lisbon architecture triennale: lacaton & vassal wins lifetime achievement award

lisbon architecture triennale 2016: lacaton & vassal, the paris-based architecture firm, has been honored with the lifetime achievement award at this year’s lisbon architecture triennale. the prize distinguishes the individual or studio whose work and ideas have influenced, and continue to influence, current architectural practice and discourse. the winner is chosen by a jury of prominent figures including bijoy jain and andres lepik.

FRAC nord-pas de calais, dunkerque (also main image) / all images by paulo catrica

‘the work of lacaton & vassal has reached worldwide recognition for its relevance as well as uniqueness,’ commented josé mateus, president of the lisbon architecture triennale. ‘from small projects marked by the questioning of typologies and materials used outside of their conventional field, to the clever re-invention of pre-existing architectures, their body of work is an extraordinary example of the capacity of transformation that architecture can achieve.’ in 2013, the lifetime achievement award went to british architect and critic kenneth frampton, while six years ago portuguese architect álvaro siza was selected.

another of the firm’s most recognized designs is the nantes school of architecture (2009)

founded in 1987 by anne lacaton and jean-philippe vassal, the studio is internationally recognized for its sustainable reuse of existing resources and structures, and has completed a number of renovation projects. some of lacaton & vassal’s most distinctive projects include the school of architecture in nantes and the FRAC nord-pas de calais in dunkerque.

the school building was designed for a total of 1,000 students

completed in 2013, the FRAC in dunkerque houses a public collection of regionally assembled contemporary art. lacaton & vassal’s design involved creating a glazed double of the site’s existing boat warehouse to house the institution’s various programs. ‘the new building juxtaposes delicately without competing nor fading,’ explain the architects. the building forms part of the ongoing redevelopment of dunkerque’s port district.

the structure seeks to create an array of diverse settings

the prefabricated building is contained within a transparent envelope that allows views inside the building. primary exhibition galleries are found at the lower two levels, with cinema and forum spaces located above. meanwhile, the existing warehouse has been left without a specific program, meaning that it can function as an extension of the new building, or alternatively, host large scale public events.

open areas can be used for a range of activities

another of the firm’s most recognized designs was completed in 2009, a school of architecture building in nantes, western france. designed for a total of 1,000 students, the structure seeks to create an array of diverse settings that encourage both education and interaction. ample, double-height volumes have non-attributed functions, meaning that they can transformed almost instantaneously to host a range of events or small gatherings.

many double-height volumes have non-attributed functions

three decks — 9, 16, and 22 meters above ground — are served by a gently sloping external ramp. a lightweight steel structure redivides the height of these main levels, providing space for desired programs and creating a system that can be readily adapted in future years. ‘like a pedagogical tool, the project questions the program and the practices of the school as much as the norms, technologies and its own process of elaboration,’ says lacaton & vassal.

an image of a rhinoceros has been etched into the concrete walls of the stairwell

the architects conceived the project as a ‘pedagogical tool’

an auditorium is capable of hosting a wide range of events

lisbon architecture triennale

since its creation in 2007, the lisbon architecture triennale (LAT) has fostered knowledge and exchange about contemporary architecture by creating a dialogue open to professionals and the general public alike.

‘the form of form’, LAT’s fourth edition curated by the late diogo seixas lopes and andré tavares, will take place from october 5th – december 11th, 2016. as the title suggests, ‘FORM’ itself will be a main object of exploration, understood both in its role as a universal means of communication within and outside the discipline of architecture, as well as in its power to radically influence the functioning and the development of cities. LAT will investigate interactions and struggles that materialize in the place where architecture is materially built, drawing attention to the role of technologies and rhetoric on the form architecture takes, and on the impact the built environment is able to have on society and in people’s lives.

between the participants, renowned practitioners coming from architecture, design and the visual arts contribute to a multidisciplinary and critical discourse. LAT’s programme – including 4 main exhibitions, 7 satellites, 3 awards, 1 competition, 1 international conference, 14 associated projects, and much more – will lead the audience in an in-depth exploration of lisbon’s urban landscape, allowing visitors to experience unexpected places, tracing new paths in the city and its surroundings.

designboom is an official media partner of the 2016 lisbon architecture triennale. see our coverage of the event here.

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