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Lecture of Francine Houben at The Center for Architecture in NYC
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May 5, Dutch architect Francine Houben of Mecanoo Architects will give a lecture at The Center for Architecture in New York.
Thu, May 5 - Thu, May 5 2016
May 5, Dutch architect Francine Houben of Mecanoo Architects will give a lecture at The Center for Architecture in New York. In the lecture “People, Place, Purpose,” Francine will present her creative expression, based on these three elements.
Additionally, she will present some of Mecanoo’s high-profile international designs. The practice’s wide-ranging portfolio is inspired by global challenges and a sustainable view on society.
As the Creative Director of Mecanoo, Francine currently leads the renovation of the Midtown Campus of the New York Public Library and the revitalization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC. The acclaimed Bruce C. Bolling Building in Boston, a municipal office of great significance for the district of Roxbury, was opened in March 2015. In November 2015, Queen Máxima of The Netherlands presented the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize to Francine Houben for her oeuvre. A new monograph, entitled “People, Place, Purpose,” was released the same day.
About Francine Houben
Francine Houben (b. 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 “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.