Among the speakers are, of course, architects, as well as an archaeologist, photographer and curator. All lectures are in English, but each video has subtitles in 19 languages, including Russian. You can enable them by clicking on the icon at the bottom right in each video.
The nonprofit TED Foundation has been holding conferences of the same name since 1984. The goal of the project is to spread unique ideas that can - to one degree or another - change the world. Experts from various fields are invited to participate, who lecture to share their ideas and tell inspiring stories.
Renzo Piano"The genius behind some of the world's most famous buildings"
In 15 minutes, Renzo Piano manages to talk about his own projects and explain why being an architect is good, and architecture is a convincing answer to the request for beauty. “At 10 o'clock in the morning, you must certainly be a poet. At 11 o'clock you must become a humanist, otherwise you will go astray. And at noon they simply have to become a builder,”- this is how Renzo Piano sees his profession.
Shigeru Ban"Shelters made of paper for disaster victims"
Shigeru Ban began experimenting with sustainable materials long before the word "sustainability" became a must in architectural vocabulary. Shigeru Ban began testing with cardboard pipes in 1986, and in 1990 made the first paper structure - a toilet. From the same pipes on the roof of the Center Pompidou in Paris, he built his own office - so that he would not pay high rents for six years. The cardboard parts were used by Ban to build temporary shelters in countries affected by natural disasters: Haiti, Rwanda, Japan, Turkey, Taiwan, China and others.
Ivan Baan"Original houses in unexpected places"
An architectural photographer shows pictures of dwellings built in the most unexpected places and their owners. He captured the families who live in the unfinished 45-meter Tower of David in the center of Caracas. This building is called the world's largest squat. Ivan Baan shows the floating slums of Nigeria, home to approximately 150,000 people. They use homemade canoes to navigate the canals between the houses. The photographer also photographed underground settlements that are scattered throughout the central and northern provinces of China.
Alison Killing"You can die differently - it's better, and architecture can help"
British architect and urban planner Alison Killing recalls: architecture is not only for life, it is also for death. Life expectancy has almost doubled, but the lifespan has also increased; many people spend their last days in hospitals and hospices. Alison Killing proposes not to hush up the theme of designing "buildings for death", but to think about what architecture can be for a "good" departure from life.
Alejandro Aravena“My architectural philosophy? Engage the community in the process"
When Alejandro Aravena was asked to build housing for 100 Chilean families, he did not design a large house with many small apartments. Aravena proposed separate houses, but half made - so that each family could then finish building and expanding their dwellings.
Norman Foster"My Green Program for Architecture"
The lecture took place more than ten years ago, but has not lost its relevance. Norman Foster shares his own work to show how computers help architects design beautiful and “predominantly green” buildings. In his speech, he emphasizes that such buildings are not a matter of fashion, but of survival, but at the same time sustainable architecture cannot "work" without an appropriate urban infrastructure.
Neri Oxman"Design at the intersection of technology and biology"
An MIT Media Lab professor ponders how to connect digital manufacturing with the principles of biology and move from "assembling" objects to "growing" them - as it happens in nature. The research of the laboratory, which Oksman oversees, crosses the border of computer design, additive manufacturing, materials science and synthetic biology.
Justin Davidson“Why glass towers are bad for city life. And what do we need instead of them"
The Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic calls modern buildings "polished robots." Davidson explains how the exterior of a building shapes the impression of the city, and what we lose when designers stop using the full range of materials available and choose only one glass. The critic draws attention to the fact that "glass boxes" are not built for the pleasure of ordinary townspeople, but with one ignoble purpose - to enrich their owners at the expense of tenants.
Sara Parkak"Help discover ancient ruins before it's too late"
The American Egyptologist uses satellite imagery to search for lost cities and ancient tombs. In 2017, Sara Parkak launched the GlobalXplorer online platform, which allows any internet user to connect to the search for monuments that have not yet been found. In addition to satisfying scientific interest, this system helps to protect the world heritage from looting and subsequent sale on the black market. “A hundred years ago, archeology was [an occupation] for the rich. Fifty years ago - for men. Today - for the academic community. Our goal is to democratize the process of archaeological discovery and allow anyone to participate in it,”explains Sara Parkak.
Nora AtkinsonWhy Art Thrives at Burning Man
Design curator Nora Atkinson shares how she discovered at Burning Man what commercial art objects and art galleries lack: the natural curiosity of viewers and the lively engagement of artists.
