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Francine Houben of Mecanoo Speaks at Architectural Record Innovation Conference
On November 3, Francine Houben Speaks at Architectural Record Innovation Conference at CUNY Graduate Center, NY
Thu, Nov 3 - Thu, Nov 3 2016
James Gallery, CUNY Graduate Center - New York Consulate Region
On November 3, Dutch architect Francine Houben, the Creative Director of Dutch firm Mecanoo Architects, will speak at the Architectural Record Innovation Conference at the CUNY Graduate Center. From 11:45 AM until 12:15 PM, Houben will present her work, based on the three principles of People, Place, Purpose, and focus on the making and materialization of the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Boston, the Library of Birmingham in the U.K., and the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts in Taiwan. Each project is carefully considered in terms of its cultural setting, place and time, resulting in a unique design embedded in its context and orchestrated for the people who use it.
About Francine Houben
Francine Houben (1955) began to formulate the three fundamental concepts of her architectural vision whilst studying at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. Designing primarily for “People,” constructing spaces that are relevant to a “Place,” and forging connections that give a building “Purpose” have remained consistent, underlying values to Mecanoo’s practice over the past three decades. Always seeking inspiration in the details of specific sites and locations, Francine bases her work on precise analysis coupled with an intuition built over three decades. She interweaves social, technical, playful and human aspects of space-making together in order to create a unique solution to each architectural challenge. Francine combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture in an untraditional way, with a profound sensitivity for light and beauty. Her use of materials, which often contrast in a complementary way, are the sum total of her creative expression.
Houben was named the Woman Architect of the Year in 2014 by the Architects’ Journal in the U.K. Among her projects are the Library of Birmingham, the Delft Railway Station and the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Boston. She is currently at work on the renovation of the main branch of the New York Public Library.
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About the Architectural Record Innovation Conference
The ARIC is the most influential conference on design and technology, and innovative architecture. Innovation requires expanding the boundaries of the discipline by spurring creativity through design and technology. At this year’s conference, Architectural Record brings together key figures who have generated a range of imaginative solutions for the built world today and for the future. Register for the conference here.