WITH 90+ CATEGORIES AND 300+ JURORS, THE ARCHITIZER A+AWARDS IS THE WORLD’S DEFINITIVE ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS PROGRAM. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE EXTENDED DEADLINE, JANUARY 30, 2015, WE ARE PUBLISHING Q&AS WITH 2014 A+AWARD WINNERS. TO SEE A FULL LIST OF CATEGORIES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE A+AWARDS, VISIT AWARDS.ARCHITIZER.COM.
ikon.5 Architects won the 2014 Jury Award for the Typology Art Galleries category with School of Art and Design at New York State College of Ceramics. The pavilion is a large ceramic structure made to hold art and light.
Your name: Joseph G. Tattoni
Firm: ikon.5 architects
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Education: BS Architecture, Catholic University/Masters in Architecture, University of Virginia
School of Art and Design at New York State College of Ceramics
What was your first architecture/design job?
My first architecture job was at Perkins and Will in Washington, D.C.
Who is your design hero and/or what is your favorite building?
One of my favorite buildings is the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth by Louis Kahn. The project stunningly is an inspired composition of light, form, and space recalling the majesty of antiquity with a modern vocabulary.
School of Art and Design at New York State College of Ceramics
Tell us something that people might not know about your winning entry:
The School of Art and Design Expansion for the New York State College of Ceramics was won in the interview when we presented abstract material art pieces that we created in our studio, instead of our previous buildings, as a way to communicate to the selection committee the importance of materiality to the project solution.
Which juror(s) do you find most compelling and why?
Olafur Eliasson. Although he is not an architect, the way he sculpts with light and material is neither architecture nor art — it’s both at the same time.
Among your fellow A+Award winners, what is/are your favorite(s)?
Tower House by Gluck and Partners
Outside of architecture, where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration comes from many sources. Usually, the history and understanding of a place serves as inspiration for creating a fresh and new interpretation of an institution or client that has relevancy to its heritage. Often, we look to contemporary artists to see how they are interpreting and creating expressions with modern materials but devoid of building program. Our challenge is to learn from those artists and figure out a way to make an inspiring architectural solution while fulfilling its basic need and program.
What do you find exciting about architecture and design right now?
Architecture is both exciting and terrifying right now because there are so many interests that seem to define its meaning and purpose. Technology, sustainability, globalization, regionalism, history, etc., are powerful forces that must/should be addressed in every project. Balancing and prioritizing these interests enriches the practice of architecture.