A few weeks ago, FXFOWLE held a reception for its [UNBUILT] pop-up exhibition presented by B-Sides. As the owner of entry #23, the 'People's Choice' project, I may be a bit biased, but it seemed the exhibition was a wild success! There were over 30 unbuilt project entries, a compelling collection of work by our fellow office-mates, and a tribute to the talent here at FXFOWLE. It was an incredible opportunity to present our favorite personal design work--work that doesn't always get a chance to see the light of day--as well as a chance to catch a glimpse of what drives us. Project entries ran the gamut: Some of the work was exuberant, while some was more solemn.
One exemplary project was presented by our fearless leader, Bruce Fowle - an office tower for United Technologies Corporation that he fondly remembered as being ahead of the times for its sustainable design features. The tower might have completely changed the history of FXFOWLE, but instead fell victim to a soft economy, not unlike many of the architectural projects of the past several years. Fortunately, this setback was not enough to prevent Bruce, and the rest of the firm, from eventually building this type of innovative, sustainable office tower.
Bruce Fowle presents an unbuilt sustainable office tower
Nicholas Garrison presented a stadium and transit hub project that eventually—and unfortunately—became just a stadium, despite the fact that it could have worked! Similarly, Kevin Cannon presented an airport project that consumed so much time and energy only to be taken away at the very last moment...though fortunately not in its entirety. In fact, this project eventually became a formative project in his portfolio.
Nicholas Garrison presents his stadium and transit hub project
Senior Partner Dan Kaplan presented a project that could not have been a better segue in to my own submittal. Dan presented a more futuristic study - a modular dormitory project that he envisions as a smarter way to build certain typologies, and that may become a reality in the not-too-distant future.
Rendering of Dan Kaplan’s modular dormitory concept
My own project was a graduate school creation in a similar vein, stemming from a reading of the high-rise, not as a piece of the city, but, rather, as a city in and of itself, albeit at a different scale.
The author presents ‘Vertical Hyper-diver[city],’ winner of the ‘People’s Choice’ award
Two other projects were conferred awards by popular vote. The 'Kahn Award,' for the project most likely to be built, went to The Haiti Campus designed by Pascale Saint-Louis and the ACE Mentoring Team #22 from 2011. Their mission was to design a school campus that was innovative, sustainable, and able to withstand seismic effects. The campus had to accommodate components such as learning and resource centers, along with support spaces and student residences.
The ‘Kahn Award’ was given to Pascale Saint-Louis and ACE Mentoring team #22 for The Haiti Campus
The 'Archigram Award,' for most conceptual project entry, went to Christina Galati for the Cultivated Carousel, which she originally designed for the AWR London Loft vertical farm competition. The Cultivated Carousel is a contemporary interpretation of how the exchange of food in Britain's public market halls has long been the anchor of society in London. The project translates Britain's traditional [typically horizontal] market halls to a vertical form, creating a confluence of people, vegetables and algae, and crafting environments that result from various interactions of the three.
Christina Galati’s Cultivated Carousel entry, winner of the ‘Archigram Award’
It is not every day that we get to present our own, deeply personal design investigations, especially to our peers. For conceiving of this event and for giving us all a chance to present our cherished, unbuilt work, I extend a hearty thank you to B-Sides, along with the partners, for envisioning and supporting this exhibition.
Thanks to the B-Sides for organizing this pop-up exhibition!
One exemplary project was presented by our fearless leader, Bruce Fowle - an office tower for United Technologies Corporation that he fondly remembered as being ahead of the times for its sustainable design features. The tower might have completely changed the history of FXFOWLE, but instead fell victim to a soft economy, not unlike many of the architectural projects of the past several years. Fortunately, this setback was not enough to prevent Bruce, and the rest of the firm, from eventually building this type of innovative, sustainable office tower.
Bruce Fowle presents an unbuilt sustainable office towerNicholas Garrison presented a stadium and transit hub project that eventually—and unfortunately—became just a stadium, despite the fact that it could have worked! Similarly, Kevin Cannon presented an airport project that consumed so much time and energy only to be taken away at the very last moment...though fortunately not in its entirety. In fact, this project eventually became a formative project in his portfolio.
Nicholas Garrison presents his stadium and transit hub projectSenior Partner Dan Kaplan presented a project that could not have been a better segue in to my own submittal. Dan presented a more futuristic study - a modular dormitory project that he envisions as a smarter way to build certain typologies, and that may become a reality in the not-too-distant future.
Rendering of Dan Kaplan’s modular dormitory conceptMy own project was a graduate school creation in a similar vein, stemming from a reading of the high-rise, not as a piece of the city, but, rather, as a city in and of itself, albeit at a different scale.
The author presents ‘Vertical Hyper-diver[city],’ winner of the ‘People’s Choice’ awardTwo other projects were conferred awards by popular vote. The 'Kahn Award,' for the project most likely to be built, went to The Haiti Campus designed by Pascale Saint-Louis and the ACE Mentoring Team #22 from 2011. Their mission was to design a school campus that was innovative, sustainable, and able to withstand seismic effects. The campus had to accommodate components such as learning and resource centers, along with support spaces and student residences.
The ‘Kahn Award’ was given to Pascale Saint-Louis and ACE Mentoring team #22 for The Haiti CampusThe 'Archigram Award,' for most conceptual project entry, went to Christina Galati for the Cultivated Carousel, which she originally designed for the AWR London Loft vertical farm competition. The Cultivated Carousel is a contemporary interpretation of how the exchange of food in Britain's public market halls has long been the anchor of society in London. The project translates Britain's traditional [typically horizontal] market halls to a vertical form, creating a confluence of people, vegetables and algae, and crafting environments that result from various interactions of the three.
Christina Galati’s Cultivated Carousel entry, winner of the ‘Archigram Award’It is not every day that we get to present our own, deeply personal design investigations, especially to our peers. For conceiving of this event and for giving us all a chance to present our cherished, unbuilt work, I extend a hearty thank you to B-Sides, along with the partners, for envisioning and supporting this exhibition.
Thanks to the B-Sides for organizing this pop-up exhibition!