Where did all the lumps and bumps on buildings go? When did city architecture become so … dull?
Here to talk about why cities need inspiring architecture, designer Thomas Heatherwick offers a path out of the doldrums of urban monotony — and a vision of cities filled with soulful buildings that people cherish for centuries.
Thomas Heatherwick brings together design, architecture and urban planning to create soulful and interesting places that spark emotion and celebrate complexity.
Why you should listen
Thomas Heatherwick leads Heatherwick Studio, where he collaborates with a team of 200 architects, designers and makers to create buildings, spaces, master plans, objects and infrastructure. The studio focuses on large-scale projects in cities all over the world, prioritizing those with the greatest positive social impact and the smallest possible climate shadow. Heatherwick’s approach applies artistic thinking to the needs of each project, resulting in some of the most acclaimed designs of our time.
Based in London, Heatherwick Studio is currently working on more than 30 projects in ten countries, including Toranomon-Azabudai, a six-hectare mixed-use development in the center of Tokyo, the new headquarters for Google in Silicon Valley and London (in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group) and Airo, an electric car that cleans the air as it drives. Recently completed projects also include the Little Island at Pier 55 in New York, the Coal Drops Yard retail district in King’s Cross, London, and Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town. Heatherwick’s forthcoming book, Humanise, will be published by Penguin in 2023.
The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
Video and text courtesy of TED, via Youtube