If you’re in London and you're looking for architecture-focused exhibitions (more about further events connected with this theme tomorrow) that may also prove inspirational on a fashion level, try "OMA/Progress" at the Barbican Art Gallery.
This is actually the first major presentation in the UK of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture founded by Rem Koolhaas in 1975, coinciding with the opening of the Rothschild Bank HQ in London and of a new Maggie’s cancer care centre in Gartnavel, Glasgow.
Designed and curated by Brussels-based Rotor with OMA, the exhibition mainly follows the process behind the planning, with images, models, studies and print outs of various projects (plus the firm’s failed bids – very educational, if only we learnt more from our personal failures...)
From a fashion point of view the themes explored in the various spaces - among them ‘Movement’, ‘Materials’, ‘White and Shiny’ - may be a little bit too bland and generic, but they could lead to interesting ideas.
In Fact, as stated in a previous post, projects for competitions can be very inspiring. One example is the "Programmatic Lava" idea for the Yokohama Masterplan developed in 1991.
The project consists in avoiding individual buildings and their limitations and separations and coming up with a continuous and formless project engulfing the site like programmatic lava.
As the masterplan states: "The parking lot could be transformed into a single warped plane that would be sometimes highway, sometimes ramp, sometimes parking and sometimes roof".
If you're into continuous or amorphous forms, another inspiring idea is the foam developed by OMA (I took the folowing images a while back at the Fondazione Prada exhibition in the Venice-based Ca' Corner della Regina building).
Developed using a regular cleaning sponge, these polyurethane cast prototypes formed by solid and empty parts, are characterised by regular and irregular structures in transparent or opaque materials.
The visual effects formed vary according to the sizes and depths of the holes and to the consistency and flexibility of the material used.
This material was mainly developed during OMA's researches for Prada stores and was then employed for different purposes, from shelves to floors.
The Barbican exhibition is accompanied by a series of events, talks and tours. You can find more about them by downloading the event programme here.
"OMA/Progress" is at the Barbican Art Gallery, London, until 19th February 2012.
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