\nThe starchitect talks creative process, The Master Collection and his Pritzker Prize<\/p>\n
Perhaps sitting on Architectural Digest\u2019s top 100 influencers list in 2016 was no big deal for Richard Meier. He is, after all, winner of the Pritzker Prize \u2013 architectures highest honour.
\nMeier joins fellow AD100 architects Jim Olson, Annabelle Selldorf, Steven Harris and Calvin Tsao for The Master Collection \u2013 Phoenix Property Investors\u2019 luxury multi-architect project; a 28-villa development in the rolling hills outside Taipei.
\nRichard Meier & Partners have designed six stand alone houses, each taking advantage of the surrounding natural beauty, and featuring striking geometric contours and white walls typical of Meiers style.
\nWe spoke to Meiers about working on The Master Collection, his unique asthetic principals and his design process\u2026
\nWhat appealed to you about the Master Collection?
\nThe Master Collection was remarkable for us not only for the natural beauty around the site, and the views overlooking the mountains in the Great Taipei area, but also for the commitment expressed by the client to create a sense of place with exceptional residences and a varied group of architects.
\n\u201cArchitecture is not a validation of ideals, but rather a creative process allowing for new ideas to happen\u201d
\nOur primary concern at every site is to create a strong sense of \u201cplace,\u201d by enhancing or transforming the existing site in a unique and provocative way. Whether urban, suburban, or the open landscape, we search the context of each project individually for clues that inspire a formal idea about issues of organization, scale, and location that provoke a strong dialog with its setting. Each element of the master plan\u2019s organization reflects an ambitious attention to detail and innovative use of construction solutions, and we hope the villas become a successful living environment that is unique to the neighborhood and Taiwan.
\nClick to view slideshow.How do you feel your unique style compliments the hillside surroundings?
\nWe have designed all the villas to read as a single object on the landscape, giving them a cubic appearance and connection to the site. The buildings are oriented to frame views and to modulate the use of natural light into the interior spaces. Stepped courtyards, gardens and terraces follow the existing slopes offering an array of views and outdoor spaces.
\nThe villas are arranged on their respective lots following the idea of a promenade with a sequence of architectural elements composed of pedestrian bridges, suspended walls, and openings that traverse the site culminating in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
\nMore: See how landscape architecture is shaping developments all over Asia<\/p>\n
What do you enjoy most about the design process?
The starchitect talks creative process, The Master Collection and his Pritzker Prize Perhaps sitting on...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-property-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p75ss1-aaV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39603,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/starchitect-steven-harris-talks-architecture-today-and-working-in-taiwan\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":0},"title":"Starchitect Steven Harris talks architecture today and working in Taiwan","date":"January 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\r The multi-award winning architect joins colleagues in Taipei\u2019s The Master Collection As well as sharing the honour of sitting on AD100 with fellow The Master Collection collaborators \u2013 Jim Olson, Annabelle Selldorf, Richard Meier and Calvin Tsao, Steven Harris is the recipient of multiple AIA awards as well as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":40298,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/how-architect-calvin-tsao-was-seduced-by-the-taipei-hills\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":1},"title":"How architect Calvin Tsao was \u201cseduced\u201d by the Taipei hills","date":"January 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\r The New York architect is the leading force behind Taiwan\u2019s most exciting new development Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown How did just one residential development manage to attract so many of the world\u2019s leading architects? This has been the great question surrounding The Master Collection, a hugely exciting residential\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37950,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/how-did-this-luxury-development-in-taipei-attract-so-many-starchitects\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":2},"title":"How did this luxury development in Taipei attract so many \u201cstarchitects\u201d?","date":"December 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\r Five of the worlds most celebrated architects head to Taiwan to create The Master Collection If one is to bulldoze an area of natural beauty, it had better be worth it. Perhaps that\u2019s what Phoenix Property Investors were thinking when they conceived The Master Collection \u2013 a series of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43621,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/6-places-that-prove-taipei-is-one-of-asias-most-inspiring-cities\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":3},"title":"6 places that prove Taipei is one of Asia\u2019s most inspiring cities","date":"February 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\r Although its property market is one of the world\u2019s most expensive, that hasn\u2019t stopped big name architects from flexing their design muscles in vibrant Taipei Pink sky alert. Image: ESB Professional\/Shutterstock The utilitarian buildings that dominate its cityscape may belie the fact, but Taipei is emerging as one of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38077,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/architect-jim-olson-leads-the-pack-in-taipeis-the-master-collection\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":4},"title":"Architect Jim Olson leads the pack in Taipei\u2019s The Master Collection","date":"December 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\r \u201cArchitecture should fit into its context and buildings should melt into the landscape as if they grew there\u201d It\u2019s hard enough to secure just one major architect to design your project, but astonishingly, Phoenix Property Investors managed to pin down five of the worlds top names to work on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38753,"url":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/property-news\/architect-annabelle-selldorf-on-her-first-venture-in-taiwan\/","url_meta":{"origin":39117,"position":5},"title":"Architect Annabelle Selldorf on her first venture in Taiwan","date":"December 21, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\r One of the five award-winning starchitects collaborating on The Master Collection Annabelle Selldorf has attracted a global reputation for her assured designs and restrained style. The German-born, New York-based designer is one of the five \u201cstarchitects\u201d creating The Master Collection, the ambitious, multi-architect project in the lush green hills\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Property News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39117"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.siamlandbank.com\/propertynews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe principles that guide the work in our office are rooted in timeless, classical design issues such as Context, Site, Order, and the use of Natural Light. In my work I seek to find through design the best of what exists and what can be.
\nMy purpose is to deliver thoughtful, original modern architecture that is as accessible as it is beautiful, as humanist as it is disciplined. This is an architecture which is concerned with the individual as well as the community at large. My commitment to the art of architecture extends from the belief that architecture guided by the principles of purity, organization, and an understanding of each place\u2019s uniqueness has the power to inspire, to elevate the spirit, to feed both the mind and body.
\nRichard Meier at work
\nTo what extent do you think culture and tradition are important in modern architecture, if at all?
\nArchitecture is the careful articulation of a process that allows change to happen. Architecture is not a validation of ideals, but rather a creative process allowing for new ideas to happen.
\nOver the years there have been so many things that have been important to my work as an architect. We look at each project and consider the context\u2014what it is and what it can be\u2014beyond the strictly functional concerns. We think about its public nature and how that can be enhanced, how the spaces we create can enliven the experience of being there. As we develop our first projects in 11 countries one of the biggest challenges we\u2019ve faced working in so many different places is understanding variations, both in terms of culture and tradition.
\nDuring the 1984 Pritzker Prize Acceptance Speech I explained that mine is a preoccupation with light and space; not abstract space, not scale-less space, but space whose order and definition are related to light, to human scale and to the culture of architecture.
\nArchitecture is vital and enduring because it contains us; it describes space, space we move through, exit in and use. I work with volume and surface, manipulating forms in light, changes of scale and view, movement and stasis. In this way, one might say that my style is something that is born out of culture, and yet is profoundly connected with personal experience. But to gain any sense of my involvement, it is necessary to consult the work. Almost thirty years later, this design philosophy continues to inform the work.
\nA slideshow of Richard Meier\u2019s previous work:
\nClick to view slideshow.Read next: Architectural icon Zaha Hadid leaves a legacy of striking designs behind
\nThis is Part Three in a five week series where we will be publishing exclusive interviews with The Master Collection architects. Next week we will be profiling Steven Harris. Click here for Part One, interview with Jim Olson, and here for Part Two, interview with Annabelle Selldorf. For more details of The Master Collection as well as founding partner of Phoenix Property Investors, go here.
\n
\nSource : property-report.com
\nRead more…Richard Meier on designing the hottest new luxury residences in Taipei<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"