In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Architects Rafael-Beneytez-Duran and Peter Jay Zweig have designed an inflated, dynamic structure, exploring hyperobject air, entitled, AIRSCAPES #1.
AIRSCAPES #1
Can man live elsewhere than in air?
Luce Irigaray
In 1986 inspired by the project «The House of Education» (1773) of Claude Nicholas Ledoux, Philip Johnson and John Burgee reassembled the new Architecture building at the University of Houston around an invented atrium to collect the knowledge and new ideas of architecture into a historical, internal court. The post-modern atrium is signified by the regularity of classic iconographies within an axis and a strong sense of symmetry.
AIRSCAPES #1, a dynamic pneumatic structure challenges the values of the stable forms of the atrium by using the ecology of air, the turbulence of our times, the rising temperature of those viewing and interacting with the AIRSCAPE. Tempered by the ever-changing surrounding atmosphere, the floating structure of 380,000 cubic feet allows one’s mind to move freely within the “House of Education”.
AIRSCAPES #1 is air-born: Its presence reminds us how much the static environments are perceived by the weight and solid materiality that have captured and dominated architectural space. AIRSCAPES #1 is inherently dynamic and opens new fields of exploration which can include: negotiating a sense of space with uncertainty, where stability gives way to being dynamic and interactive using the properties of air as an evolving medium of architecture.
By breathing, we exchange and live in the space of air as a material substance. We accumulate aerosol substances that penetrate through the lungs to the blood, to the brain, and finally to our very moods and thoughts: these accumulated forces which respond to air creates unpredictable internal weathers and turbulences. AIRSCAPES #1 is in a constant state of change: Forgotten air, layer over layer of different temperatures from the atrium’s cold floor to the one-hundred-foot temple at the top of the “House of Education”.
AIRSCAPES #1 hovers as an inspiration to a new path in architectural education, an opportunity to look beyond the static forms and enter the possibilities of the dynamic. The 21st century is in a state of transition, of moving targets, technologies, and existential climate challenges: Architecture, by its very nature can rise to the moment.
CREDITS:
ARCHITECTS
Rafael Beneytez-Duran
Peter Jay Zweig
SPONSOR
University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture + Design
Dean Patricia Belton Oliver
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Project Concept
Rafael Beneytez-Duran
Peter Jay Zweig
Graphic Ideation
Rafael Beneytez-Duran
Peter Jay Zweig
Peter Jay Zweig – Static Pneumatic. Carlos Soto, Graphic Development
Rafael Beneytez-Duran – Metastable Pneumatic. Patrick Margine, Graphic Development
FABRICATION
Coordinators
Rafael Beneytez-Duran
Peter Jay Zweig
Material Research
CoAD UH, Material Research Center Director: Ophelia Mantz.
Material Connexion: Andrew Dent, Michael Isserlis
Prototypes fabrication and testing
Rafael Beneytez-Duran, Ophelia Mantz
Bigger Than Life: Mark Bachman, James Durant
Auxiliary Structures
Joseph Colaso, Structural Engineer
Zach Brinkerman, Fabrication
David Edquilang, Fabrication
Brian Lee, Fabrication
Brian Liu, Graphic Development
Aaron McEuen, Fabrication Director
Jacob Roberts, Fabrication
Jakob Thomas, Fabrication
Pneumatic Structure
Bigger than Life: Mark Bachman, Bryan Kinney, James Durant.
Airscapes #1 Installation
Rafael Beneytez-Duran, James Durant, David Edquilang, Brian Lee, Brian Liu, Aaron McEuen, Jakob Roberts,
Exhibition Concept
Rafael Beneytez-Duran,
Peter Jay Zweig.
Exhibition Installation
Peter Jay Zweig, Khoi Bui, Carlos Soto Castellanos.
Bayou Fine Art Imaging: Printing: Barry Rudick
Fire Marshal
Christopher McDonald, U of H Director of Fire and Safety
Joshua Hahn
Lighting
4 Walls Entertainment
Texcam INC
Photography and Film
Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzman + Rocio Romero)
Carolina Heras
Video Performance
Patrick Margain, Brian Liu, Ana Sevilla, Kaede Polkinghorne, Franco Denari
Film Electric management
Erik York
Rafael B. Duran´s practice spans the fields of architecture design, architecture technology and architecture theory. His PhD. dissertation, titled Atmosphere as Form in Architecture, explores the idea of atmosphere in the context of design practices from 1818 to present.
His work has been recognized and awarded at the Architectural Review Emerging Architecture 2016 (Finalist), S.ARCH 2018, COAM 2016 Award (Finalist), 2016 London Biennale Manila Pollination, 2016 London Transart Triennale, 2016 The Architecture and Design Film Festival New York, 3rd Istanbul Design Biennale 2016, Spanish National Award of Public Parks and Gardens 2015, XI Spanish Architecture and Urban Design Biennale 2011.
Rafael B. Duran´s works have been published in Books and Magazines such as: DOMUS, MARK, ARQ, ACTAR, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, CENTER 23, AV magazine, ARQUINE, FUTURE, Detail, Tashen or Pasajes de Arquitectura; as well as by Media such as: Dezeen, Arch20, Architizer, Bannana Design, Archelo, Design Boom, Metalocus, Divisare, Afasia, or Archilovers.
B. Duran has been teaching at the College of Architecture of Texas Tech University (CoA-TTU), Architectural Association (AA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM-UPM), and Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura (ESAyT-UCJC) as director of Theory, Aesthetics, Composition Program
www.z4z4.es
info@z4z4.es
Houston-
4914, Yoakum Blvd, 77006, Houston, Texas, US
Madrid-
Calle de los Artistas 26, Bajo B, 28020, Madrid, Spain
Each Table shows the Work in Progress
Z4Z4 + Z4A is an architecture and design office located in Madrid, Spain, and Houston, Texas. Led by co-principals Rafael Beneytez-Duran and Ophelia Mantz, the office is committed to the idea that architecture is a system of thought. Z4A is where ideological, theoretical, and aesthetic matters are assembled. Z4Z4 is where all projects are being developed in technical and material form. From research to writing, from writing to design, from research to writing, and design to teaching. All works are framed over wide tables where assemblies and relationships are designed.
In the Fall of 2015, they traveled to the West Texas – Lubbock – as a base to explore the vast scale of the West and the sublime of the High Plains – landscapes and airscapes over the Ogallala Aquifer. In 2019 they moved to Houston to explore the forms of late capitalism.
Z4A is the author of Airscapes 1, Tobogan House TBH, Castilla y Leon Pavilion PCyL, Huesca Conference and Exhibitions Hall, Listening Tree, Listening Post, Cerro de las Martires Public Park, Uria Office building, Murua between other buildings and awarded competitions.
Their works have been published in magazines such as: DOMUS, MARK, ARQ, ACTAR, Tashen, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, AV magazine, HOUSES, ARQUINE, FUTURE, CENTER 23, PPA, AR20, Pasajes de Arquitectura, TEDx, Diseño Interior, Detail, Con-Arquitectura, BIEAU XI, ArchDaily, Europan, Experimenta, Diseñart, Dezeen, Arch20, Architizer, Bannana Design, Summa+, Archelo, Design Boom, Metalocus, Divisare, Catalogo Diseno, Afasia, Archilovers, Arkitera, Design.Mk, Archinovosti, Idea Msg, Dezain…
Awards
ACSA 2019 Faculty Design Award, Build 2019, S.ARCH Award 2018- Best Design Project. -AR Emerging Architecture 2016. Finalist. -Premio Nacional de Parques Públicos de España 2015 – Listening Tree, Spanish Biennial XI 2011. – Olympic City of Baghdad. First Prize. 2010 – Conference Hall of Huesca. First Prize 2005. – Castilla y León Pavilion. First Prize. 2008. – San Andrés Etxea Hotel. First Prize. 2005. – SEGO. First Prize. 2007. – Experimental Theater CMC en Getafe. 2007. – Centro de Gestión del Deporte en Leganés. 3rd Prize. 2009. – Europan 10. Taboadella. Awarded, 2010. – Hospedería de Turismo en Castuera. Awarded. 2009. – Hospedería de Turismo en Herrera de Duque. Awarded. 2010.
Rafael Beneytez Durán,
Founder of Z4A in 2010 and Director of Undergraduate Architecture as Associate Professor at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston, Texas, where he teaches design Studios and Technology courses. Rafael B. Duran completed his BArch and MArch studies in architecture at the School of Architecture of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (ETSAM-UPM) in 1998 and awarded PhD by ETSAM-UPM in 2016., awarded with recognition. He has worked with architect Rafael Moneo as projects director from 1999 to 2007. He has taught at ETSAM, ESAyT, Architectural Association, and the College of Architecture at Texas Tech University, as well as lectured and guest critic at many different venues in places such as: Rice University, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Texas Austin, University of Virginia, University of Syracuse, Pratt Institute, Würzburg University, Germany, ETSAB University, El Vallés Architecture School, GSD Harvard-Career Discovery, Segovia, Münster, Porto, Delft, Limerick, Newark NJ, Lubbock TX, College Station TX, El PasoTX or Houston TX
Rafael B. Duran´s practice spans the fields of architecture design, architecture technology and architecture theory. His PhD. dissertation, titled Atmosphere as Form in Architecture, explores the idea of atmosphere in the context of design practices from 1818 to present.
His work has been recognized and awarded at the Architectural Review Emerging Architecture 2016 (Finalist), S.ARCH 2018, COAM 2016 Award (Finalist), 2016 London Biennale Manila Pollination, 2016 London Transart Triennale, 2016 The Architecture and Design Film Festival New York, 3rd Istanbul Design Biennale 2016, Spanish National Award of Public Parks and Gardens 2015, XI Spanish Architecture and Urban Design Biennale 2011.
Rafael B. Duran´s works have been published in Books and Magazines such as: DOMUS, MARK, ARQ, ACTAR, Architectural Review, Architectural Record, CENTER 23, AV magazine, ARQUINE, FUTURE, Detail, Tashen or Pasajes de Arquitectura; as well as by Media such as: Dezeen, Arch20, Architizer, Bannana Design, Archelo, Design Boom, Metalocus, Divisare, Afasia, or Archilovers.
B. Duran has been teaching at the College of Architecture of Texas Tech University (CoA-TTU), Architectural Association (AA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM-UPM), and Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura (ESAyT-UCJC) as director of Theory, Aesthetics, Composition Program
Ophélia Mantz
Ophélia Mantz Architect DPLG, École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville, ENSA -PB, France, 2002, Master in Bioclimatic Architecture and Sustainability, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid, Spain, 2015. Her line of research focuses on the construction of ecological thinking in the field of architecture and the city. Together with Rafael Beneytez, she co-directs the Z4Z4 AAA Practice (Architects Activities Associated). She is a professor and director of the Material Research Center at the School of Architecture, Gerald D Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
She has participated as guest critic at School of Architecture Rice University, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Texas Austin, University of Virginia School of Architecture and University of Cambridge.
Her work has been recognized and awarded at the Architectural Review Emerging Architecture 2016 (Finalist), S.ARCH 2018, COAM 2016 Award (Finalist), 2016 London Biennale Manila Pollination, 2016 London Transart Triennale, 2016 The Architecture and Design Film Festival New York, 3rd Istanbul Design Biennale 2016 and Spanish National Award of Public Parks and Gardens 2015.
TEAM
Rafael Beneytez, Ophelia Mantz, Enrique Krahe, Arancha Montero
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