The MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House in Los Angeles presents City in a City: a Decade of Urban Thinking by Steven Holl Architects. The exhibition opens with a reception and panel discussion on Wednesday, January 29, and Steven Holl will give a public lecture on Thursday evening, January 30. The exhibition runs through March 9, 2014.
This new exhibition of the work of Steven Holl Architects presents six urban projects in China, designed with particular focus on shaping public space, natural green strategies, hybrid programs, structure and light. Included are three built works: Linked Hybrid in Beijing, Vanke Center/Horizontal Skyscraper in Shenzhen, and Sliced Porosity Block in Chengdu, as well as three yet to be built works: Porosity Plan in Dongguan, Eco-City in Tianjin, and the Qingdao Culture and Art Center. Concept watercolors of each building will be on view along with project models and construction documents. Also featured are short videos of the built works. The exhibition is arranged chronologically from 2002-2013 through the rooms of the Schindler House, making physical the journey through a decade of thinking.
As the office has taken on work of increasing complexity in China, embracing that which could dominate us—the city, infrastructure and overpopulation—has been an important part of the Holl design process. The projects featured in this exhibition offer a study of contrasting and nested scales that acknowledge the city-dweller’s ever-morphing perception from micro to macro and back again.
RELATED PROGRAMMING
Wednesday, January 29, 7-9 PM
Opening reception, with panel discussion from 7:30-8:15 PM featuring contributing authors of the new book Urban Hopes: Made in China (Lars Müller, 2013). The discussion will be moderated by Christoph a. Kumpusch. Panelists include Kathy Battista, Kimberli Meyer, Mark Morris, Ryan J. Simons, Anthony Titus and Hrag Vartanian.
Thursday, January 30, 7:30 PM:
Steven Holl will give a lecture in the courtyard of the Schindler House.
Both events are free and open to the public.