Martin Felsen

Martin Felsen
Martin Felsen, UrbanLab
Born1968 (age 55–56)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materVirginia Tech (B.Arch., 1991), Columbia University (M.S., 1994)
Awards2009 Latrobe Prize

Martin Felsen (born 1968) is an American architect and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). He directs UrbanLab, a Chicago-based architecture and urban design firm. Felsen's projects range in scale from houses such as the Hennepin, Illinois Residence,[1][2] mixed-use residential and commercial buildings such as Upton's Naturals Headquarters,[3][4] public open spaces such as the Smart Museum of Art Courtyard [5][6] at the University of Chicago, and large scale, urban design projects such as Growing Water in Chicago[7][8] and a masterplan (13 square kilometers / 5 square miles) for the Yangming Lake region of Changde, China.[9][10] Felsen was awarded the 2009 Latrobe Prize [11] by the American Institute of Architects, College of Fellows.

Biography

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Felsen earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies in 1991 and a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in 1994.[12] Prior to founding his own firm, he worked for Peter Eisenman, Stan Allen, and OMA/Rem Koolhaas in Rotterdam.

In addition to practicing architecture at UrbanLab, Felsen has lectured internationally, and curated and participated in several international exhibitions about contemporary architecture and urbanism. Two public exhibitions curated by Felsen were held at the Chicago Architecture Foundation in 2016 and 2017. The 2016 show, titled "50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards," exhibited transformative proposals aimed at improving the quality of life for residents in each of Chicago's 50 wards.[13] Felsen invited fifty notable architects and teams of architects/artists to participate and produce original work.[14] The 2017 show, titled "Between States - 50 Designers Transform Chicago's Neighborhoods," exhibited design solutions to transform underappreciated and underperforming parts of Chicago into rejuvenated civic anchors.[15] Again, fifty notable architects and teams of architects/artists were invited to participate and produce original work.[16] Felsen has publicly spoken about these exhibitions, along with the importance of architecture in tackling urgent issues such as globalization in cities on several occasions.[17] Felsen was invited to participate in the Venice Biennale of Architecture (La Biennale de Venezia) in 2010 and 2012, and the Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2015 and 2017. In 2010, as the Director of Archeworks, an alternative design school, Felsen exhibited "Mobile Food Collective" in the U.S. Pavilion at the 12th International Venice Biennale of Architecture.[18] In 2012, Felsen and UrbanLab exhibited "Fresh Water District" at the 13th International Venice Biennale of Architecture curated by David Chipperfield.[19] In 2015, Felsen and UrbanLab exhibited "Filter Island" at the Chicago Architecture Biennial curated by Sarah Herda and Joseph Grima.[20] In 2017, Felsen and UrbanLab exhibited "Re-Encampment" at the Chicago Architecture Biennial curated by Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee.[21] Felsen's work has also been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art,[22] the National Building Museum,[23] and the Art Institute of Chicago.[24] Felsen has been featured in several publications such as Architect magazine.[25] He has received many honors for his work, including several design awards from the American Institute of Architects.

Since 1996, Felsen has taught architecture and urban design as an associate professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology.[26] He has been a visiting professor at Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and Washington University in St. Louis.[27] Felsen served as Director of Archeworks,[28] an alternative design school in Chicago from 2008-11.[29] Under his leadership, Archeworks completed several significant public interest design projects,[30] and developed and organized two influential urban design workshops titled Infrastructures for Change.[31] During Felsen's tenure, Archeworks’ projects were exhibited internationally at the Venice Biennale of Architecture[32] and The Architecture Foundation in London.[33] Felsen founded and served as editor of a new Archeworks publication titled Works.[34]

Bowling

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UrbanLab: Bowling is a new book about UrbanLab's work authored by Martin Felsen and Sarah Dunn, published by Applied Research + Design.[35] The book explores relationships and realities between cities, architecture and water.[36][37] As populations steadily increase in cities, the world's natural resources are consumed at ever-faster rates.[38] The majority of the world's populations live in countries where clean water supplies are dwindling, and these water shortages are also quickly translating into food shortages. What can designers do to avert looming water-related realities?[39] UrbanLab: Bowling views potential water crises as opportunities to speculate on future urban design possibilities, especially in cities.[40][41] Several projects are presented that take an ecological approach to re-thinking received urban design methodologies of addressing the design of water-related infrastructures in existing and new cities.[42][43]

Awards and honors

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Selected works

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  • UrbanLab: Bowling (Applied Research + Design Publishing, 2017) ISBN 1940743133

References

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  1. ^ Ryan Blitstein (November 2009). "New Grass Roots". Dwell magazine. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Hennepin House". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  3. ^ Luke Hopping (June 2015). "In just 48 hours". Dwell magazine. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  4. ^ "Upton's Naturals". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Sculpture Garden and Reception Hall". University of Chicago. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Courtyard at the Smart Museum". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  7. ^ David Sokol (September 29, 2008). "Momentum Grows for Futuristic Scheme". Architectural Record. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Growing Water". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Matthew Messner (October 7, 2016). "This Master Plan Calls for a Brand New City to Alleviate China's Water Issues". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  10. ^ "Yangming Lake". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  11. ^ Matt Tinder (August 11, 2010). "AIA College of Fellows announces winner of 2009 Latrobe Prize". Building Design+Construction. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  12. ^ Paul Makovsky (December 1999). "Tschumi Steps Down". Metropolis (architecture magazine). Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  13. ^ Blair Kamin (May 9, 2016). "Chicago architects offer 50 ideas for 50 wards at exhibition". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  14. ^ Matthew Messner (June 5, 2016). "UrbanLab explores the Windy City's unique urbanism with exhibit 50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  15. ^ Blair Kamin (September 29, 2017). "Bite-sized Biennial shows give the big exhibit a Chicago focus". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  16. ^ Matthew Messner (October 17, 2017). "Fifty firms imagine 50 futures". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  17. ^ City Club of Chicago (October 15, 2017). "Make New History – Discovering the Chicago Architecture Biennial". WGN (AM). Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  18. ^ Alan Brake (June 9, 2010). "Smart Cart Farms Out Design on Chicago Streets". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  19. ^ Jayne Merkel (June 19, 2012). "Preview: Americans in Venice". Architectural Record. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  20. ^ Sam Lubell (October 18, 2015). "Radical Visions of Chicago's Future Skyline". Wired. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  21. ^ Christopher Hawthorne (October 22, 2017). "'Make New History,' the second Chicago Architecture Biennial". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  22. ^ Museum of Modern Art (July 1, 2012). "Young Architects Program 2012". YAP 2012 Finalist: Virtual Water UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  23. ^ National Building Museum (July 1, 2014). "Martin Felsen". National Building Museum Video Archive. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  24. ^ Art Institute of Chicago (March 1, 2009). "Visitor's Center Project". Permanent Collection. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  25. ^ Ernest Beck (January 17, 2012). "UrbanLab". Architect magazine. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  26. ^ "IIT Faculty: Martin Felsen". Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  27. ^ "Sam Fox School, Master's of Urban Design Studio". Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  28. ^ "Archeworks". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  29. ^ Blair Kamin (January 17, 2008). "Alternative design school". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  30. ^ "Archeworks Project Archive". Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  31. ^ Metropolitan Planning Council. "Infrastructures for Change Workshop 2010 – Great Lakes Model". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  32. ^ "Workshopping at the 2010 Venice Biennale". Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  33. ^ "Critical Infrastructures at The Architecture Foundation, London". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  34. ^ "Works 01". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  35. ^ Martin Felsen and Sarah Dunn (July 30, 2017). "UrbanLab: Bowling". UrbanLab. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  36. ^ David Salomon (May 26, 2016). "Towards a new infrastructure: aesthetic thinking, synthetic sensibilities". Journal of Landscape Architecture. 11 (2): 54–65. doi:10.1080/18626033.2016.1188574. S2CID 147876171.
  37. ^ Roger L. Kemp (December 12, 2008). Cities and Water: A Handbook for Planning. ISBN 9780786434695. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  38. ^ Matthew Messner (November 7, 2016). "UrbanLab is Combining Water Infrastructure with Architecture to Reimagine How Cities Work". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  39. ^ Sophie Knight (September 25, 2017). "What would an entirely flood-proof city look like?". The Guardian. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  40. ^ Zach Mortice (December 1, 2017). "The Story of the Great Lakes in 8 Maps". CityLab (web magazine). Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  41. ^ Fabrizio Gallanti (May 15, 2015). "Waters Free to Circulate". Abitare. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  42. ^ Chicago Tribune Editorial Board (September 18, 2014). "A new Plan of Chicago: 12 ways to heal a city". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  43. ^ Timothy Beatley (October 25, 2010). Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature Into Urban Design and Planning. ISBN 9781597267151. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  44. ^ "American Institute of Architects College of Fellows". 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  45. ^ "AIA Awards". 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  46. ^ "AIA Awards". 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  47. ^ Matt Shaw (October 2015). "Bold New Visions". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  48. ^ "MCHAP Awards". 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  49. ^ "AIA Awards". 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  50. ^ "AIA Awards". 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  51. ^ "AIA Awards". 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  52. ^ Jayne Merkel (June 19, 2012). "Preview: Americans in Venice". Architectural Record. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  53. ^ "AIA Awards". 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  54. ^ "AIA Awards". 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  55. ^ "2010 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Finalists". Bustler.net. April 29, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  56. ^ Julie Iovine (March 3, 2010). "UrbanLab". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  57. ^ "Workshopping at the 2010 Venice Biennale". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  58. ^ "AIA Awards". 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  59. ^ "AIA Awards". 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  60. ^ Matt Tinder (August 11, 2010). "AIA College of Fellows announces winner of 2009 Latrobe Prize". Building Design+Construction. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  61. ^ "Global Visionaries WBEZ". March 2, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  62. ^ "AIA Awards". 2008. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  63. ^ Blair Kamin (December 12, 2007). "Pitt making celebrity work for homes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  64. ^ "AIA Awards". 2007. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  65. ^ Robin Pogrebin (February 9, 2007). "Chicago Firm Urban Design Winner". New York Times. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
[edit]
  • [1] UrbanLab's official website
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