Thom Mayne: Architecture is a new way to connect to the world

[ameliephaine]

@readux Exactly. This is the only language he can use to convey the ideas in 20ish minutes. To explain fully and in terms everyone can understand would take much longer than he had.

[hellomate639]

Holy crap he looks like Steve Jobs...

[kevnwm]

oh if you people have such a hard time understanding just start at 2:30. And if you still cant follow go watch lady ga ga or something. He is one of the clearest speakers you will ever hear attempt to explain their creative process.

[snoozymoo]

wtf is this guy talking?

how is whatever he is showing and saying going to chance the place i/we/us live in???

please wake up

[snoozymoo]

what the fk is the guy talking?

[503mindst]

These ideas all sound very interesting, but it is unfortunate that he does not go beyond the surface of the concepts set forth in any real detail. Still though, a good demonstration of the dimensions architects and designers of space must be willing and able to delve into. Maybe ill get it after i get my BSA.

[readux]

Architecture is a field that resolves its issues not through words but instead in a variety of needed elements. The english language is very inefficient at producing a desired answer in architecture, thus architects often have a difficult time manipulating what imagery they have in their head into a coherent sentence. Architects can only translate to a certain degree before the english language isn't enough. Clarity isn't possible unless you understand the field.

[riobaker99]

simple thought could be more noble,as frank gehry talks...,maybe,,,

[devious222]

The work done by morphosis is evocative, architectonic, and forward thinking in terms of integrated technology and construction processes. I have always held Thom Mayne high in my books. I'm a little disappointed when i heard him speak in this video though.. unfortunate. typical flakey architecture speak. but anyways, still a fan of his (or at least his talented, under paid, slave driven employees) work. I'm a graduate architecture student btw..

[marianstefan1]

His buildings are beautiful and interesting both as concept and as object . Go Thom !

[dyrale]

Thom Mayne is a visionary architect who unfortunately suffers from what many great architects suffer from: the ability to convey his ideas to non-architects. They're perfectly able to communicate to clients, but in an environment like TED they rely on their portfolios to speak for them. And they end up doing what Mayne has done: explain the images on the screen, rather than expose us to their ideas about architecture as a field. A manifesto-style would have been more appropriate here.

[crossingthechannel]

I wouldn't say this is a mere bullshit. There exists a whole area of architecture theory which master architects of the past such as Le Corbusier fully engaged in. It's a hard concept to understand unless you've endured years of architecture school but it proves that architecture indeed is a very demanding field, beyond just creating stable or nice looking buildings.

[catchalotmor]

This presentation tells us nothing about the skills if the architect. A truly great Architect should never need to justify his/her work. Happy occupiers, happy maintenance staff, happy builders - the true test of an architect is the opinion of the people who experience their buildings and there is no evidence of that here. Just lots of pictures with as little people in them as possible. Soon many high profile architects will be seen to have no clothes when we hit energy stress.

[rayman1989]

well i wouldn't say he was bullshitting, his personal approach to architectural investigation tends to be very conceptual and intellectual. Of course, translating his complicated ideas into built form must be very difficult given the constraints of the real world. I would say that his approach is overly analytical, convoluted and is ineffectively expressed both verbally in his presenation and his designs. Architecture, I think, should come mainly from the gut rather than the brain.

[ImOnTheTube]

I think architecture should come from both brain and gut in a nice healthy balance. You need the brain to logically analyze how, when and where the structure shall be built. But you also need to incorporate that special intuitive factor that makes the building worth experiencing. It is that intuitive factor that binds us all together and makes us gaze at unbelievable beauty. But that alone will not things get "done". Were all bullshitters to some point ;)

[theiamania]

There are not many professions that are as full of bullshitting as architecture. And I am one of them, so I know how meaningless these rambles of words really are. Its embarrassing, and the discussion of architecture needs to be saved from these people whose only accomplishment is to detach architecture even further from the realm of the real

[Theologikos]

I couldn't agree more. I am studying architecture and long for the attempt of clarity in scientific writings, where jargon is used when needed, instead of architecture pseudophilosophy where it is used as substitute for good ideas.

[y3ko86]

@theiamania They are not meaningless at all, totally understandable, philosophical AND realistic, and also helped me piece together similar thoughts in a bit of a different context.

[theiamania]

@y3ko86 Are you and architect? have you worked as an architect? If not then pleeeeeease read my comment again and try to understand the context in which I am writing it before replying. If you are an architect and still think you get something out of this kind of ranting, then I can only assume you are the product of that very thing that I am criticizing, and I am sorry for you, but more for the world you make architecture for.

[charlesnsiegel]

He has a hard time expressing his ideas in words because he doesn't really have any ideas. The only idea behind this style of architecture is to attract attention to yourself by doing something weird and different. But the architects have to justify it, so they invent theories so arcane that no one can see they are not really saying anything. The plaza of this building is the bleakest public space I have seen: whenever the wind blows, it fills up with a whirlwind of dust and trash.

[danielsarch]

There is never a wrong or right approach in architecture. I know this phrase is corny, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

[Theologikos]

Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder. There are human universals. When asking large numbers of people the wast majority agree on what is beautiful and not, especially those not indoctrinated by the education. Ask 10 people yourself whether they find Canterbury Cathedral or some same-sized warehouse most beautiful. Ask anyone whether Venice or London is most beautiful. Ask anyone whether Angelina Jolie or the Queen of England is most beautiful. The wast majority will answer the same

[danielsarch]

you know its so funny that you say the vast majority clarifies the "right" answer. Since you study architecture, you should know that the Effiel Tower was thought of as "ugly" and was so close to being torn down due to the majority's view of it. Now look in our modern time the Tower is the very icon of Paris. So what do think about what I said? I take criticism very kindly so you can feel free to say whatever. ; )

[Theologikos]

The Eiffel tower is an example of something that our culture teaches us is beautiful. Angelina jolie is beautiful because she has characteristics that evolution has caused us to favour. Beauty is both culturally and genetically determined. Some things, like enjoyment of a good view, are universal, hence usually biological, while the awe for architectural simplicity is cultural. For the cultural i agree: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder or culture. Not for the hard-wired biological.

[danielsarch]

hehehe don't tell me your one of those critics that dance around the question with fancy words but never answer it directly? I simply said that the Effiel Tower was hated around its time of erection and in our modern time its the very icon of Paris. you barely responded as to why the Effiel Tower turned from hideous to the essence of Paris...if you say culture made society see it as beauty so quickly, then i guess anything can turn beautiful over night pretty much hehehe

[SmileyWhiplash]

The majority is not always right. A wise man once said, "When you find yourself in the majority, it's time to stop and reflect."

I ask you: Do you think potato-sack dresses are attractive?

[y3ko86]

@Theologikos Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there are fundamentals but there are many variables. Trends in beauty shift, look at the differences just within 10 or 15 years, that's not biological but cultural (healthy vs anorexic, as an example). Tastes can also change and/or grow, evolve etc. London has a lot of beautiful architecture, and Angelina Jolie has been chiseled.

[ccaioc]

I would definitely love to have something of his in downtown São Paulo. It would be a fantastic rupture with that ugly, grey and unimaginative district.

[eman3310169]

Such a genious...yet so damn confusing. He really is the next level of architects--Sustainability, creativity, and functionality. I hope i can someday reach his level of architectural ability, he truly is an inspiration for me and many others.

[supakoogangsta]

Thom Mayne lectured at my college. I agree that he has a hard time conveying his thought process in words, but I do admire that he was still in awe of his work and was very modest. I didn't agree with one of his comments that hand drawings have become obsolete, but I did like his humor.

[danno1111]

One of those guys who is obviously quite intelligent and talented, yet lacks any ability to convey his ideas in words.

It would have been interesting to be introduced to any of the design concepts he put forth, but he goes over them without clarity or depth.

[socratiz]

@danno1111

The main question I can think of is: Who is his audience? Do you know?

[17783]

archibabble?

[g9us]

great post

[remoman]

what makes an "architecture" different to a building?

[albewill]

architecture is the generative process that creates the physical forms of a building.

[Arlosrep]

Nice Vid!

[FTLNewsFeed]

They had more interesting buildings in Star Wars...

[mickalene]

Think you'd have to be the words coming out of his mouth to get it. Fascinating.

[justinbischoff]

Yeah, we didn't seem to get many details on his process, just a general idea about discarding any idea of how the building should look initially and use the landscape, function, and purpose of the building to define the architecture - I guess.

[polkijm]

I've seen a few of these TED talks so far, and I've liked them. This one wasn't BAD, but I personally didn't get a lot out of it. It was like he was saying, "Here are some sentences that SOUND interesting, and here's some cool looking buildings," but I just don't get... like, what was his central thesis? What idea am I supposed to take away from that?

Did anyone else get it?

[vman11]

I second this, it is practicly impossible to take most of what he has said and get something out of it. there were a few mentions of his principles, but really it seemed more confusing than informative.

[RunDX7]

Opening music by Danny Elfman

[bumboodc]

These Ted videos are great. I've been waiting to see lectures from people like Mayne and McDonough for a long time. I hope there will be more.