Prof. Achim Menges is awarded the Berlin Art Prize 2015 in the field of architecture

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Prof. Achim Menges. | Quelle: Photo: ICD/ University of Stuttgart. | Download

Hinweis zur Verwendung von Bildmaterial: Die Verwendung des Bildmaterials zur Pressemitteilung ist bei Nennung der Quelle vergütungsfrei gestattet. Das Bildmaterial darf nur in Zusammenhang mit dem Inhalt dieser Pressemitteilung verwendet werden. Falls Sie das Bild in höherer Auflösung benötigen oder Rückfragen zur Weiterverwendung haben, wenden Sie sich bitte direkt an die Pressestelle, die es veröffentlicht hat.

Hygroscopic construction shell, the wafer-thin wooden flaps of which are able to open independently through increasing air humidity | Quelle: Photo: ICD/ University of Stuttgart. | Download

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The architect and head of the Institute for Computer-Based Design at the University of Stuttgart, Prof. Achim Menges, is being awarded the Berlin Art Prize 2015 on 18th March in the field of architecture. Prof. Menges is being particularly honoured for his experimental pavilions as well as for his large number of scientific publications in German and English.

The reasoning of the jury stated was, among other things: “The pavilions are based on a great interest in innovative material developments and production technologies, the designers sound out the limits of the profession and prove their working hypotheses in small temporary structures. (…) One of the most enchanting results was provided by the hygroscopic work for the meteoro-sensitive pavilion of the FRAC Centre Orléans, the wafer-thin wooden flaps of which are able to open independently through increasing air humidity – innovative climate-responsive architecture.“ The jury goes on to say that it is not without reason that these pavilions are reminiscent of the recently deceased architect and civil engineer Frei Otto, who founded the legendary special research field 230 at the University of Stuttgart 30 years ago and who is a great role model for Menges.

The award ceremony by the governing mayor of the City of Berlin, Michael Müller, and the President of the Academy of the Arts, Klaus Staeck, will take place on Wednesday, 18th March 2015 at 8 pm in the Academy of the Arts, Pariser Platz 4, 10117 Berlin.

On Thursday, 19th March Prof. Achim Menges will already be presenting his work at 7 pm in a lecture at the Academy of the Arts, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin. Following this Peter Cachola Schmal, Director of the German Architecture Museum (DAM) in Frankfurt/Main and juror of the Art Prize, will have a discussion with Achim Menges. Dieter Rams, designer and member of the Academy of the Arts will bring the evening to a close. Admission fee 5 Euros/ reduced price 3 Euros.

The Berlin Academy of the Arts was founded in 1696 and is one of the oldest cultural institutes in Europe. The Berlin Art Prize is awarded annually on 18th March in the six art movements represented in the academy in remembrance of the revolution in 1848. Leading prize-winners in the field of architecture include Coop Himmelblau / Wolf D. Prix and Helmut Swiczinsky (1982), Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (1987) and Shigeru Ban (2000).

Further information:
Prof. Achim Menges, Tobias Schwinn, University of Stuttgart, Tel +49 (0) 711 685 819 24, Email: tobias.schwinn (at) icd.uni-stuttgart.de, www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de
Berlin Academy of the Arts, Tel. (030) 200 57-2000, www.adk.de
Andrea Mayer-Grenu, University of Stuttgart, Department of University Communication, Tel. 0711/685-82176,
Email: andrea.mayer-grenu (at) hkom.uni-stuttgart.de