Rice Architecture Tête-à-Tête

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by Rice Architecture alumna Lindsey Chambers with Ivi Diamantopolou and Jaffer Kolb, co-founders of New York-based design practice New Affiliates. In the interview, Diamantopolou and Kolb discuss the challenge of representation--creating renderings and drawings--for projects that could take many possible forms and the need to be presented to different audiences. The role of reuse is considered in their work, along with the overall trajectory of New Affiliates since its founding.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with Eric Höweler, co-founding principal and partner of Höweler + Yoon Architecture LLP and Associate Professor in Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In the interview, Höweler discusses the issue of representation in the design of monuments, who is represented and how meaning is represented, specifically in the firm's Collier Memorial and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVA. In addition, the trajectory of Höweler + Yoon alongside the rise of digital design tools and fabrication processes is considered.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers (M.Arch. '22) with former Rice Architecture Wortham Fellow Viola Ago. She discusses her thoughts on the roles of digital technology, compositional physics, and empathy in the design process. Themes in relation to some of Ago's recent work, including the installation Poppy Red and essays for PLAT 9.0 Commit and Log 46, are included in the interview.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with former Rice Architecture Wortham Fellow Amelyn Ng. She discusses her Stay-at-home Stress and Screenspace projects, which are concerned with what designers can learn from stay-at-home experiences during the pandemic and digitally representing environmental phenomena, respectively. We also discuss some of her more recent work on environmental issues and representation, among other things.

The latest episode of Tête-à-Tête features an interview by graduate student Lindsey Chambers with architects Anzilla Gilmore, Justin Taplet, and Micki Washington. Anzilla Gilmore is the current assistant director for project management and engineering at Rice University, Justin Taplet is an associate at Gensler Houston, and Micki Washington is the regional leader of WorkPlace at HOK. All are currently serving as officers for Houston’s chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. NOMA’s mission is to build a strong organization for the purpose of minimizing the effects of racism in the design profession. We’re excited to share a conversation with Anzilla, Justin, and Micki about mentorship, the work of NOMA, and making the design profession more equitable.

An interview with designer, musician, and filmmaker Giorgio Angelini. After touring in bands for much of his 20s, Giorgio enrolled in the Masters of Architecture program at Rice University during the 2008 real estate collapse. It was during his time at Rice that the seeds for Giorgio’s directorial debut, OWNED: A Tale of Two Americas began to take shape, which led to him co-founding a film production company called Ready Fictions. He continues to seek out projects that can help expand our understanding of the perversity of American culture. Architectural, film, or otherwise. The interview was conducted by host Lindsay Chambers.

An interview with René Graham, who in addition to being a licensed architect, co-founder and design principal of a joint architecture & real estate development practice, Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Architecture, as well as a Visiting Critic at Texas A&M College of Architecture, is the founder and CEO of Renzoe Box, a modular system for color cosmetics. Although her work is divided among two different industries, she recognizes challenges and strategies that are common across these pursuits, from the gender divide in the architecture and startup communities to the design thinking necessary for creating makeup boxes to dwellings. Her cross-disciplinary experience underscores her belief that crossing conventional boundaries may unlock new potentials for the built environment. This episode was conducted by hosts Anna Cook and Yangtian Yan.

An interview with Frank Barkow of Barkow Leibinger, an American/German architectural practice based in Berlin and New York, founded in 1993 by Frank Barkow and Regine Leibinger. Their practice is a research-based approach to architecture and design, allowing the work to respond to advancing knowledge and technology, locating the practice as an international leader in digital and analogue fabrication techniques. The office’s focus revolves around a commitment to academic teaching, research, and the practice itself. The interview was conducted by host Lindsey Chambers.

An interview with Armando Hashimoto and Surella Segú. El Cielo, their architecture and urban design practice based in Mexico City since 2001, has extensive experience in the public, private and academic sectors. El Cielo generates visions of the future through consulting for urban development, architecture and housing projects, and policies and programs. These ventures all focus on participatory and community management, integration with the environment and the implementation of strategic plans and projects.

An interview with Filipe Magalhães, Ana Luisa Soares, and Ahmed Belkhodja. Fala Atelier, their architecture practice based in Porto, Portugal, utilizes playful graphics to develop and represent the joy and lightness embodied by their work. Fala Atelier is the winner of the 2019 Rice Design Alliance Spotlight Award.

An interview with Brittany Utting and Daniel Jacobs of HOME-OFFICE. In this episode, Brittany and Daniel discuss their latest projects and how architecture overlays with labor, ecology, and the politics of collectivity.

An interview with artists and architects Jennifer Newsom and Tom Carruthers of Minneapolis-based creative practice Dream the Combine. In this episode, Jennifer and Tom discuss the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration and share their thoughts on the need for change within the architectural discipline.

An interview with Deborah Berke, founder of the New York-based firm Deborah Berke Partners and Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. In this episode, she discusses the active role that listening can take in the pursuit of an equitable and iterative design process.

An interview with Carlos Jiménez, Rice Architecture Professor and founder of Carlos Jiménez Studio. In this episode, he discusses the temporal nature of architecture, the process of constructing images, and the importance of valuing local contexts.

An interview with Helen Leung and Elizabeth Timme of LA-Más, an urban design non-profit organization known for its multidisciplinary and contextual approach to engagement, public policy, and design. Helen and Elizabeth discuss how they've adapted their practice in response to COVID-19, potential solutions to the affordable housing crisis in LA, and how they work to actively include the voices of community members.

For those who could not attend in person, please enjoy this recording of Kristian Koreman’s lecture titled, “City of Permanent Temporality.” Koreman is the founding director of ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles), a multidisciplinary firm practicing in the fields of architecture, urbanism and landscape design. The lecture was given on October 3, 2019 as part of the Fall 2019 Lecture Series presented by Rice Architecture and Rice Design Alliance. The Tête-à-Tête team will be taking a break from producing additional episodes this season. We look forward to sharing future episodes with you in the fall featuring conversations with Frank Barkow of Barkow Leibinger, 2020 RDA Spotlight Winner Fala Atelier, and more!

An interview with Rob Rogers, FAIA, founding partner of ROGERS PARTNERS Architects + Urban Designers and a Rice School of Architecture alum. The second installment of this two-part alum spotlight mini series focuses on Rogers’ work on campus and his experiences as a Rice student.

An interview with Rob Rogers, FAIA, founding partner of ROGERS PARTNERS Architects + Urban Designers and a Rice School of Architecture alum. The first installment of this two-part alum spotlight series focuses on Rogers’ work in the public realm.

An interview with Jeannette Kuo, co-founding partner of Zurich-based Karamuk Kuo Architects and Assistant Professor-in-Practice of Architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design. The conversation focuses on Kuo’s interest in a pedagogy-praxis model and her time spent on campus during the pre-design process for Rice Architecture’s Cannady Hall.

A conversation with Andrew Bertics about the Rice Architecture Preceptorship Program and his experience working for Diller Scofidio + Renfro in New York.

A conversation with Reto Geiser on the implications of designing across a variety of scales and mediums, including his work on exhibitions, environmental graphics, and book projects. Implicit in this discussion is an emphasis on the spatial qualities of books.

A conversation with Madeleine Pelzel about the Rice Architecture Preceptorship Program and her experience working for Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in London.

Maria Nicanor speaks with Maria Lisogorskaya, one of the founding directors of Assemble. They discuss what it means to operate as equal partners in a collective, and they talk about Assemble’s multi-disciplinary work, including the ongoing educational project at the Material Institute in New Orleans.

An interview with Alan Maskin, principal and owner of Olson Kundig, about the unconventional design challenges he pursues and how they shape his practice and inform his firm’s collaborative approach. He also shares how his experience with competitions has influenced his body of work and expanded his methods of representation.

A conversation with Ethan Chan about the Rice Architecture Preceptorship Program and his experience working for Johnston Marklee in Los Angeles.

A conversation with Mark Wamble about his company Architectural Safety Components and the process of designing and fabricating aesthetically-minded emergency lighting. He also discusses the lessons he learned, which he plans to bring back into his firm, Interloop—Architecture.

Jesús Vassallo speaks with Frida Escobedo, the visiting Cullinan Professor for the Spring 2019 studio entitled "Ruination". They discuss how her education influenced her approach to teaching and the topic of her studio course.

A highlight from the 2018-2019 academic year, please enjoy this recording of Jack Self's lecture entitled "Attitude as Form". Jack spoke at the MATCH Auditorium in Houston, Texas as part of the PLAT & Rice Design Alliance lecture series: Sharing as well as part of the Cullinan Lecture Series.

This week’s episode features a conversation between Aylin Nazli and two studio critics from the Spring 2019 semester of the Rice Architecture Paris program. Doug Allard and Lieven De Boeck are members of Xaveer De Geyter Architects (XGDA) located in Brussels and recently completed the spring studio which tackled the void as an urban generator. Within XDGA, Doug Allard, Federico Pedrini, and Lieven De Boeck founded the research wing entitled XDGR (research) as an entity that pursues research concurrent with practice. One of the first projects within this branch includes directing the Rice Architecture Paris spring studios.

This week’s episode features a conversation between Aaron Betsky and Lars Lerup following Lars’ farewell lecture "Building the Unfinished: An Intellectual Autobiography of a Life in Design." They discuss Lars’ focus on Houston within his research, his transition to studying similar cities in Florida and how Rice Architecture has changed over his years here. If you missed the lecture and lunchtime response, tune in to our SoundCloud channel to hear those recorded events. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-lars-lerup-and-aaron-betsky

For those who could not attend the event in person, enjoy this recording of the Lunchtime Response with Lars Lerup and Aaron Betsky following Lars' Farewell Lecture. The response was held on April 5, 2019. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-lars-lerup-and-aaron-betsky

For those who could not attend in person, enjoy this recording of Lars Lerup's Farewell Lecture titled "Building the Unfinished: An Intellectual Autobiography of a Life in Design" given in Farish Gallery of Anderson Hall on April 4, 2019. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-lars-lerup-and-aaron-betsky

This week’s episode features a conversation undergraduate students Anna Fritz and Julia Casbarian about their installations in the Mavis C. Pitman Award Exhibition entitled “At least I have you, egg.” The exhibition is currently on display in the Rice Media Center Gallery through March 28, 2019. They discuss the meanings behind their installations, how they blend architectural influences and art inspiration within their respective work and what they’ve learned from the design and build process. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-anna-fritz-and-julia-casbarian

This week’s episode features a conversation between alumnus Scott Key and Career and Alumni Specialist Jacki Schaefer. Scott began his work on the Emergency Floor system during his time as a graduate student at Rice Architecture. He and fellow alumnus, Sam Brisendine, continued their work on this project after graduating. Jacki and Scott discuss the impact of his time at Rice, how he transitioned this project into real world production and where their company is heading now. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-scott-austin-key

This week on Tête-à-Tête we speak with UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Design professor, Dana Cuff. The episode introduces how Dana drew from her own education to inform her approach to architectural education, how her work at cityLAB pulls architecture, urban design and sustainability together and how these practices can be influential all over the world, including Houston. Don't miss her lecture the evening of March 4th in Anderson Hall at Rice University. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-dana-cuff

This week’s episode features Rice Architecture Professor Carlos Jimenez speaking with Cade Manning Hayes and Jesus Robles Jr. Cade and Jesus are the founding members of the architecture firm DUST, based in Tucson Arizona. DUST was recently awarded the Rice Design Alliance 2019 Spotlight award. They discuss their unique approach to architecture in the southwest, the key commission that started their firm off on the right foot and even how they came up with their unique studio name. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-cade-manning-hayes-and-jes%C3%BAs-robles-jr

This week’s episode features a conversation between Christof Spieler and our alumni specialist Jacki Schafer. Their conversation dives into Christof’s experience as an engineering student at Rice and how the campus community fostered many of his additional interests. These interests later developed into individual threads within his unique career.

This week’s episode features two interviews between Jacki Schaefer and alumni Ethan Feuer and Florence Tang. Their conversations include thoughts on how each of them pursued nontraditional architecture careers and how their experiences at Rice Architecture furthered and fueled their passions. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-jacki-schaefer-and-rice-alumni-ethan-feuer-and-florence-tang

This week's episode features a conversation between your host Aylin Nazli, Troy Schaum and Nat Oppenheimer about what makes the Totalization program unique, how it fits into the curriculum at Rice Architecture, and the importance of collaborations between the students and professional consultants. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/tatpodcast-schaum-oppenheimer

Patrick Daurio, M.Arch 2016, spoke with Gus Wortham Fellow Piergianna Mazzocca about the exhibition Unmaking the Bed, Unmaking New Orleans. The content for the exhibition was developed by students in Piergianna’s Spring 2018 studio entitled Unmaking the Bed. The exhibition furthers the student’s work by specifically studying the idea of “the bed” in the city of New Orleans. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/tatpodcast-piergianna-patrick

Jack Murphy, M.Arch. student and co-editor of "PLAT 8.0: Simplicty", spoke with Cullinan lecturer Tom Emerson, founder of 6a Architects and professor at the ETH Department of Architecture (Zurich), about his thoughts on materiality, the relationship between nature and architecture, and the scalar process of design. Tom expresses how he weaves these common threads through both his professional work and teaching methods. He finds this symbiotic relationship constantly fruitful. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-tom-emerson

Tom Emerson discusses nature and its relationship to architecture with graduate student Jack Murphy. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-tom-emerson

Tete-a-tete host, Aylin Nazli, dives into how Rice Construct is improving Houston communities through a conversation with Construct Director, Danny Samuels, and graduate student, Rose Wilkowski. Find more information on Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-danny-samuels-and-rose-wilkowski

How should architects be working? Peggy Deamer and The Architecture Lobby poses a solution. Find more information at Rice Architecture News: https://arch.rice.edu/latest/news/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte-peggy-deamer

(Teaser Episode) Interview with Peggy Deamer by Rice Architecture Tête-à-Tête