a people's palace exhibition by mecanoo opens in berlin

a people’s palace exhibition by mecanoo opens in berlin
all images courtesy of mecanoo and aedes

mecanoo: a people’s palace
aedes architecture forum, berlin
on now until november, 27th 2014

the exhibition ‘a people’s palace’ has opened at the aedes architecture forum in berlin, displaying the public buildings of architectural practice mecanoo. the display presents the work of the dutch studio through models and movies of recent projects, including the ‘library of birmingham‘ – recently nominated for the 2014 RIBA stirling prize. also presented are the ‘municipal offices and train station’ in delft, the ‘wei-wu-ying center for the performing arts’ in kaohsiung, and the ‘bruce c. bolling municipal building’ in boston.

the display presents the work of the dutch studio through models and movies of recent projects

‘public buildings need public space, and should be welcoming to everybody’, explained mecanoo‘s founder and creative director, francine houben, sharing her view that civic structures are the social and cultural heart of society.

built at the heart of the UK’s second biggest city, the exhibition takes its name from the term houben coined in referring to the library of birmingham. mecanoo’s inviting design welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, forming a truly public building that also incorporates integrated outdoor space. a circular amphitheater embedded in the square reveals a glimpse of the inner library to the public and sets the tone as a dynamic performance space. in the first year since the library’s opening in september 2013 over 2.7 million have visited the institution.

‘a people’s palace’ is on display at berlin’s aedes architecture forum until november, 27th 2014.

interactive elements of the display