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Kamingespräch: Why not Architecture?

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Gropius, Mies, Breuer and Mendelsohn are German giants of mid-Century US Modernism, but one would be hard-pressed to name German architects today who have achieved similar success in the US, despite the fact that the country has one of the most sophisticated design and construction cultures in the world.  Why is it that the world’s premier export economy does not export more architecture?

This was the question that prompted Matt Noblett, partner at Behnisch Architekten – whose firm is tied to one of the most prominent names in contemporary German architecture – to reflect upon  innovation and quality in German vs. American architecture and the social, economic, and cultural forces that may be behind the differences in their building economies.

20+ guests joined us for this spring edition of our GABC member-only Fireside Chat / Kamingespräch in the lovely home of a GABC member in Brookline — where wine was served and food enjoyed and the fireplace the backdrop for a most interesting excursion into the world architecture.

Matt Noblett introducing his architectural topic. (Photo credit: E. Westhoven)

 

 

Photo: Janis Rozkalns

About Matt Noblett

Robert Matthew Noblett joined Behnisch Architekten, Boston, in 2007 and has been serving as Partner in Charge there since 2009. He obtained his B.Sc. in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Master of Architecture from MIT. He has lectured at universities in Boston, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Mexico. He is an AIA member and NCARB-certified architect.

 

About Behnisch Architekten

Behnisch Architekten, an internationally recognized cross-disciplinary firm and leader in sustainable architecture, was founded in 1989 and works out of three offices – Stuttgart, Munich, and Boston. Originally established as a branch office of Günter Behnisch’s practice Behnisch & Partner, who designed the facilities for the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 and the German Parliament building in Bonn, the Stuttgart office became independent in 1991. In Boston, the firm is currently building Harvard’s science & engineering complex on its Allston Campus, an almost 500,000 square-foot, six-story state-of-the-art, energy efficient facility expected to be completed in 2020.


Date: Wednesay, May 1st, 2019
Time: 7PM to 9PM
Location: Private residence in Brookline
Member-only event


About the GABC Kamingespräche / Fireside Chats

This is an event format offered twice a year (fall and spring) where a political or economic topic is presented by one keynote speaker in a private setting — the home of a generous host in the Boston area. Fireside Chats are exclusively offered to GABC members only and provide an intimate setting and environment for GABC members to mix and mingle and to receive special access to the key note speaker.

Photo credit: Janis Rozkalns