Archinect - News

Pharrell calls for reintroducing arts and architecture competitions at the Olympics

2024-08-01T17:54:00-04:00

[Pharrell] Williams is aiming to reinstate arts competitions back on the world’s biggest sports stage, starting with raising awareness through his star-studded Louis Vuitton event Thursday in Paris. He passionately shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before the Games’ opening ceremony.

As we detailed three years ago during the Tokyo games, the modern Olympics were at one time also meant to showcase feats of artistic and architectural talent (although most were tinged by racist theories of the time). Pharrell’s view, which he wouldn’t elaborate, is that having them included would “raise awareness.”

Francesca Aton of ARTnews joined the musician and Louis Vuitton creative director (and avid skateboarder) in espousing: “[It’s] clear that reviving them would not only take a big effort but would also require the support of those active among the categories in each respective field. As recent studies on arts workers reveal gaps in professional continuation and low wages, support for those in the field could be a welcome change and an opportunity for impactful discovery.”

Musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams moves into architecture with a two-tower project in Toronto

2019-11-07T14:07:00-05:00

We've seen some of pop culture's most prominent figures break into architecture in recent years. There was Brad Pitt's "informal apprenticeship" with Frank Gehry and his subsequent Make It Right Foundation. We have Kanye West, and his exploratory activities within the field of affordable housing, as well. And now, we have Pharrell Williams: The Grammy Award-winning artist and entrepreneur is also stepping into the world of architectural design.

The musician has partnered with Reserve Properties and Westdale Properties on a new two-towered residential development in Toronto, Canada. Williams worked with architects at IBI Group and interior designers at U31 on various facets of the design, ranging from the facade material to the interior furniture. "The opportunity to apply my ideas and viewpoint to the new medium of physical structures has been amazing," Williams said in a statement.

The development will be called Untitled, celebrating the "universality of space," a concept that was...

Zaha Hadid and Pharrell Williams are co-designing shoes for Adidas

2015-07-28T16:06:00-04:00

"I’m a huge fan of Zaha’s, I’ve always been. I would venture to say she’s one of the most talented architects of our time and of history in my opinion. The kinds of shapes and the kinds of structures that she transcribes from her mind’s imagination – I think that Zaha’s designs are just like her buildings, they augment reality forever. And I feel like with the Supershell, she created, while using the dimensions of the shoe, cast shadows that weren’t necessarily there”

This isn't the first time the singer and architect have worked together – Williams referred to a pre-fab housing collaboration back in 2013. And his designs on associating with the architecture community were made clear at the AIA National Convention in 2014, where he delivered a keynote speech alongside Jeanne Gang and Theaster Gates.

But the architect's influence is pretty understated, compared to other Zaha-designed shoes. It appears as if the only major change to Adidas' classic Superstar trainer is to the pronounced ridges on the toes. Watch Pharrell's full spot for the "Zaha Hadid Supershell Superstar" shoes ($120 USD) below:

h/t designMENA

Pharrell Williams Will Give the AIA 2014 National Convention Keynote Address

2014-03-24T13:39:00-04:00

Williams joins artist and urban planner Theaster Gates and MacArthur Genius and architect Jeanne Gang, FAIA, as speakers who will deliver keynote addresses. ARCHITECT Live host Stephen Chung, AIA, and 2014 AIA President Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, will also give talks. And Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may put in an appearance as well, but who ever knows with that guy.

Pharrell Williams hints at pre-fab collaboration with Zaha Hadid

2013-01-04T17:32:00-05:00

There’s a collaboration I’m working with Zaha Hadid, we’re touring around with the idea of a prefab for a house.

Pharrell Talks Jean Prouvé, Gio Ponti, Zaha Hadid, And “Other Super Genius Guys” at Design Miami/

2012-12-10T18:19:00-05:00

The budding industrial designer also gave his top picks from the fair, which unsurprisingly all feature bright swaths of primary colors: a Charlotte Perriand bookshelf from Galerie Downtown accented with yellow squares; a Pierre Guariche chair from Demisch Danant, a Riteveld chair from Galerie Vivid; and a desk from Galleria Rossella Colombari by Gio Ponti, whom he was so delighted to have discovered: “He tried to make the office fun!”

Pharrell: Places and Spaces I've Been

2012-10-05T13:37:00-04:00

In his own unique graphic language, he details his extensive creative pursuits, including clothing lines, jewelry, and accessories designs for Louis Vuitton, furniture and other product design, limited-edition toys, graphic designs, skate graphics, and collaborations with Moncler, Marc Jacobs, the artist KAWS, and with architects Zaha Hadid and Masamichi Katayama/Wonderwall.