Why great architecture should tell a story | Ole Scheeren

Form Follows Fiction

In this section, the speaker challenges the traditional architectural doctrine of "form follows function" and introduces the concept of "form follows fiction," emphasizing the importance of narratives and experiences in architecture.

Rethinking Architecture

• Bernard Tschumi suggests viewing architecture as spaces of stories, focusing on people's experiences within buildings.

• Architecture is portrayed as a means to create different living, working, cultural, and media spaces that impact individuals' realities.

Narrative Hybrids in Architecture

The discussion delves into the idea of narrative hybrids in architecture, where multiple stories coexist within built structures, shaping relationships and experiences.

Architectural Narratives

• Introduction of "narrative hybrids" as structures embodying simultaneous stories throughout buildings.

• Architecture is viewed as complex systems intertwining programmatic functionalities with experiential and social aspects.

Designing China's National Broadcaster Headquarters

The speaker shares insights into designing China's national broadcaster headquarters with a focus on challenging traditional hierarchical architectural norms.

Redefining Verticality

• Questioning the hierarchy associated with skyscrapers by proposing a collaborative system over isolation.

• Design approach focused on creating interconnected activities within the building to foster collaboration among users.

Architectural Organism: Beijing Broadcast Center

The Beijing Broadcast Center is explored as an architectural organism that integrates technical and social clusters to enhance user experience and functionality.

Hybrid Structure

• Integration of technical clusters like program production with social spaces such as meeting rooms for enhanced user interaction.

• Emphasis on creating a circulatory system within the building to unify diverse functions for both visitors and staff.

Community-Centric Design Approach

The speaker discusses incorporating community perspectives into architectural design through character-driven narratives to enhance understanding and communication of building experiences.

User-Centered Design

• Highlighting the significance of community engagement by following hypothetical characters' daily routines within the building.

The Interlace: Redefining Urban Living

In this section, the speaker discusses the concept and design process behind "The Interlace" residential development in Singapore, emphasizing community living and sustainable architecture.

Building Design Philosophy

• The speaker challenges the traditional tower typology to promote connectedness over isolation in urban living.

• Proposes toppling towers and stacking them horizontally to create a communal environment with shared spaces.

• Introduces the hexagonal grid structure of "The Interlace," featuring large outdoor courtyards for community interaction.

Emphasis on Community and Nature

• Focuses on interconnecting human beings and spaces through design, balancing communal and private areas.

• Highlights the abundance of green space within the development, exceeding nature presence compared to not building at all.

Sustainability Features

• Details attention to sustainability by optimizing daylight, glazing facades for energy efficiency, and providing natural shading.

• Utilizes water bodies for evaporative cooling to enhance microclimates within the complex.

Innovative Office Spaces: Bridging Digital Identity with Architecture

This part delves into designing office spaces for a German media company in Berlin that embody digital identity while fostering collaboration and collective experiences.

Redefining Office Spaces

• Explores why physical offices are still relevant in a digital age, focusing on creating a central collaborative space within the building.

• Discusses transitioning from traditional print media to digital media through innovative architectural solutions that promote interaction and communication.

London Legacy Development: Cultivating Synergies Through Architecture

The speaker elaborates on a project commissioned by the London Legacy Development Corporation aimed at creating synergies among institutions through architectural design.

Cultural Integration Approach

• Introduces a modular ring system allowing flexible use of spaces for various functions over time.

New Section

In this section, the speaker describes the architectural design of a building in relation to its surroundings and the concept of maintaining individual identities within a complex system.

Architectural Design and Identity

• The building is situated next to the Aquatics Centre and across from the Olympic Stadium, with cantilevering volumes that extend outward to interact with public space.

• The design aims to allow institutional entities to retain their distinct identities within a complex system, avoiding being overshadowed by a single structure.

• A scale comparison is made with the Centre Pompidou in Paris, highlighting both the vast scale and unique characteristics of the project.

New Section

This part focuses on creating a heterogeneous structure where various entities can coexist while preserving their individual identities.

Heterogeneous Structure for Interaction

• The goal is to establish a diverse organizational framework that enables different entities to interact without losing their identity.

• Emphasis is placed on crafting an organizational structure that accommodates multiple narratives, catering to educational aspects, visual arts presentations, dance performances, and public engagement.

New Section

The speaker discusses a smaller-scale project involving a floating cinema in Thailand and its connection to community narratives.

Floating Cinema Project

• Designed a modular floating platform inspired by local fishermen's techniques for a film festival in Thailand.

• Collaborated with the local community using recycled materials to create a unique floating cinema experience.

New Section

This segment highlights an immersive cinematic experience merging audience engagement with movie narratives.

Immersive Film Experience

• Created a fantastical floating platform in Thailand where audiences watched films from the British film archive like "Alice in Wonderland."