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Design Vanguard

Design Vanguard 2008 Features

January 1, 2008
Change swept across the political and economic landscape this year but has yet to make a significant imprint on the sphere of architecture. Rather than charting new courses or promoting new concepts of design, emerging architects—who are usually the ones at the forefront of new developments in their profession—seemed more intent on refining their craft. None of the firms in this year’s Design Vanguard tried to overturn the current order or present a radically new vision of architecture. No bomb-throwers here.
 
What these firms did instead was explore form and context, materiality and construction. Reflecting the busy times in which they have been working, they built a lot and created some stunning projects: houses that provoke thought while satisfying the senses, places for art that engage visitors, new buildings that initiate dialogues with old ones. Although relatively young, the architects have developed bodies of work with significant numbers of completed projects—from small installations for exhibitions to major public buildings. Several of the firms have multicultural backgrounds and are working in more than one country. Others have studied abroad, then returned home with their intellectual horizons expanded. Globalization has become a fact of life even for small practices.
 
As the financial meltdown of 2008 plays out in 2009 and beyond, construction will certainly slow down and commissions (especially for emerging architects) will probably dry up. In a year or two, the ratio of built-to-unbuilt work from our Design Vanguard firms may shift noticeably. That will bring economic pain, but it may also unleash new ways of thinking about and executing architecture for all architects, not only for the Vanguard. For better and for worse, a new economic order will shake things up.
 
Atelier Zhanglei

Atelier Zhanglei
Atelier Zhanglei rubs the universal against the particular to create tension.

Photo © Iwan Baan

BRS Architects

BRS Architects
BRS Architectes combines three approaches under a single philosophy.

Photo © Roland Halbe

Cadaval

Cadaval & Solà-Morales
Cadaval & Solà-Morales moves easily between multiple cultures.

Photo © Santiago Garcés

Daniel Bonilla Arquitectos

Daniel Bonilla Arquitectos
Daniel Bonilla looks at architecture with an eye for urban design.

Photo © Jorge Gamboa

Gianni Botsford

Gianni Botsford
Gianni Botsford develops high-tech tools to make buildings for people.

Photo © Christian Richters

Kuehn Malvezzi

Kuehn Malvezzi
Kuehn Malvezzi finds the art in making more with less.

Photo © Ulrich Schwarz

MOS

MOS
MOS brings intensity and wry humor to its work on many scales.

Photo © Michael Vahrenwald

Smiljan Radic

Smiljan Radic
Smiljan Radic creates works inspired by the ancients, and the everyday.

Photo © Cristóbal Palma

Suppose Design Office

Suppose Design Office
Makoto Tanijiri works outside Japan’s usual web of relationships.

Photo © Toshiyuki Yano/Nacasa and Partners

Urban AO

Urban A&O
Urban A&O deploys digital dexterity to define space and sculpt form.

Photo © Tom Hennes

     
 

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