AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.06.2003, Qupperneq 43

Guðjón Bjarnason, architect and artist
Carlos Zapata, 41, renown as
one of the most innovative
designers of the newest genera-
tion of architects, will be giving a
lecture this September at the invi-
tation of the architectural depart-
ment of the Municipal Museum in
Reykjavík. In addition, Mr. Zapata
will exhibit some working models
and drawings, and with his part-
ner, architect and urban planning
authority Benjamin T. Wood, hold
a seminar at the department of
continuing studies, University of
lceland.
The two will discuss, among
other things, the challenges, cul-
tural differences and difficulties of
working in an international con-
text, especially in relationship to
their rich and somewhat recent
involvement in the Chinese con-
struction industry. They will also
attempt give practical guidelines
on how international commissions
can come about.
Architect/artist Gudjon Bjarnason
took the following interview during
Mr. Zapata’s most recent visit to
the 'land of fire and ice.’
What is your background; partic-
ularly, what led you to the study
of design and architecture?
My family owned a contemporary
art gallery for many years in
Quito, Ecuador. I have shared my
parents’ interest in the arts and
architecture from a very young
age,-so it was natural for me to
select architecture as my profes-
sion. I studied at Pratt Institu-
te, in New York, and did my
postgraduate studies at Columbia
University. After graduating from
Pratt, I started teaching design at
several universities in New York
and Miami for a number of years.
What where your early influ-
ences during your time in aca-
demia, in terms of people and
personalities and/or philosophi-
cal discussion?
At the time of my studies, post-
modernism was the favoured
style or philosophy taught at
American architecture schools. I
completely rejected this philoso-
phy in favour of Modernism. I was
particularly interested in the Italian
futurists, and Russian
Constructivists, but my main
influence at the time came from
the work of Carlo Scarpa.
What inspires you today?
Beauty in general.... Anything that
reacts to light; cities, strong
landscapes, people, form, colour,
even sound and taste. They all
give you something to dream
about.
In today’s pluralist world where
everything seems permissible,
what do you find your architec-
tural office standing for and
where do you see your practice
going?
W+Z is an international practice
with offices in Boston and
Shanghai. We are involved in
some very high profile projects
around the world. We stand for
quality and innovation. I want my
office to continue to work in
urban areas, in projects that sup-
port the life of the city. I also
want to work in cities that I per-
sonally like.
Your somewhat recent involve-
ment with the immense recon-
struction occurring in China is
quite unusual for any architec-
tural office. How did that link
come about and where do you
see the eastern situation going
as a whole?
My partner Ben and I have had
an interest in Asia for many
years, both culturally and as a
potential source of work.
Because of the recent influx of
capital into China, the attention of
the design community has turned
towards this part of the world.
Originally, we were invited to par-
ticipate in closed competitions
because of our previous work in
Japan and other Asian countries.
Today we are being awarded
commissions because of the suc-
cess of our built work in
Shanghai.
Whereas offices of international
scale have often expanded with
ever larger and more frequent
commissions, the size of your
practice stays more or less the
same. You often turn projects
down and that your personal
design philosophy allows no
room what so ever for.
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