University of Utah

College of Architecture + Planning

Fall 2008 Lecture Series

September 22

“…ction – form follows fun”

By Mark Muckenheim, Principal, Urban Environments

The vastly visual lecture “...ction – form follows fun...“ covers the work of Urban Environments Architects in an exemplary way, it gives a close insight into the working methods, the conceptions and the philosophy of interesting projects and architectural speculations, that span around the globe encountering different sets of problems that contemporary architects are facing in the near future.

Urban Environments Architects is an architectural design and research firm that functions within various cross-disciplinary design fields. The firm’s committed professional network includes architects, engineers, landscape architects and artists of various intellectual and specialized design expertise. Mark Muckenheim received his master of architecture from Parsons School of Design, New York and his graduate diploma in architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture University College London, England.

October 6

Charles and Ray Eames: “Serious Fun”

By Robert Cox, Herman Miller, Inc.

Sponsored by Herman Miller, Inc. and Henriksen Butler Design

A chair that looked like a potato chip. Another that resembled a "well-used first baseman's mitt." A folding screen that rippled...With a grand sense of adventure, Charles and Ray Eames turned their curiosity and boundless enthusiasm into creations that established them as a truly great husband-and-wife design team. Their unique synergy led to a whole new look in furniture. Lean and modern. Playful and functional. Sleek, sophisticated, and beautifully simple. That was and is the "Eames look." Charles and Ray achieved their monumental success by approaching each project the same way: Does it interest and intrigue us? Can we make it better? Will we have "serious fun" doing it?

Architect and designer, Robert Cox, offers a unique and wonderful look at the “serious fun” world of the Eames’.  Robert is Heman Miller’s workplace strategist. He teaches commercial design, serves as a thesis advisor, juror and mentor for the University of Colorado College of Architecture and Planning, Kansas State University, and Arapahoe Community College. For 26 years prior to joining Herman Miller, Bob Cox was a design principal with Gensler, where he focused on discovering a customer’s business objectives, and developing a workplace strategy.

November 17

Christof Janzten, Principal, Behnisch Architects.

Christof is the managing partner in the Venice based Behnisch Architects, Inc. Jantzen gained his Diplom Ingenieur from Technical University Darmstadt in Germany, and his Master of Architecture (MArch.) at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Jantzen joined Behnisch & Partner in Stuttgart in 1995. After working on the Plenary Complex of the German Bundestag, Bonn, Germany and Bad Elster Mineral Baths, Bad Elster, Germany, he returned, in 1999 to California to establish the firm’s North American practice.

A LEED-accredited architect, Jantzen was instrumental in developing the Genzyme Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has been honored with the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Awards, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Award, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wastewise Program Champion Award, and has recently been confirmed by the USGBC as LEED Platinum Rating.

December 8

By Peter Katz, Virginia Tech

Peter Katz is a leading proponent of New Urbanism, an urban design and planning movement that the New York Times called “the most important phenomenon to emerge in American architecture in the post-Cold War era.” New Urbanists combine traditional planning and modern technology to create compelling places that break the suburban mold of mega-malls, cookie-cutter subdivisions and endless highways. Instead, they strive for environmental balance, social integration and a true sense of community.

Katz is a Professor-in-Practice at Virginia Polytechnic Institute’s Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (Alexandria Center). He also provides consulting services in the areas of real-estate marketing and community development. Over the years, Katz has worked with a range of clients including municipal governments and agencies, real-estate developers, non-profit organizations, charitable foundations and civic associations, including Community Builders, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Brookings Institution. Katz received his degree from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York where he studied architecture and graphic design.

All lectures take place at 5:30pm in AAC 127.