Stella Lee's story calls for architecture to adopt a new movement

2018-10-12T15:25:00-04:00

Architectural education is plagued by the mentality that suffering is a necessary part of its practice. [...] The acceptance of suffering easily slips into normalizing sexual misconduct and its suppression as simply part of the practice. Cultlike worship of the star architect only exacerbates this condition, and there are plenty [...] willing to sacrifice their time and integrity because they have been conditioned to believe that this mode of production is normal.

The architecture world is known for many movements that have enabled architects to create iconic works. From bauhaus to brutalist, midcentury modern to contemporary, countless movements have impacted the architectural timeline. But in today's climate of inclusivity and representation is there one movement in particular that architecture is too slow to adopt?

Designing physical spaces that depict an artistic representation of form and function is something many architects strive for. However, have firms and institutions lost their way when it comes to designing a space that evokes "an equitable working environment?"

Bureau V team (left to right) Stella Lee, Peter Zuspan, Laura Trevino Image via BureauV

Stella Lee, architect and founding partner of the inclusive award-winning studio Bureau V, recently shared her experiences while working with Richard Meier. Having been accused of sexual misconduct it was announced early this month that Meier would be stepping down from his leadership...

How an "egalitarian incubator" music venue hopes to revive Brooklyn's art scene

2015-07-28T16:56:00-04:00

Music venue National Sawdust, formerly OMW workshop, slated to open this fall, hopes to revive, even temporarily, the thrill of ‘90s and early 2000’s Williamsburg, a time when anything felt possible and artistic collaboration ruled supreme. The [13,000 sq.foot] space will offer a rare outlet for musicians of lesser appreciated art forms, from opera to experimental jazz, the opportunity to study, practice, perform, and receive mentorship through an in-venue, non-profit program.

Fresh faces for new spaces. Non-profit arts group National Sawdust collaborated with architect Peter Zuspan — founding principal (and classically trained opera singer) of local emerging practice Bureau V — in designing the group's upcoming music performance space. While Brooklyn has become a commodified brand in recent years, National Sawdust and Bureau V hope the new venue will mix things up a bit by "[combining] the historic European concert hall model with the late bare-bones blackbox [theater] model".

Check out more of Bureau V's work on Archinect.

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Stella Lee's story calls for architecture to adopt a new movement

How an "egalitarian incubator" music venue hopes to revive Brooklyn's art scene