Behind the Scenes: Simplicity and Complexity of Architecture
The Danish architecture office 3XN celebrates its 30 anniversary in 2016. On this occasion the studio first time gives an insight 'behind the scenes' of the making of architecture, exploring some of the less known stories, processes and people behind the glossy photos often used to depict architecture.
The vision of 3XN is and has always been to create architecture for people through a holistic approach tailored to users and clients. 3XN is rooted in the Scandinavian tradition of clear functionality and simple beauty. Each new project builds upon the experience of their previous work, always challenging conventions and is seen as a research that enhances their knowledge and sharpens their approach.
A special focus of the office is therefore dedicated to the research and development of materials and technology to push boundaries and challenge traditional thinking. The result is a playful and innovative architecture grown from the drawing board to reality, which aims to make today´s buildings meet the requirements of the next generation of users.
The exhibition is inspired by the metaphor of exploring the myriad people who bring a movie to life well beyond the actors on screen. In the same way the installation aspires to reveal some of the complexity of collaboration of many parties inherent in every building-process. "A building can appear to the viewer as a single object, a silhouette - like a flickering movie on the screen - which belies the layers of complexity behind the single image," observed Kim Herforth Nielsen, Founder and Creative Director of 3XN. “This exhibition uses models, photos, and other visual elements to represent the technical, material, interpersonal and many other aspects of design that go on ‘behind the scenes’ as architects bring a building from concept to completion.”
On display will be recent projects like the Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney and the International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lausanne, as well as a selection of other significant projects that represent the offices approach and development of “the simplicity and complexity of architecture.”
3XN Architects was founded in 1986 by Kim Herforth Nielsen, 3XN employs nearly 100 staff in offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm. Four senior partners lead the firm today: Founder Kim Herforth Nielsen, Head of Competitions Jan Ammundsen, Director of GXN Kasper Guldager Jensen and CEO Jeanette Hansen. The studio has designed a range of high-profile cultural, commercial and residential buildings, including: the new Royal Arena and Denmark's National Aquarium, The Blue Planet, both in Copenhagen; International Olympic Committee Headquarters in Lausanne; Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney; Museum of Liverpool and Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw. GXN is the firm's internal innovation unit working with digital tools, new materials and green technologies.