Architect Steven Holl-Man of Great Vision

"At the beginning of the 21st century, architecture can be the most effective instrument for reconstructing the relations between our species and the Earth"- Steven Holl.



Born in 1947, in Bremerton, Steven Holl graduated from the University of Washington and pursued architecture studies in Rome in 1970. In 1976 he joined the Architectural Association in London and established his own office 'Steven Holl Architects' in New York City.

Considered one of America's most important architects, Steven Holl is recognized for his ability to blend space and light with great contextual sensitivity and to utilize the unique qualities of each project to create a concept-driven design. He specializes in seamlessly integrating new projects into contexts with particular cultural and historic importance.

Being a member of the American National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the American Institute of Architects, the American Association of Museums, the Honorary Whitney Circle, the Whitney Museum of American Art; and the International Honorary Committee, Vilpuri Library, of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, Mr. Holl is also a tenured faculty member at Columbia University where he has taught since 1981.

About SHA

Steven Holl Architects (SHA) is a 50 person innovative architecture and urban design office working globally as one office from two locations; New York City and Beijing. Steven Holl leads the office with partners Chris McVoy (New York) and Li Hu (Beijing). Steven Holl Architects is internationally-honored with architecture's most prestigious awards, publications and exhibitions for excellence in design.


With each project Steven Holl Architects explores new ways to integrate an organizing idea with the programmatic and functional essence of a building. Rather than imposing a style upon different sites and climates, or pursued irrespective of program, the unique character of a program and a site becomes the starting point for an architectural idea. While anchoring each work in its specific site and circumstance, the firm endeavors to obtain a deeper beginning in the experience of time, space, light and materials. The phenomena of the space of a room, the sunlight entering through a window, and the color and reflection of materials on a wall and floor all have integral relationships. The materials of architecture communicate through resonance and dissonance, just as instruments in musical composition. Architectural transformations of natural materials, such as glass, stone or wood, produce thought and sense-provoking qualities in the experience of a place. Following this approach Steven Holl Architects is recognized for the ability to shape space and light with great contextual sensitivity and to utilize the unique qualities of each project to create a concept-driven design.

Awards

Steven Holl Architects has been recognized with architecture's most prestigious awards and prizes. Most recently, Steven Holl Architects' Linked Hybrid received the 2009 CTBUH Tall Buildings Award in Asia and Australia, and the AIA NY 2008 Honor Award. The Architectural firm was also awarded the AIA 2008 Institute Honor Award and a Leaf New Built Award 2007 for The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City). Among 2007 awards for the School of Art & Art History (University of Iowa, Iowa City) are the AIA 2007 Institute Honor Award, the AIA New York Chapter 2007 Merit Architecture Award, and a RIBA International Award. The New Residence at the Swiss Embassy (Washington, D.C) was awarded AIA New York Chapter 2007 Honor Architecture Award and the RIBA International Award and many more.

Notable works

Some of the prestigious projects of the firms include USGS satellite image of the Bellevue Art Museum, USGS satellite image of the Chapel of Saint Ignatius at Seattle University, Kiasma, Helsinki, 1993-1998 Expansion of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, School of Art and Art History, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, Linked Hybrid Housing, Beijing, Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Helsinki (1993-1998), Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Planar House (Cottle Residence), Paradise Valley, Arizona, Turbulence House, New Mexico, Stretto House, Dallas, Texas (1989-82), Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Washington and so on.