What was the brief?
With the MEET project, CRA aims to investigate the meaning of physical space in an increasingly digitized world. Itargues that architecture should foster unexpected encounters between people, precisely those that are missing inthe digital realm. The design of MEET strives to achieve this aim through the hybridization of functions – that is,the possibility for any space to simultaneously host different activities.
The vertical plaza at the core of the building embodies the project’s vision. All around a brightly-colored stairwellthat moves in a zigzagging fashion, people can stop onto a series of asymmetric landings, enriched by a system ofmultimedia projections. These spaces can be used for talks, installations, art performances. Most importantly, theyencourage chance encounters as people navigate through the building.
What were the key challenges?
Today, we continue to live and work in pandemic-inducedisolation where almost anything can be done online. At this time, it is vital to use architecture to produceserendipitous moments and help foster new connections – precisely those that rarely happen on the web. One way to achieve this objective is to overcome any strict division of spatialfunctions. When every place can serve multiple purposes, it brings together multiple communities, facilitating thegeneration and circulation of new ideas.
In addition, the MEET venue embeds digital technologies into physical space with an array of advanced projection systemsand screens scattered across the building. This allows people to access MEET’s digital archive in unexpectedways. Drawing on the idea of “ubiquitous computing” put forward by scientist Mark Weiser, who argued that digitaltechnology would become so pervasive that it will “recede into the background of our lives”, the project transformsarchitecture itself into a medium to share knowledge and culture.
What materials did you choose and why?
We tried to innovate on the material fabrication process, using new digital tools. For instance, the stairwell was digitally fabricated using an innovative laser-cut steel sandwich we developed – which allows it to cover significant spans with an extremely thin section.
Materials used:
- Flooring: Kerakoll, resin
- Doors: laquered wood
- Windows: Jansen, painted steel
- Interior lighting: Artemide
- Interior furniture: steel and resin, custom made
- Office furniture: Estel
- Auditorium chairs and textile panels: True Design
