打开,
256
710146
1165
12:16
so you can now actually其实 have motorcycles摩托车
drive驾驶 directly into the performance性能,
257
711335
3643
直接上舞台,甚至可以由开放式的表演
12:19
or you can even just have
an open-air露天 performance性能,
258
715002
2402
或者是便于转场
12:22
or for intermissions中场休息.
259
717428
1166
这些结构中的所有包厢都可以移动
12:23
The balconies阳台 all move移动 to go
between之间 those configurations配置,
260
719094
2733
或者拿掉
12:26
but they also disappear消失.
261
721851
1285
幕前部分也可以拿掉
12:28
The proscenium前舞台 line线 can also disappear消失.
262
723517
2120
你可以搬来巨大的东西,事实上
12:30
You can bring带来 enormous巨大 objects对象 in,
263
726129
1841
12:32
so in fact事实, the Dallas达拉斯 Theater剧院 Company公司 --
264
727994
1991
达拉斯剧院的第一场秀
是关于查尔斯·林德伯格的
12:34
their first show显示 will be a play
about Charles查尔斯 Lindbergh林德伯格,
265
730009
2651
他们将搬来真的飞行器
12:37
and they'll他们会 want to bring带来 in
a real真实 aircraft飞机.
266
732684
2292
12:39
And then it also provides提供 them,
in the off-season淡季,
267
735000
2611
这也让他们
在非演出季的时候
12:42
the ability能力 to actually其实 rent出租 out
their space空间 for entirely完全 different不同 things.
268
737635
5206
可以把场地租出去
12:48
This is it from a distance距离.
269
744000
2655
这是夜晚,抱歉,远处看
12:53
Open打开 up entire整个 portions
for different不同 kinds of events事件.
270
748921
2988
把所用部分都打开,准备不同的活动
12:56
And at night.
271
751933
1151
这是在晚上
一样的,去掉灯光,保留声音
12:59
Again, remove去掉 the light enclosure附件;
keep the acoustic enclosure附件.
272
755092
3878
可以演鬼片
13:04
This is a monster怪物 truck卡车 show显示.
273
759676
1878
现在我将要展示最后一件作品
13:06
I'm going to show显示 now the last project项目.
274
761578
1891
也是一个特别的客户
13:08
This also is an unusual异常 client客户.
275
763493
1483
13:09
They inverted the whole整个 idea理念
of development发展.
276
765000
2473
他们颠覆了整个发展的思路
和一般的开发商不同,他们过来跟我们说
13:12
They came来了 to us and they said --
unlike不像 normal正常 developers开发商 --
277
767497
2827
“我们想从
13:15
they said, "We want to start开始 out
278
770348
1537
13:16
by providing提供 a contemporary现代的
art艺术 museum博物馆 in Louisville路易斯维尔.
279
771909
2749
当代艺术馆开始”
在路易斯维尔,这就是我们主要的目标“
13:19
That's our main主要 goal目标."
280
774682
1204
13:20
And so instead代替 of being存在 a developer开发人员
that sees看到 an opportunity机会 to make money,
281
775910
3595
和一般开发商看到赚钱的机会不同
他们希望在市中心
13:24
they saw an ability能力 to be
a catalyst催化剂 in their downtown市中心.
282
779529
3021
制造一些刺激因素
13:27
And the fact事实 that they wanted to support支持
the contemporary现代的 art艺术 museum博物馆
283
782574
3580
他们建立起一种预期
来支持当代艺术
13:30
actually其实 built内置 their pro forma备考,
284
786178
1557
并且为此奋斗
13:32
so they worked工作 in reverse相反.
285
787759
1317
而那种预期
13:34
And that pro forma备考 led us
286
789431
1545
13:35
to a mixed-use混合使用 building建造
that was very large,
287
791000
2976
引导我们建造一幢很大的多功能建筑
13:38
in order订购 to support支持
their aspirations愿望 of the art艺术,
288
794000
2304
可以支持他们的艺术灵感
同时为艺术本身提供机会
13:41
but it also opened打开 up opportunities机会
for the art艺术 itself本身
289
796328
2547
与商业空间整合,互动
13:43
to collaborate合作, interact相互作用
with commercial广告 spaces空间
290
798899
2220
这才是现代艺术家期望的工作环境
13:45
that actually其实 artists艺术家 more
and more want to work within.
291
801143
2760
这也迫使我们去思考
13:49
And it also charged带电 us
with thinking思维 about how to have
292
804356
3025
如何把两种功能
13:52
something that was both a single building建造
293
807405
1964
融合在一幢建筑里
13:54
and a credible可信的 sort分类 of sub-building子建筑.
294
809393
2583
13:56
So this is Louisville's路易斯维尔 skyline天际线,
295
812000
2543
现在我将,这是路易斯维尔的地平线
我将带你们穿过
13:59
and I'm going to take
you through通过 the various各个 constraints限制
296
814567
2680
各种各样的限制去看到这个项目
14:02
that led to the project项目.
297
817271
1193
首先,空间上的限制
14:03
First: the physical物理 constraints限制.
298
818488
1539
事实上我们要在三个分散的点之间建造
14:04
We actually其实 had to operate操作
on three discrete离散的 sites网站,
299
820051
2401
而它们在体积上都比这建筑小
14:07
all of them well smaller
than the size尺寸 of the building建造.
300
822476
2881
首先,是新的爱立中心
14:10
We had to operate操作 next下一个 to the new
Muhammad穆罕默德 Ali阿里 Center中央, and respect尊重 it.
301
825381
3683
我们必须在风格上与它协调
必须建造在100年漫滩的范围内
14:13
We had to operate操作
within the 100-year-年 floodplain漫滩.
302
829088
2298
现在这块地方,每三到四年犯一次洪水
14:16
Now, this area floods洪水
three to four times a year,
303
831410
2315
我们选址的后面还有一码头
14:18
and there's a levee behind背后 our site现场,
304
833749
1737
和新奥尔良损坏的那个很相似
14:20
similar类似 to the ones那些
that broke打破 in New Orleans奥尔良.
305
835510
2280
我们必须在I-64长廊后施工
14:23
Had to operate操作 behind背后 the I-64 corridor走廊,
306
838687
4202
14:27
a street that cuts削减 through通过 the middle中间
of these separate分离 sites网站.
307
842913
2916
这条街把地分割成几部分
所有的这些……
14:30
So we're starting开始 to build建立 a sort分类 of
nightmare恶梦 of constraints限制 in a bathtub浴缸.
308
845853
4566
简直是灾难
这块地下面
14:35
Underneath the bathtub浴缸
are the city's城市的 main主要 power功率 lines线.
309
850443
3389
有城市的主要电线
他们想在那里建一条徒步走廊
14:39
And there is a pedestrian行人 corridor走廊
that they wanted to add,
310
854699
2801
可以将周围的建筑连成一体
14:42
that would link链接 a series系列
of cultural文化 buildings房屋,
311
857524
2950
同时这也是一条景观走道
14:45
and a view视图 corridor走廊 --
because this is the historic历史性 district --
312
860498
2966
由于这是历史区,他们不希望被新房子挡住
14:48
that they didn't want to obstruct阻碍
with a new building建造.
313
863488
2548
(笑声)
现在我们将扩建1100万平方英尺
14:50
(Laughter笑声)
314
866060
1040
14:51
And now we're going to add
1.1 million百万 square广场 feet.
315
867124
2573
如果我们按常规做法
14:54
And if we did the traditional传统 thing,
that 1.1 million百万 square广场 feet --
316
870125
3215
当然这个项目会有不同
14:58
these are the different不同 programs程式 --
317
873364
1672
14:59
the traditional传统 thing would be to identify鉴定
the public上市 elements分子, place地点 them on sites网站,
318
875060
3964
传统的做法就是识别一些公共元素,保持不动
这样就会有一个很糟的结果
15:03
and now we'd星期三 have a really
terrible可怕 situation情况:
319
879048
2175
会出现整体和谐中的突兀
15:06
a public上市 thing in the middle中间
of a bathtub浴缸 that floods洪水.
320
881247
2729
15:09
And then we would size尺寸
all the other elements分子 --
321
885000
2597
然后我们会安排其他的一些元素
一些商业元素
15:12
the different不同 commercial广告 elements分子:
322
887621
1655
酒店,奢侈住房,办公楼等
15:14
hotel旅馆, luxury豪华 housing住房,
offices办事处 and so forth向前 --
323
889300
2143
这些建筑会在上层
15:16
and dump倾倒 it on top最佳.
324
891467
1205
15:17
And we would create创建
something that was unviable不可行.
325
892696
2964
我们的这些建筑无法独立存在
15:20
In fact事实 -- and you know this -- this
is called the Time Warner华纳 Building建造.
326
895684
3745
事实上,就像时代华纳大楼
(笑声)
15:24
(Laughter笑声)
327
899453
1674
我们的战略非常简单
15:25
So our strategy战略 was very simple简单.
328
901151
1825
15:27
Just lift电梯 the entire整个 block,
329
903000
3111
把整个街区向上提升
把一些建筑重新组合
15:30
flip翻动 some of the elements分子 over,
330
906135
1635
15:32
reposition复位 them
so they have appropriate适当 views意见
331
907794
2810
使它们看起来更协调,关系更紧密
15:35
and relationships关系 to downtown市中心,
332
910628
1636
改变建筑间的关系以及道路的排列
15:37
and make circulation循环 connections连接
and reroute重新路由 the road.
333
912288
3453
好了,这是基本的概念
15:40
So that's the basic基本 concept概念,
334
915765
1527
现在我想你们展示它的效果
15:42
and now I'm going to show显示 you
what it leads引线 to.
335
917316
2330
15:45
Ok, it seems似乎 a very formal正式,
willful恣意 gesture手势,
336
920916
2555
好的,它看上去是一个有力的象征
完全超出一般的限制
15:48
but something derived派生 entirely完全
out of the constraints限制.
337
923495
2548
一样的是,当它被揭幕时,也面临了种种质疑
15:50
And again, when we unveiled亮相 it,
there was a sort分类 of nervousness神经紧张
338
926067
2981
这就像建筑师作了一个声明
15:53
that this was about an architect建筑师
making制造 a statement声明,
339
929072
2437
却不去解决问题
15:56
not an architect建筑师 who was attempting尝试
to solve解决 a series系列 of problems问题.
340
931533
3592
有一系列的问题
现在,正如我说的,我们有能力
15:59
Now, within that center中央 zone, as I said,
341
935149
2294
在那片中心区域组合一系列的事
16:02
we have the ability能力 to mix混合
a series系列 of things.
342
937467
2155
所以你们可以看到这些
16:04
So here, this is sort分类 of an x-rayX-射线 --
343
939646
2723
这些,这塔就像x射线
16:07
the towers are totally完全 developer-driven开发人员推动.
344
942393
1935
这些都是由发展商决定的,他们告诉我们面积的标准
16:09
They told us the dimensions尺寸,
the sizes大小 and so forth向前,
345
944352
2450
而我们主要关注公共元素
16:11
and we focused重点 on taking服用
all the public上市 components组件 --
346
946826
2497
大厅,酒吧,
16:14
the lobbies大厅, the bars酒吧 --
347
949347
1292
所有关于商业的
16:15
everything that different不同 commercial广告
elements分子 would have,
348
950663
3313
16:18
and combined结合 it in the center中央,
in the sort分类 of subway地铁 map地图,
349
954000
2976
并把他们在中心整合,就像四通八达的地铁图
16:21
in the transfer转让 zone that would also
include包括 the contemporary现代的 art艺术 museum博物馆.
350
957000
3718
在过渡区域由当代博物馆
所以大致就是这个样子
16:25
So it creates创建 a situation情况 like this,
where you have artists艺术家 who can operate操作
351
960742
4065
我们有艺术家在里面工作
16:29
within an art艺术 space空间 that also has
an amazing惊人 view视图 on the 22ndND floor地板,
352
964831
3878
22楼的艺术空间有惊人的视野
但是馆长可以选择
16:33
but it also has proximity接近 that the curator馆长
can either open打开 or close.
353
968733
3457
是否开放这一区域
人们可以在那里骑自行车锻炼
16:37
It allows允许 people
on exercise行使 bicycles自行车 to be seen看到,
354
972214
3206
观赏艺术,或成为艺术的一部分等
16:40
or to see the art艺术, and so forth向前.
355
975444
1675
如果有的艺术家很想尝试游泳池这样的空间
16:41
It also means手段 that if an artist艺术家 wants
to invade入侵 something like a swimming游泳的 pool,
356
977143
3720
在这里他们可以在游泳池内进行展览
16:45
they can begin开始 to do their exhibition展览
in a swimming游泳的 pool,
357
980887
2710
这与一般的当代艺术相比
16:48
so they're not forced被迫 to always
work within the confines界限
358
983621
2637
使他们不用再恪守固定的局限
16:51
of a contemporary现代的 gallery画廊 space空间.
359
986282
1535
所以,怎么造这个
16:52
So, how to build建立 this.
360
987841
1167
很简单,这是一张椅子
16:53
It's very simple简单: it's a chair椅子.
361
989032
1944
16:55
So, we begin开始 by building建造 the cores核心.
362
991000
3432
我们先开始建造主体部分
同时也建造当代艺术博物馆
16:59
As we're building建造 the cores核心, we build建立
the contemporary现代的 art艺术 museum博物馆 at grade年级.
363
994456
3544
这会使得我们非常高效,也很省钱
17:02
That allows允许 us to have
incredible难以置信 efficiency效率 and cost成本 efficiency效率.
364
998024
3066
这幢建筑预算并不高
17:05
This is not a high-budget高预算 building建造.
365
1001114
1701
当主体物分建到中层时
17:07
The moment时刻 the cores核心 get to mid level水平,
366
1002839
1849
艺术博物馆封顶,开始安装机械设备
17:09
we finish the art艺术 museum博物馆; we put
all the mechanical机械 equipment设备 in it;
367
1004712
3195
然后在这里建个平面
17:12
and then we jack插口 it up into the air空气.
368
1007931
1745
他们也是这样造大型飞机库的
17:14
This is how they build建立
really large aircraft飞机 hangars机库,
369
1009700
2489
比如他们为空客A380早的
17:17
for instance, the ones那些
that they did for the A380.
370
1012213
2360
主体框架搭建完成后开始填充血肉
17:19
Finish the cores核心, finish the meat
371
1014597
1840
然后你们可以看到就像这个
17:21
and you get something
that looks容貌 like this.
372
1016461
2013
现在我大概只有30秒,我马上开始
17:23
Now I only have about 30 seconds,
373
1018498
1578
一个动画片,我们将以此结束
17:24
so I want to start开始 an animation动画,
374
1020100
1898
17:26
and we'll conclude得出结论 with that.
375
1022022
1395
17:28
Thank you.
376
1023441
1388
掌声
17:29
(Applause掌声)
377
1024853
4123
17:33
Chris克里斯 asked me to add --
378
1029000
1976
Chris希望我加几句
17:35
the theater剧院 is under construction施工,
379
1031000
1776
剧院正在建造
17:37
and this project项目 will start开始
construction施工 in about a year,
380
1032800
2724
而这个工程将在大约一年后开工
2010年完工
17:40
and finish in 2010.
381
1035548
1151
17:41
[identify鉴定 public上市 elements分子]
382
1036723
1262
17:42
[insert public上市 elements分子 at grade年级]
383
1038009
1587
17:44
[optimize优化 tower dimensions尺寸]
384
1039620
2420
17:47
[place地点 towers on site现场]
385
1042412
1333
17:48
[lift电梯 program程序]
386
1044115
2279
17:51
[flip翻动!]
387
1046418
1779
17:53
[optimize优化 program程序 adjacencies邻接]
388
1048221
1588
17:54
[connect to context上下文]
389
1049833
1393
17:56
[redirect重定向 7th street]
390
1051534
2112
Translated by Yintong Sun
Reviewed by Tony Yet

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Joshua Prince-Ramus - Architect
Joshua Prince-Ramus is best known as architect of the Seattle Central Library, already being hailed as a masterpiece of contemporary culture. Prince-Ramus was the founding partner of OMA New York—the American affiliate of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in the Netherlands—and served as its Principal until he renamed the firm REX in 2006.

Why you should listen
With one of the decade's most celebrated buildings under his belt, Joshua Prince-Ramus would seem well-positioned to become the world's next "starchitect." Except that he doesn't want the job. With his quiet intensity and intellectual bearing, Prince-Ramus is the antithesis of the egomaniacal master architect. He flatly rejects not just the title, but the entire notion of a "starchitect" designing with a genius stroke of the pen.
 
Prince-Ramus is best known for his work on the Seattle Central Library. The striking, diamond-windowed structure reimagines, to spectacular effect, the library's role in a modern urban context. "Seattle's new Central Library is a blazing chandelier to swing your dreams upon," Herbert Muschamp wrote in The New York Times. "In more than 30 years of writing about architecture, this is the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review."
 
Having founded the US practice of the radical Dutch architecture firm OMA in 2000, Prince-Ramus served as its Principal until he renamed the firm REX in May 2006. He continues to take what he describes as a performance-based approach to architecture, pushing logic and rational ideas to their limits to create buildings that are unexpected, but wholly appropriate to their environment and intended use. REX recently completed the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in Dallas, Texas and the Vakko Fashion Center and Power Media Center in Istanbul, Turkey. Current work includes Museum Plaza, a 62-story mixed-use skyscraper housing a contemporary art center in Louisville, Kentucky;the new Central Library and Music Conservatory for the city of Kortrijk, Belgium;and a 2,643,000 ft2 luxury residential development in Songdo Landmark City, South Korea.
More profile about the speaker
Joshua Prince-Ramus | Speaker | TED.com