'Vagueness should be killed': MVRDV's Winy Maas calls for more clarity in architecture
by Kim Megson | 02 Jun 2016
Winy Maas has called for 'activated, action' architecture which has a clear purpose / Charles William Pelletier
MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas has said architects should do more to instil clarity and purpose into their work.
Speaking during the Next Creation forum on urbanism and the development of cities in China at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Maas called for “vagueness to be killed” in architecture.
“I think every project should be so radical and clear that it shows what it wants to add to the world and how it can improve it,” he said, in reply to a question on how architects can contribute to a better planet. “This is for both large and small projects – it’s something we all have to try out.”
Maas praised architecture which “is clear enough for the whole world to understand what you’re doing”.
“I’m happy with The Stair,” he added, referencing MVRDV’s recent Rotterdam project in which a giant 180-step staircase was installed in the city to mark the rebuilding efforts since it was largely destroyed in World War II.
“It just opened and I was surprised how many people took the gesture [the way it was intended]. I mean, it's a stupid, simple stair, but in no time 100,000 people had used it. That touched me personally and encouraged me to advertise for this activated ‘action architecture’ – architecture that wants to clearly show its intentions in the most direct and fantastic way.”
MVRDV have certainly embraced clarity with their latest project – a completely transparent glass Infinity Kitchen that has been unveiled at this year’s Biennale.
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MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas has said architects should do more to instil clarity and purpose into their work. Speaking during the Next Creation forum on urbanism and the development of cities in China at the Venice Architecture Biennale, Maas called for “vagueness to be killed” in architecture. “I think every project should be so radical and clear that it shows what it wants to add to the world and how
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