Future Systems
Encyclopedia
Future Systems was a London
-based architectural
and design practice, formerly headed by Directors Jan Kaplický
and Amanda Levete.
Future Systems was founded by Kaplický after working with Denys Lasdun
, Norman Foster
, Renzo Piano
, and Richard Rogers
. The work of Future Systems can be classified within the British high-tech architects as either bionic architecture
or amorphous, organic shapes sometimes referred to as "blobitecture
". "Compared to his peers, Kaplicky was the avant-garde incarnate, relentlessly pursuing the new new thing, refusing to settle into some predictable, and comfortable, architectural niche."
Future Systems proposals adapted construction methods from other professions, including (most commonly) the curved monocoque
shell structures found in aircraft design, car design and boat building
.
In the 1990s the company moved from theoretical projects to fee-paying work with projects such as the "spacecraft-like" Media Centre
at Lord's Cricket Ground
in London
(completed 1999), and the Selfridges Building(completed 2003). For Lord's, Kaplicky received the Stirling Prize. The Selfridges
department store is a prime example of the early 21st century movement referred to as "blobitecture
", and has been compared to Peter Cook
's Kunsthaus
in Graz
, Austria
.
After Future Systems won the Stirling Prize, the firm received larger commissions including the Maserati Museum in Modena, Italy (2009) and the unbuilt new Czech National Library. In 2008 Kaplický and Levete split the firm. Kaplický took the firm name and some staff to the Czech republic, and Levete would take a proposed new headquarters for News Corporation in east London and a commission for a hotel and retail complex in Bangkok, Thailand, along with most of the staff — between 35 and 45 people.
On January 14, 2009 Jan Kaplický died. A month later the final few staff working for Kaplický/Future Systems in Levete's offices were let go.
History
1979 Founded by Jan Kaplicky while working at Foster Associates.
1989 Joined by Amanda Levete who arrives from Richard Rogers & Partners to become a partner.
1994 Completed the well received Hauer-King house in Islington.
1999 Won the Stirling Prize for Lord’s Cricket Ground media centre.
2003 Completed the Selfridges building at the regenerated Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham.
2007 Won the commission for the controversial Czech National Library.
2008 Split into two practices after Kaplicky and Levete officially separate as business partners.
2008 Submits design of London Routmaster bus.
2008 Czech National Library project cancelled by Prague authorities.
2009 Jan Kaplický dies on January 14, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and design practice, formerly headed by Directors Jan Kaplický
Jan Kaplický
Jan Kaplický was a world-renowned Czech architect who spent a significant part of his life in the United Kingdom. He was the leading architect behind the innovative design office, Future Systems. He was best known for the futuristic Selfridges Building in Birmingham, England, and the Media Centre...
and Amanda Levete.
Future Systems was founded by Kaplický after working with Denys Lasdun
Denys Lasdun
Sir Denys Lasdun CH was an eminent English architect. Probably his best known work is the Royal National Theatre, on London's South Bank of the Thames, which is a Grade II* listed building and one of the most notable examples of Brutalist design in the United Kingdom.Lasdun studied at the...
, Norman Foster
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank
Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
, Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano
Renzo Piano is an Italian architect. He is the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, AIA Gold Medal, Kyoto Prize and the Sonning Prize...
, and Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
. The work of Future Systems can be classified within the British high-tech architects as either bionic architecture
Bionic architecture
Bionic architecture is a movement for the design and construction of expressive buildings whose layout and lines borrow from natural forms. The movement began to mature in the early 21st century, and thus in early designs research was stressed over practicality...
or amorphous, organic shapes sometimes referred to as "blobitecture
Blobitecture
Blobitecture from blob architecture, blobism or blobismus are terms for a movement in architecture in which buildings have an organic, amoeba-shaped, bulging form...
". "Compared to his peers, Kaplicky was the avant-garde incarnate, relentlessly pursuing the new new thing, refusing to settle into some predictable, and comfortable, architectural niche."
Future Systems proposals adapted construction methods from other professions, including (most commonly) the curved monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
shell structures found in aircraft design, car design and boat building
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
.
In the 1990s the company moved from theoretical projects to fee-paying work with projects such as the "spacecraft-like" Media Centre
Lord's Media Centre
The Lord's Media Centre, officially known as the J.P. Morgan Media Centre for sponsorship reasons, is a building at Lord's Cricket Ground, London.-History:It was designed by Future Systems and cost about £5 million...
at Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(completed 1999), and the Selfridges Building(completed 2003). For Lord's, Kaplicky received the Stirling Prize. The Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
department store is a prime example of the early 21st century movement referred to as "blobitecture
Blobitecture
Blobitecture from blob architecture, blobism or blobismus are terms for a movement in architecture in which buildings have an organic, amoeba-shaped, bulging form...
", and has been compared to Peter Cook
Peter Cook (architect)
Professor Sir Peter Cook, founder of Archigram , former Director the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and the Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London, has been a pivotal figure within the global architectural world for over half a century. His ongoing contribution to...
's Kunsthaus
Kunsthaus Graz
The Kunsthaus Graz, Grazer Kunsthaus, or Graz Art Museum was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations in 2003 and has since become an architectural landmark in Graz, Austria...
in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
After Future Systems won the Stirling Prize, the firm received larger commissions including the Maserati Museum in Modena, Italy (2009) and the unbuilt new Czech National Library. In 2008 Kaplický and Levete split the firm. Kaplický took the firm name and some staff to the Czech republic, and Levete would take a proposed new headquarters for News Corporation in east London and a commission for a hotel and retail complex in Bangkok, Thailand, along with most of the staff — between 35 and 45 people.
On January 14, 2009 Jan Kaplický died. A month later the final few staff working for Kaplický/Future Systems in Levete's offices were let go.
History
1979 Founded by Jan Kaplicky while working at Foster Associates.
1989 Joined by Amanda Levete who arrives from Richard Rogers & Partners to become a partner.
1994 Completed the well received Hauer-King house in Islington.
1999 Won the Stirling Prize for Lord’s Cricket Ground media centre.
2003 Completed the Selfridges building at the regenerated Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham.
2007 Won the commission for the controversial Czech National Library.
2008 Split into two practices after Kaplicky and Levete officially separate as business partners.
2008 Submits design of London Routmaster bus.
2008 Czech National Library project cancelled by Prague authorities.
2009 Jan Kaplický dies on January 14, 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Articles
- "Interview with Jan Kaplicky-Future Systems" by Alessandra Orlandoni- The Plan 008 January 2005
- Article on the architecture of the new Bull Ring shopping centre