Chris Van Duijn, partner and Asia lead of globally renowned architecture firm OMA, held a lecture at the Benilde Design and Arts Campus on February 16, 2024. His talk gave architecture students who attended insight into the interactions and processes of a well-instituted global practice.
“As an architect, it is crucial to have confidence in your work. You must believe in your design solution and be willing to push for innovation and new ways of doing things. This may lead to projects that look different, weird, or provocative, but you must be firm in your convictions that your design is the best solution, or growth won’t happen.”
-Chris Van Duijn
Van Duijn begins by challenging conventional notions of functionality in architectural design. He contends that while functionality is undoubtedly a crucial aspect of any project, it extends beyond mere programmatic requirements outlined in a client brief. To truly grasp a project’s functionality, architects must delve deeper, considering its relationship to its surroundings, culture, and identity. Van Duijn advocates for a holistic approach that goes beyond the surface-level demands of clients, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and design exploration.
-Bluprint Magazine
Explore OMA’s creative vision in Asia as shared by Chris van Duijn in features from Kanto and BluPrint
