Buildings 2.0
In this episode of Buildings 2.0, Rutger Huiberts, Design Director at KPF, shares his journey to leading innovative architectural projects worldwide, including the influence Japanese design principles have had on his own ideas and the value of beauty, art, and preservation in even the most data-driven processes.
Rutger also reflects on the importance of designing cities on a human scale and the integration of data-driven approaches in modern architecture. He discusses the practicalities of translating these philosophies into everyday work, from virtual meetings to on-site visits.
Topics discussed:
- The importance of designing cities and buildings with a focus on human needs and uses, making spaces livable and interactive.
- How technology and parametric design tools can create smarter, more artistic buildings that respond to human needs and environmental challenges.
- Rutger and KPF’s commitment to sustainability, including the integration of green technologies and eco-friendly practices in architectural projects.
- Navigating the complexities of working on projects across different time zones and continents, ensuring cohesive design and effective communication.
- Inspiration from the modularity and adaptive reuse principles of the Japanese Metabolism movement, emphasizing flexibility and sustainability in design.
- The increasing importance of using analytical tools to provide data-driven insights for improving building performance and sustainability.
- How different local regulations impact architectural design and the importance of working with local experts to navigate these frameworks.
- Trends in urban development, such as the integration of mixed-use spaces and the shift towards more livable, walkable cities.
- The significance of maintaining face-to-face interactions and consistent involvement of team members throughout the design and construction process.
Guest Quotes:
#1.)
“I draw a lot of the inspirations whenever I travel to, you know, not only seeing the new buildings, but also see the historic places. I think those are really the places where, on the one hand, you see, you know, the lessons learned from history, lessons learned from human activity and use over the centuries, but also you can start to see, really, how we can learn a lot from these projects or these buildings in terms of sustainability.” (4:55-5:16)
#2.)
“Yeah, I think there's always an incredible attention to the places people touch, and as an architect you’re always kind of involved in creating spaces that people are inhabiting, but they're also touching and using them. And so you can see different uses of materials. And I always feel that's a really fascinating part of our profession, to make spaces that can not just be visually appreciated, but also touched and felt.” (6:49-7:16)
#3.)
“So that's also the importance of having local experts, and the way we work together with them is really understanding within which framework you operate and then try to design to the smartest way you can.” (13:38-13:53)
#4.)
“We also put a lot of focus within our firm to understand our designs and how we can very easily analyze them and create all the data that's necessary to back up what kind of design decisions we make.” (17:19-17:32)
Get in touch with Rutger Huiberts:
Get in touch with your host, Jose Cruz:
Listen to more episodes:
