Barbara Kuit is an architect. In 1998, together with her partner Mark Hemel

Mark Hemel

Mark Hemel is a Dutch architect and designer, and co-founder of the Amsterdam based architectural practise Information Based Architecture .- Mark Hemel's View :...

, Kuit founded Information Based Architecture

Information Based Architecture

Information Based Architecture was originally set up in London in 1998 as a partnership between architects Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit. Using the newest technologies the practice challenges conventional thinking and seeks to exploit new opportunities to enrich our cities with conceptually...

 (IBA).

IBA has won some of the most prestigious international competitions among which the competition for the world’s tallest TV tower, the Canton Tower, formerly known as the Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower

Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower

Canton Tower, formerly Guangzhou TV astronomical and Sightseeing Tower, is an observation tower in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou, historically known as Canton or Kwangchow, Guangdong, China. Topping out of the tower was in 2009 and it became operational on 29 September 2010 for the 2010 Asian...

 in Guangzhou, China (completed in 2010).

Biography

Kuit was born in Rotterdam

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...

, the Netherlands. Before founding IBA, she worked for several years at the office of Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid, CBE is an Iraqi-British architect.-Life and career:Hadid was born in 1950 in Baghdad, Iraq. She received a degree in mathematics from the American University of Beirut before moving to study at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.After graduating she worked...

 Architects. There she worked on various high profile projects including the MAXXI – National Museum of the 21st Century Arts

MAXXI – National Museum of the 21st Century Arts

The MAXXI - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts is a national museum dedicated to contemporary creativity, located in the Flaminio neighbourhood of Rome, Italy. It is managed by a foundation created by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities...

 in Rome, Millennium Dome

Millennium Dome

The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...

 in London and Science Center in Wolfsburg. Before that she worked at Harper Mackay in London, as a local architect on various projects of Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck

Philippe Patrick Starck is a French product designer and probably the best known designer in the New Design style...

, St Martin’s Lane Hotel and Sanderson Hotel

Sanderson Hotel

The Sanderson Hotel was constructed on Berners Street, London during 1958 as the new headquarters and showroom for Arthur Sanderson and Sons, manufacturers of wallpaper, fabrics and paint for the occasion of its centennial birthday. It was designed by architect Jeff Holroyd, of the architectural...

 in London.

Teaching

• From 1999–2007 Barbara Kuit was a visiting critic at the renowned Architectural Association in London.
• 1990-1992 Taught various workshops at the Technical University Delft.
• 2004-2005 Visiting critic at the Academie van Bouwkunst, Rotterdam
• 2006-current Visiting lecturer at TU Delft
• 2010-current Post Graduate course coordinator University of Maastricht-Dep Architecture

Recognition

• Chosen as one of Design-Build network's new young architects to watch for 2010
• Conde Nast Traveler
  Condé Nast Traveler
  Condé Nast Traveler is a US magazine published by Condé Nast. It has its origins in a mailing sent out by the Diners Club club beginning in 1953, listing locations that would take the card. It began taking advertising in 1955. In order to attract more advertisers, it became a full-fledged magazine,...
  
  2010: The New Wonders of the World
• Bizz magazine profile

Projects

• 2004–Present Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing tower

  Principal Architect for the Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing tower of 114000 square metres (1,227,085.8 sq ft) GFA in Guangzhou

  project includes a conference center, retail, cinema, multiple restaurants and cafes, observation decks and administration offices

• 2005–Present

  Principal Architect for a multifunctional student housing complex in El Mina, Ghana, including internet café, guesthouse and student living quarters

• 1997-2002 Zaha Hadid Architects
• 2001 BMW event centre in Muenchen

  Design architect of 18000 square metres (193,750.4 sq ft) science museum

• 2000-2002 Wolfsburg Science Centre, Germany

  Design architect of 15000 square metres (161,458.7 sq ft) science museum

• 1998-1999 Contemporary Arts Centre in Rome

  Design architect of 30000 square metres (322,917.3 sq ft) museum. Program included exhibition spaces, retail, facilities and restaurants

• 1998-1999 Mind zone in the Millennium Dome in London

  Design architect, content development and communication with Artists. Design regarded 1000 square metres (10,763.9 sq ft) exhibition pavilion

• 1995-1997 Harper Mackay
• 1996-1997 the Sanderson Hotel, London

  Philippe Starck in London the St Martins Lane Hotel

  architect of 15000 square metres (161,458.7 sq ft) refurbishment of listed heritage building into 5 star hotel

• 1996-1997 the St Martins Lane Hotel, London

  architect of 10000 square metres (107,639.1 sq ft) 5 start hotel development in Central London.

Publications and Reference material

IBA's work has been published and exhibited widely. In 2002 they were short listed for the Young Architects of the Year Award in the United Kingdom. They have received support by the Dutch Department of Trade and Industry and received several encouragement-grants by the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture.

Currently Kuit is working on a book titled Supermodel, the making of the world's tallest TV tower, which will come out in the early months of 2011.

External links

• Upcoming Doc-Eye documentary