Studio Brief & Information

We live in a world subject to constant challenges, with climate change, earth warming and industrialization already seriously threatening the fundaments of our living environment.
The recent weeks have shown in full blast yet another threat: war at the heart of Europe. The huge loss of life, ethnic cleansing, mass refugee movements and vast amount of destruction will probably render the efforts of CO2 emission reduction of a generation fruitless. 

Architecture’s spirit is being stretched to its limit: struggling to keep on defining our living environment and cities anew, re-building and new building, discovering new forms and technologies of construction, lowering emissions while fostering the creation of new spatial solutions are only some of the challenges ahead.  Amidst these overwhelming challenges architects are not lose sight of the poetry of the human soul embedded in the buildings we shape.

The seminar will be looking into bringing these two realms together: the poetry of architecture and the rational of lowering carbon emissions, proposing new ways of social engagement (living, working, learning, engaging) in the framework of urban quarters whilst identifying building materials and technologies that can support and maintain the much needed sustainable agenda or our immediate future.

The seminar will identify a site in Mestre ideal to develop a framework project in the shape of a medium size urban proposal contemplating the built environment and urban infrastructure, working in different scales of detail, aiming at producing a manifest of modern urban life at the heart of a functioning urban environment: a modern city extract.
The work will be organized in teams, individual or satellite projects will be allowed and welcomed should the project allow.

Field Trips

A day tour to Vicenza (inc. Andrea Palladio buildings) and San Vito d’Altivole (Carlo Scarpa’s Tomba Brion)

San Michele Island in the Venetian Lagoon (designed by David Chipperfield)

Torcello Island (one of the first inhabited islands of the Venetian lagoon, first settled in the year 452)

M9 Museum District (designed by Sauerbruch Hutton)

A walking tour of the 1950s/1960’s buildings in Mestre

Internships

Are internships at Sauerbruch Hutton available to students of this studio?
Yes. Internship places are available

Locations Available:
Berlin

Details:
Students accepted into the Sauerbruch Hutton Studio at Venice Studio are eligible for selection to undertake an internship at Sauerbruch Hutton. Selection of candidates is at the sole discretion of the studio directors and Sauerbruch Hutton. Places are not guaranteed.
*Please contact us at Venice Studio using the form below for further information about these opportunities.

Sauerbruch Hutton

Sauerbruch Hutton is an international agency for architecture, urban planning and design. It was founded in London in 1989 and is now based in Berlin, Germany. The practice is led by Matthias Sauerbruch, Louisa Hutton and Juan Lucas Young.

Sauerbruch Hutton realises sustainable solutions for architectural projects, urban master plans, interiors, furniture and exhibitions. While the practice is noted for its synthesis of colour in the design process and for the use of fluid curvilinear forms, it also has been one of the most important and experienced representatives of sustainable building in Europe for around 30 years. Their planning approach combines functionality and ecological performance with sensuality and intuition. Their projects, developed for both private and public clients throughout Europe, stand for the concept of a responsible modernity, which seeks to communicate with its context – both urban and ecological.

 The office’s best-known buildings include the GSW Headquarters in Berlin, the Federal Environment Agency in Dessau and the Brandhorst Museum in Munich. More recently, the Experimenta Science Centre in Heilbronn and the Museum District M9 in Venice Mestre were opened.

Outside of Germany the firm has worked on projects in the UK, Finland, France, Italy, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

GSW Headquarters
Berlin, Germany

© Annette Kisling