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

http://www.ted.com Architect Thom Mayne has never been one to take the easy option, and this whistle-stop tour of the buildings he's created makes you glad for it. These are big ideas cast in material form.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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Science & Technology

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• Thom
• Mayne
• ted
• tedtalks
• talks
• architecture
• Morphosis
• innovation
• design

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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...

[socratiz]

@danno1111

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

[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.