Critical Regionalism: Tracing the Work and Inspiration of Jørn Utzon

Denmark Sweden Australia Kuwait Morocco Spain

Utzon Sites to Visit: Utzon Sites to Visit/Research: Utzon Sites to Visit/Research: Utzon Sites to Visit: Utzon Sites to Research: Utzon Sites to Visit/Research:

Bagsværd Kirke Elineberg Towers Kuwait National Assembly Paper Factory (unbuilt) Bjuv Housing Complex Sydney Shopping Center (unbuilt) Housing Complex (unbuilt) Göteborg Business School (unbuilt)

Contents

Architecture is about creating a humane and friendly world around us. It is the ability to understand what surroundings we need as people.

It takes a healthy sense towards life. It takes an understanding of how to walk, stand, sit and lie comfortably, to enjoy the sunshine, the shadows, the water touching your body, the soil and the host of less definable sensory impressions.

-Jørn Oberg Utzon Architect, Recipient of the 2003 Pritzker Prize

Proposal Visual Overview C Contents 02 Project Brief 03 Cities and Projects Itinerary 04-05 Personal Statement and Background 06 Budget 07 Full Proposal 08-09 Resume 10-13 Recommendations 14-16 Portfolio Samples 17-31 2 Project Brief

Critical Regionalism: Tracing the Work and Inspiration of Jørn Utzon proposes a four-continent globe-trotting adventure in twenty days to trace the built work as well as unbuilt work and inspirations of Pritzker-Prize winning architect Jørn Utzon. Often solely associated with his most famous work, the Sydney Opera House, Danish Architect Jørn Utzon made a much larger impact through various project types and scales over his 60-year career. With few well-known built works completed in this time-frame, he is a figure in architectural history rarely discussed in-depth. However, his philosophy on architecture and the human experience combined with his own personal travel experiences that shaped his thinking and work make him a fascinating subject, especially experienced through the lens of travel. This proposal’s intent is to create an architectural journey through , Sweden, Australia, Kuwait, Morocco, and Spain to experience many of the places that impacted Jørn Utzon, several of which he ended up greatly impacting in return, to understand the thinking behind this modern master of architecture and the breadth of his body of work. While traveling to these diverse locales, I will also visit other architectural treasures, ancient and contemporary, documenting the many amazing destinations on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. My intent is to present my travels, observations, and conclusions to AIA Colorado members via presentations and blog posts and to start my own travel website to share information with a wider audience.

3 Utzon Projects and Other Sites

Jørn Utzon’s native land of Denmark hosts the majority of his built work from contextual housing projects to late career project collaborations with his children. The renowned Bagsværd Church features a massive sculptural roof that amplifies natural light while maintaining an unassuming exterior presence. The Utzon Center, completed in collaboration with son Kim, creates small pavilion- like light-wells with shielded courtyards on a peaceful campus. In between, many of Utzon’s projects can be found in his homeland. Utzon Center (Utzon) Bagsværd Kirke (Utzon) Utzon Sites to Visit: Other Architecture to Visit: Bagsværd Kirke Danish Maritime Museum Kingo Houses Ordrupgaard Utzon Center The Wave

Often called the most iconic building on the planet, the Sydney Opera House put Sydney on the global map and single-handedly changed the perception of Sydney and all of Australia. At the center of the distinctive design is a set of interlocking vaulted shells that became one of the most challenging engineering projects ever attempted. Construction was fraught with challenges, yet the project yielded Utzon two rare recognitions: the Pritzker Prize and made Utzon the second architect in history to have a built project named a UNESCO World Heritage site within their lifetime.

One Central Park (Others) Utzon Sites to Visit/Research: Other Sites to Visit:

Sydney Opera House (Utzon) Sydney Opera House One Central Park Sydney Shopping Center (unbuilt) Aurora Place Sydney Harbor Bridge

An avid world traveler, Jørn Utzon appreciated the architectures of different cultures and integrating that knowledge into his designs. Familiar with Islamic architecture, Utzon based his competition design on a walled miniature city consisting of departments arranged around courtyards and accessed through a central hall similar to a souk (marketplace/bazaar). Adopting an additive approach, he was able to standardize the design as the drawings could be based on repetitive grids. The design was modified to use local materials and maximize the use of precast concrete

Kuwait Towers (Others) components.

Utzon Sites to Visit: Other Sites to Visit: Kuwait National Assembly Kuwait Towers

Kuwait National Assembly (Utzon) Grand Mosque

Jørn Utzon was a world traveler who respected and learned from architecture of different cultures; tracing 4 Adjacent to his homeland, Jørn Utzon worked on small housing complexes to residential towers in Sweden. At the Elineberg Towers, apartments are playfully organized with shifted floor plans and tower orientations relative to each other that vary the play of light and shadow in between. The Bjuv housing complex consists of 45 patio-houses contextually situated in their environment.

Utzon Sites to Visit/Research: Other Sites to Visit: Elineberg Towers Naturum Vattenriket Bjuv Housing Complex Sofiero Slott Göteborg Business School (unbuilt) Stockholm Waterfront Elineberg Towers (Utzon) Naturum Vattenriket (Others)

Although he never had any built work there, Utzon was entranced by Morocco and its vernacular architecture. He designed two unbuilt projects inspired by his time traveling there- a paper factory and a housing complex that utilized the traditional building language with a contemporary reinterpretation. Utzon was fascinated, especially by vernacular architecture interfacing with the Atlas Mountains- so much that in 2011 his son Jan led an eight day architecture workshop in Marrakesh to trace some of the

places that inspired his father. Paper Factory (Utzon)

Utzon Sites to Research: Other Sites to Visit: Paper Factory (unbuilt) Bahia Palace Koutoubia Mosque (Others) Housing Complex (unbuilt) Koutoubia Mosque Jemaa el-Fnaa

Can Lis is a house Utzon built for his wife Lis and himself on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Completed in 1971, it consists of five separate blocks linked together by walls and courtyards. The basic concept consists of pavilions arranged to serve the different functions of the building. Tours can now be arranged through the Danish Architectural Foundation. Can Lis (Utzon)

Utzon Sites to Visit/Research: Other Sites to Visit: Can Lis City of Arts and Sciences Can Feliz Llotja Bellver Castle City of Arts and Sciences (Others) these influences and his built work form a once-in-a-lifetime global itinerary to experience the world. 5 Budget

The $6,000 Hobart D. Wagener, FAIA Traveling Scholarship or the Robert & Virginia Fuller Traveling Scholarship will be enough to cover this ambitious trip globe-trotting trip. Early research already indicates the proposal will be covered by the full scholarship amount:

Preliminary flight research has shown a key to staying within budget comes from traveling in an affordable season. If the trip occurs in the time frame of March/April or September/October, preliminary estimates for all six flight segments will not exceed $2,700.

The cost of Tourist Visas are as follows: Australia - $85, Kuwait - $20, Morocco $22, Denmark - $0, Sweden - $0, Spain - $0.

Lodging costs will differ by city; estimates for private hostel rooms near the city center yield the following preliminary costs: (Sydney: $70/night x 5 nights) + (Kuwait: $120/night x 2 nights) + (: $70/night x 6 nights) + (Marrakech: $40/night x 4 nights) + (Palma: $50/night x 3 nights). The total 20 nights result in: $350 + $240 + $420 + $160 + $150 = $1320 Lodging.

For food, an average of $50 per day is being budgeted for all meals/snacks x 20 days = $1,000 Meals.

Miscellaneous admissions and tours are estimated at $800.

Additional costs should be easily manageable out of pocket as necessary. If early planning shows enough remaining budget, a stop at Taliesin West will also be added.

Critical Regionalism Budget Estimate

Flight Segments (DEN → SYD → KWI → CPH → RAK → PMI → DEN) $2,700

Tourist Visas (SYD, KWI, RAK) $127

Hostel Accommodations (SYD, KWI, CPH, RAK, PMI) $1,320

Meals (All) $1,000

Miscellaneous Admission/Tours $800

Total $5,947 6 Personal Statement and Background

This itinerary and opportunity would have an unimaginable impact on my career as an Architect- experiencing a lifetime of architectural travel through the history and treasures of unique cultures around the world in a whirlwind adventure unlike any other. Without a doubt it would be the educational experience of a lifetime.

Throughout my childhood, my parents took me on road-trips all over the United States. Traveling before the rise of cell-phones, watching and examining the scenery outside the car window, and learning to read maps is one my most treasured memories of growing up. These experiences instilled an appreciation of travel and the diversity found within our own country and the world.

As a nomad who loves exploring, I feel most alive when traveling. Every experience is fresh and I learn not only about a place and its architecture, culture, and people, but more importantly about the commonalities that bind humanity. Interfacing with different cultures opens our eyes to different ways of thinking and creating that can only be understood by inhabiting another world-view. I hope to positively represent AIA Colorado while on this journey around the world.

My architectural background started while in high school when I attended the immersive three-week Design Exploration Program at the University of Florida. I loved the experience so much that I attended college there, where I double-majored and earned my Bachelor of Design (Architecture) and my Bachelor of Science (Psychology). I found that these disciplines complemented each-other, as I often brought my psychological knowledge into design. I continued with my graduate education at Washington University, where I double-majored and earned my Master of Architecture and Master of Construction Management degrees.

After completing school, I worked in Saint Louis for four years at Mackey Mitchell Architects, where I was fortunate to work on several high- profile projects; these included the state-of-the-art Olin Business School at my alma mater and a renovation of the historic Old Cathedral on the Saint Louis Arch grounds. In Saint Louis I was actively involved in the Young Architects Forum (YAFSTL), 2015 NCARB ThinkTank, and the Washington University Alumni Club. Since moving to Denver in 2015 I have worked at Roth Sheppard Architects and have been fortunate enough to work on the industrial Blue Moon Brewery RiNo and the creative co-work offices for Tradecraft Industries. I am currently the project manager and project architect for a national level RCMP forensics lab for the Canadian government. In Denver I served as the 2016 YAF Chair and 2017 Committee Chair for the AIA Colorado Emerging Professionals Committee; in these roles I was directly involved with planning over 25 events, completed over 35 firm and university visits, worked to bolster the connection to Fellows and students, and created a list-serv and distributed targeted information newsletters. In 2018, I was the Chair for the National NCARB ThinkTank, on the AIA Colorado Milestone Reception Committee and Nominating Committee. Since 2018 I have been the AIA Colorado/NCARB Architect Licensing Advisor for the state of Colorado (two year position) and still actively represent AIA in the interdisciplinary Denver Does Design.

My hope is to obtain this travel scholarship to complete a once-in-a-lifetime globe-trotting adventure with the aim to document and experience the work and inspiration of the Pritzker-prize winning modernist, Jørn Utzon. While traveling I will also visit ancient and contemporary architectural treasures, documenting many amazing destinations on this dream trip. My intent is to share these amazing global architectures and the results of my travels and research through a website and to present my travels and findings to AIA Colorado members via presentations and blog posts for AIA Colorado to reach a wider audience. 7 Full Proposal

While researching different architects to create a narrative for a travel proposal, I was particularly inspired by the approach of Jørn Utzon and his attitude towards travel and global cultures. He saw value in experiencing architecture around the world and brought new viewpoints and knowledge to his built and unbuilt designs.

J ø rn (2000) Utzon After World War II, Utzon started his wanderlust and traveled throughout Europe. He joined Alvar Aalto’s Helsinki office and won travel scholarships while working and designing furniture and glassware. Thus in 1948, he started his travels in Morocco where he was enamored by the local architecture nestled along the Atlas Mountains. In 1949, he spent time in the United States and Mexico, where he drew inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, and was fascinated by the way the Mayans built towards the sky.

In 1950, Utzon established his own studio in Copenhagen. In 1957, he ventured to India, China, and Japan, where he was interested in the emphasis on harmony and explored the interaction between interiors and exteriors. All of this travel is acknowledged to have added to Utzon’s understanding of factors which contribute to successful architectural design.

Also in 1957, Utzon unexpectedly won the competition to design the Sydney Opera House. His submission was one of 233 designs and was his first non-domestic project. Judge Eero Saarinen described it as genius and declared he could not endorse any other choice. As construction progressed, the conflict around the project became highly tumultuous- due to the escalating cost of the project, government officials began questioning Utzon’s capability, designs, schedules and cost estimates. As the relationship became increasingly acrimonious, he resigned from the job in 1966 and vowed never to return to Australia- in fact, he never saw the completed Opera House (1973) in-person even though he lived until 2008.

In his native Denmark, Utzon had several notable projects. The Kingo Houses (1958) in Helsingør consist of 63 L-shaped homes based on the design of traditional Danish farmhouses with central courtyards. Each house not only has a view, but was strategically situated to maximize sunlight and shelter from the wind. Bagsværd Church (1976), near Copenhagen, is considered to be a masterpiece of 8 contemporary architecture, due to its naturally illuminated interior and its undulating ceiling plane made of concrete.

Fascinated by island of Mallorca, Spain while on a visit, Utzon built a summer home near the fishing village of Portopetro. Called Can Lis (1971) after his wife, it was inspired by local materials and Mediterranean climate and consists of five loosely linked blocks with a colonnaded outdoor area.

Kuwait’s National Assembly Building (1982) stands on the sea front with a waving roof conveying the impression of moving fabric and columns are reminiscent of temples. Due to his understanding of Islamic architecture, Utzon designed the building with a covered square, a parliamentary chamber, a conference hall, and a mosque. The Melli Bank building in Tehran has a reinforced concrete frame faced with natural stone and is naturally illuminated by skylight vaults. Due to safety concerns, this project is not included in the itinerary.

In collaboration with his son, architect , he helped to plan the Utzon Center in (2008), designed to inspire students of architecture and be a home of architectural discourse. On the waterfront, its high sculptured roofs resemble pavilion structures over an auditorium and library while exhibition rooms and workshops shelter a central courtyard from the wind. It was his last major project before passing away on 29 November 2008.

Although with few built works, Jørn Utzon’s inspirations and renowned projects draw on a multitude to experiences and cultures that all started with a travel scholarship. It would be a great joy and honor to trace sites that inspired him and ones that he inspired as well. In addition it would be enlightening to research this historical figure in architecture, who had many intriguing philosophical viewpoints and quotes:

“Design is very much the process of selection and omitting the elements that obscure the strength of a concept.” “To be in contact with the time, the ambiance, to perceive the inspiration in the task itself are requirements if you are to translate the demands of the task into an architectural language that comprises a unity of all the different factors.” “The architect’s gift to society is to bring joy to the people from the surroundings he creates.” 9 Avik K Guha, AIA 415 S Cherokee Street S422 Denver, CO 80223 | 407-421-2925 | [email protected] + Actively represented AIA inmeetingsandassisted withMTDS event set-up toevent cross-pollinate andserves engagement between Denver’s design-based organizations. Side networking the Dark Meet Denver Design organizes Does the annual multi-disciplinary 2016 -Present Committee Member Denver Design Does + Drafted initialEPCHandbookandassisted with Fellows/Emerging Professionals initiatives + Created andupdated membersthrough anEPlist-serv theEPCnewsletters meeting withAssociate Directors, andproviding assistance for programming inallSections + Assisted visits, unification firm goalsthrough withoutreach 35+state-wide andAIASection + Coordinated/participated inbuilddays, arranged buildingtours, andorganized happy hours anddirect communication. efforts expands outreach, andadvocates onbehalfofEmerging Professionals through collaborative The EPCrepresents student, associate, andyoung provides architect members. It opportunities, 2015 -Present Committee Chair (2017), YAF Chair (2016) AIA Colorado Emerging Professionals Committee + Participated infollow-up web meetingsandcreated presentations regarding topics discussed Committee+ Moderated meetingandNCARB andguideddiscussionsat theInitial Summit intheworkplace, studentincluded equity resources, andanidealarchitectural curriculum. relationships,supervisor/mentor ‘Intern’ titling, andemerging initiatives; NCARB 2017topics to addressmeeting includesdiscussionsandactivities specificcharges. 2014 topics included Each year, twelve design professionals are ontheNCARB chosento serve ThinkTank. The kickoff 2014 -2018 Committee Chair (2017-18) Committee (2014-15) Member National ThinkTank NCARB the AIAColorado Board + Assisted bringing incandidate through theNominating Committee on whocurrently serves venues, structure, presentation, andawards + Planned andcoordinated Reception Celebration Milestone withAIAColorado staff, including Committee tapspotential candidates ontheAIAColorado to serve State Board. milestones of Licensureimportant and Fellowship of AIA Colorado Members. The Nominating The Reception Celebration Milestone isayearly in2017that event recognizes started the 2017 -2018 (2017-18), NominatingMilestone (2018) AIA Colorado Reception Milestone Committee andNominating Committee Colorado + Created andpresented lectures onlicensure topics to university groups andclassesthroughout provide andin-personmeetings advice through e-mail + Guidedlicensure candidates andresearched individualcaseswithuniquecircumstances to glimpse into thelicensure process, lendinghelpandguidance alongtheway. pursue licensure andreciprocity. These volunteers provide often candidates withtheirfirst Architect licensing advisorsare localprofessionals whovolunteer theirtimeto helpothers 2018 -Present Colorado Architect Licensing Advisor AIA Colorado/NCARB Architect Licensing Advisor Organizations and VolunteeringOrganizations Washington University Young Alumni Club Participant (2015-19), Committee Member (2014-15) 2014 - present Washington University Clubs maintain a meaningful connection among alumni, parents and friends of Washington University through social, cultural and educational events. + Proposed, voted for, and attended events; led and coordinated construction-related events

AIA Colorado Symposium + Awards Gala Subcommittee Committee Member 2016 - 2017 The S+AG subcommittee executes AIA Colorado’s largest Emerging Professionals event. In 2017 this effort combined the previous year’s Symposium with the popular Young Architects Awards Gala. + Assisted with advertising through state-wide firm visits, flyer/logo creation, and event set-up

AIA Colorado 5x5x5 Mentorship Group Mentee 2016 The 5x5x5 Mentorship Group develops productive dialogue across the architectural community. 5 seasoned professionals and mentor leads guide 5 teams through 5 round table sessions. + Generated session questions and actively participated in sessions

Young Architects Forum Saint Louis Steering Committee Member 2013 - 2015 YAFSTL is committed to the continuing education and community awareness of emerging professionals. The organization aims to bridge the gap between formal education and professional life, focusing on mentorship, leadership, and fellowship + Volunteered for build days with HomeFirstSTL, Rebuilding Together, and Habitat for Humanity + Planned special events, happy hours, panel discussions, and led/organized building tours

Work Experience

Roth Sheppard Architects (Denver) Architect I 2015 - Present + Created project documents from schematic design through construction administration + Project management, coordination with consultants, code compliance review + Organized social activities including waffle fridays, happy hours, and involved in outside events, such as portfolio reviews. Notable projects: + GTAP-D Forensic Lab - Project architect and project manager from design development through construction administration for this national-level Canadian laboratory dedicated to specialty evidence processing + Firestone Police Department and Courthouse– Construction documents and Owner’s Representative responsibilities for this combined police station and courthouse facility with a soaring canopy in Firestone Colorado + Blue Moon Brewery RiNo – Construction documents and construction administration on this trendy micro-brewery and restaurant for the Blue Moon Brewing Company; located in Denver’s River North district, this project repurposes an existing industrial building + Tradecraft Industries – Design development and construction documents on a north Denver construction industry co-work office space; created details to integrate a pre-enginered metal building system with shipping containers and polycarbonate walls Mackey Mitchell Architects (Saint Louis) Associate 2011 - 2015 + Created project documents for all project phases from programming to construction administration + Coordinated with consultants, researched products, and reviewed code compliance + Extensive BIM experience; parametric family modeling, cloud rendering, and animation + Led internal office mentorship group by planning lectures, panel discussions, and happy hours; organized social activities including ziplining, demolition ball, waffle fridays, and more + Involved in career fairs, open houses, and other events; worked on committee to redesign company website Notable projects: + Washington University Olin Business School – Construction documents and construction administration on this $90 million state-of-the-art business school; created drawings on short schedules for proposal requests, especially with details, AV drawings, and basement fit-out + 20 Upper Ladue Private Residence – Schematic, design development, and construction documents on a $15 million private residence; tested design options and created details + Old Cathedral Restoration – Design development for the museum and rectory of this structure on the Gateway Arch grounds: a building on the National Register of Historic Places + Centene Office Building and Daycare Center – Design development and construction documents on two multi-building projects in Tyler, Texas and Ferguson, Missouri + Prairie Place at Governors State University – Schematic and design development on this 296 bed residence hall: the University’s first; created renderings and an animated marketing video

Education

Washington University in Saint Louis | Saint Louis, Missouri Master of Architecture (2011) | Master of Construction Management (2011) 2009 - 2011 | GPA 3.89 + Dual degree program completed: Graduated with Honors in Architecture (Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts) and Construction Management (School of Engineering)

University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida Bachelor of Design in Architecture (2009) | Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2009) 2005 - 2009 | GPA: 3.95 + Two programs completed: Graduated Summa cum Laude in Architecture (College of Design, Construction, and Planning) and Cum Laude in Psychology (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)

Winter Park High School | Winter Park, Florida International Baccalaureate Diploma (2005) 2001 - 2005 | GPA: 3.8 + International Baccalaureate program completed + Played violin in school and FSYO orchestra programs Teaching Experience

Washington University in Saint Louis Advanced Structures Teaching Assistant 2011 + Taught structural concepts and problem solving to graduate and undergraduate design students; led study sessions and graded papers and assignments

University in Florida Teaching Assistant 2006, 2009 + TA during the study abroad program (Spring 2009) + TA for the summer Design Exploration Program; worked closely with professors to teach high school students how to implement architectural concepts and collaborated with other design students to teach model making and drawing techniques (Summer 2006)

Honors and Awards

Competition + 1st place awarded in Microgrid Energy Solar Structures Competition with Chris Chappell and John Brown for pavilion utilizing solar technology with interactive elements (Summer 2012)

Washington University in Saint Louis + Frederick Widmann Prize Nominee (Spring 2011) + WUSTL Architecture Graduate Admissions board panelist (Spring 2011) + Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum Scholarship Recipient (2010-2011)

University of Florida + Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Architecture (Spring 2009) + Graduated Cum Laude, Psychology (Spring 2009) + Martin Gundersen Sr. Award for top student entering fourth year Architecture (Spring 2008) + Active member in the American Institute of Architecture Students (2007-2008) + Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars Award recipient + UF Honors Program student and Anderson Scholar with High Distinction