Future Systems

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Future Systems

Exterior detail of the Selfridges Building, Birmingham
Practice information
Key architects Jan Kaplický
Amanda Levete
Principal office London, England
 United Kingdom
Founded 1982
Work
Buildings Lord's Media Centre; Selfridges; Bull Ring; Malator
Projects Maserati Museum
Awards Stirling Prize (1999)

Future Systems was a London-based architectural and design practice, formerly headed by Directors Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete.

Future Systems was founded by Kaplický after working with Denys Lasdun, Norman Foster, Renzo Piano, and Richard Rogers. The work of Future Systems can be classified within the British high-tech architects as either bionic architecture or amorphous, organic shapes sometimes referred to as "blobitecture". "Compared to his peers, Kaplicky was the avant-garde incarnate, relentlessly pursuing the new new thing, refusing to settle into some predictable, and comfortable, architectural niche."[1]

Future Systems proposals adapted construction methods from other professions, including (most commonly) the curved monocoque shell structures found in aircraft design, car design and boat building.

In the 1990s the company moved from theoretical projects to fee-paying work with projects such as the "spacecraft-like"[2] Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground in London (completed 1999), and the Selfridges Building(completed 2003). For Lord's, Kaplicky received the Stirling Prize. The Selfridges department store is a prime example of the early 21st century movement referred to as "blobitecture", and has been compared to Peter Cook's Kunsthaus in Graz, Austria.

After Future Systems won the Stirling Prize, the firm received larger commissions including the Maserati Museum in Modena, Italy (2009)[3] and the unbuilt new Czech National Library. In 2008 Kaplický and Levete split the firm. Kaplický took the firm name and some staff to the Czech republic, and Levete would take a proposed new headquarters for News Corporation in east London and a commission for a hotel and retail complex in Bangkok, Thailand, along with most of the staff — between 35 and 45 people.[4]

On January 14, 2009 Jan Kaplický died. A month later the final few staff working for Kaplický/Future Systems in Levete's offices were let go.[5]

History[6]

1979 Founded by Jan Kaplicky while working at Foster Associates.

1989 Joined by Amanda Levete who arrives from Richard Rogers & Partners to become a partner.

1994 Completed the well received Hauer-King house in Islington.

1999 Won the Stirling Prize for Lord’s Cricket Ground media centre.

2003 Completed the Selfridges building at the regenerated Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham.

2007 Won the commission for the controversial Czech National Library.

2008 Split into two practices after Kaplicky and Levete officially separate as business partners.

2008 Submits design of London Routmaster bus.[7]

2008 Czech National Library project cancelled by Prague authorities.[5]

2009 Jan Kaplický dies on January 14, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic.[2]

Contents

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Jan Kaplicky, a visionary, dies" Architectural Record, March 2009, p.27
  2. ^ a b Booth, Robert (15 January 2009). "Radical architect Jan Kaplický dies". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/jan/15/architect-jan-kaplicky-dies. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  3. ^ "Designed for the fast lane". World Architecture News. 15 January 2007. http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=818. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  4. ^ Booth, Robert (17 October 2008). "From a shining future to a bitter end as 'blob' architecture pioneers part company". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2008/oct/17/architecture. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  5. ^ a b Staff Writer (19 February 2009). "Levete confirms Kaplicky job cuts". BD Online, The Architects Website. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3134263. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  6. ^ Miller, Vikki (16 October 2008). "Future Systems couple in acrimonious split". BD Online, The Architects Website. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3125154. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  7. ^ Writer, Staff (8 January 2008). "Future Systems' London Routemaster bus". BD Online, The Architects Website. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3130978. Retrieved 14 September 2009. 

[edit] Sources

  • Pawley, Martin (1993). Future Systems : The Story of Tomorrow. London: Phaidon. ISBN 0714827673. 
  • Sudjic, Deyan (2006). Future Systems. London: Phaidon. ISBN 0714844691. 

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Articles

[edit] Books

  • Field, Marcus (1999). Future Systems. London: Phaidon. ISBN 0714838314. 
  • Future Systems (2001). Unique Building (Lord's Media Centre). Chichester: Wiley Academy. ISBN 0471985120. 
  • Kaplický, Jan (2002). Confessions. Chichester: Wiley-Academy. ISBN 0471495417. 
  • Kaplický, Jan (1996). For Inspiration Only. Chichester: Academy Editions. ISBN 1854904787. 
  • Kaplický, Jan (1999). More for Inspiration Only. Chichester: Academy Editions. ISBN 0471987700. 
  • Pawley, Martin (1997). Hauer-King House : Future Systems. London: Phaidon. ISBN 0714836303. 
  • Tichá, Jana; Jan Kaplický (eds.) (2002). Future Systems. Prague: Zlatý řez. 

[edit] External links

Stephen Hodder (1996) · Michael Wilford (1997) · Foster and Partners (1998) · Future Systems (1999) · Alsop/Störmer (2000) · Wilkinson Eyre (2001) · Wilkinson Eyre/Gifford (2002) · Herzog & de Meuron (2003) · Foster and Partners (2004) · EMBT/RMJM (2005) · Richard Rogers (2006) · David Chipperfield Architects (2007) · Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (2008) · Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partner (2009) · Zaha Hadid (2010 and 2011)
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