Jean Nouvel Interview: Architecture is Listening

Meet the award winning French architect Jean Nouvel, in this interview about his relationship to the Arab world. The architect is supposed to listen, Nouvel states, instead of imposing his own values and sensitivities on another place.
In the Arab world there is a battle about identity and modernity going on. Because the development is so fast, you get a lot of misplaced architecture, without local color or identity, Jean Nouvel explains. For him it is important that the architecture reflects Arab identity and religion. Arab architecture is often connected to Islamic architecture, which has a special relationship with geometry, abstractions, decorations, light and water.
Jean Nouvel is known for his contextual approach to architecture, opposing the standard or pre-fabricated buildings being placed all around the world: "My job is to try and understand where the architecture will be situated, how it will be rooted, and what sense it will make where it is." To Jean Nouvel it is important that the same building could not be located in another place. A building takes part in history, Jean Nouvel explains: "A building always has links, roots. I'm a contextual architect, but for me the context isn't only the site. It's above all a wider historical context -- a cultural context." Nouvel also talks about how he believes architecture builds bridges between societies.
Jean Nouvel (b.1945) studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was a founding member of Mars 1976 and Syndicat de l'Architecture. He has obtained a number of prestigious distinctions over the course of his career, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, awarded for the Institut du Monde Arabe which Nouvel talks about in the beginnig of this interview. In 2008 Nouvel was awarded the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor. A number of museums and architectural centers have presented retrospectives of his work.
Jean Nouvel was interviewed at his studio in Paris by Marc-Christoph Wagner, Dec. 2013
Filmed by Germain Ferey
Edited by Martin Kogi
Produced by Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2014
Supported by Nordea-fonden

[@adiletc6250]

I am doing a research project on Institut du Monde Arabe I came to watch this interview. I am really fascinated by Nouvel's visions and ideas about architecture now. Huge respect

[@mcintron43]

I don't have words to describe this;i am a retired teacher always dreaming and admiring architecture;thinking of a link between arab and other "styles".I really enjoy this view point.sorry I have never studied architecture;it is the most "force" of the world.The sum of all.

[@naceboulanouar]

i'm an architecture student and i couldn't agree more
everything we knew and shall know about all past civilisations with thoughout their "Architecture" buildings and the monumental constructions they left
what Jean Nouvel. Renzo Piano, Sir Foster. Zaha Hadid...do in our time's architecture (each in his own special way, his own ideas his own philosophy of what will stay to tell the story of our time) can not be called other than beautiful

[@bryllearienza3522]

wherever you are architecture is different, you must learn first the history and try to interact with it because land ins't free :D

[@jessical.dtoste8984]

very wise Novel words, he seems to highly agree with Pallasma in the ''Eyes of the Skin''

[@borisfotso1277]

Un architecte contextuelle 🙏🙏

[@crystalyeowchingching1036]

See you guys 3 years later !!!

[@stefanafets1]

Nice edting letting the key person speak

[@brianquinn1800]

wasn't this guy in the Austin Powers movies?

[@MGalaxy]

Hahahahahaha... Now I know where I saw this guy before.

[@PortandMoor]

I thought despicable me replicated him well

[@sarahzgheib1475]

can someone tell me the visuals starting from 8:41 and above are which building? :o

[@moonshineweld]

it's Dubai Opera House

[@user-ig8yr7lp3p]

When it's rain, does the water comes inside through the roof in Louvre Abu Dhabi?

[@awaris_arch]

Actually, rain’s not abt to fall down in the desert but i think, it won’t hinder or destroy anything…it will be light and temporary

[@mariacristinatagliabue4712]

Beau beauty beautuful

[@user-gm9oq9bi2g]

🥀

[@harperwelch5147]

It’s unfortunate that these architects lectures show so few examples of the artist’s work. Lots of talk.

[@dhungryarchitect]

Hi Im Dr.iiivullll

[@yeahright5859]

Professor X

[@syukridesa]

exactly his the one

[@user-gm9oq9bi2g]

😤🤐💕💝

[@vic3925]

F°°°°°° hell, Nosferatu!

[@beat2047]

Class B! It's getting more shallow

[@teeniebeenie8774]

ah yes, global warming from fossil fuels, and to build fancy structures from all that oily greed...