scan: Tschumi (escapes fire, AnyHOW)

Architecture In/Of Motion
13 August 1997

The exhibition 'Architecture in/of Motion' on recent work by Bernard 
Tschumi opened at the Netherlands Architecture Institute during the 
AnyHOW conference. Five projects currently being built or already 
realised are accompanied in this exhibition by examples of Tschumi's 
early theoretical work 'The Screenplay Series' and 'Advertisements for 
Architecture'. At practically the same time Tschumi's first major 
building was delivered in Tourcoing, near Lille.

...

"A careful rearrangement of fire escapes and the application of a few 
pathways where necessary could make it possible to use the rooftops of 
Paris for strolling and wandering around". This recommendation, one of 
the 'Rational Embellishments for Paris' by Guy Debord's Situationists, 
appears to have provided a retrospective starting point for the recently 
delivered Le Fresnoy. Tschumi was confronted with a number of old 
half-derelict buildings which had to be made suitable for lecture 
theatres, a film studio, projection theatres, a multimedia library, 
exhibition halls, laboratories, a restaurant and offices. Putting a new 
roof over the existing buildings made it possible to preserve what 
already existed with the use of minimum resources. The roof is provided 
with large 'gaps in the clouds' to let through the light. Technical 
services are routed along the roof joists. Between the old roof and the 
new is an in-between space, which by the application of pathways and 
stairs can become a valuable asset to those using the building. The 
joists can be used for exhibitions and projection purposes, parts of the 
old roofs are equipped as a stand, and the restaurant's terrace is 
located on the same level as the old roofs, so that the in-between space 
provides ample potential for Events. The in-between space has been 
transformed into a place for fantasy and experiment - 'A condenser for 
interdisciplinary research between education and investigation, art and 
cinema, music and image'.

...

and cont'd

http://www.classic.archined.nl/news/9708/tschumi_eng.html