Alejandro Aravena: My architectural philosophy? Bring the community into the process

When asked to build housing for 100 families in Chile ten years ago, Alejandro Aravena looked to an unusual inspiration: the wisdom of favelas and slums. Rather than building a large building with small units, he built flexible half-homes that each family could expand on. It was a complex problem, but with a simple solution - one that he arrived at by working with the families themselves. With a chalkboard and beautiful images of his designs, Aravena walks us through three projects where clever rethinking led to beautiful design with great benefit.
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[@AnthonyHouse1]

"Sustainability is nothing more than the rigorous use of common sense" ...Bravo!

[@julliangregorio243]

Anthony House ii

[@RainaRamsay]

this guy has amazing quotes. Love this one, love also "There's nothing worse than answering well the wrong question."

[@RainaRamsay]

Also "The scarcest resource in cities, which is not money, but coordination."

[@davidgreen4095]

Not a single soul can make use of that,....mostly because we are governed by those who have yet to monetize such things as are truths,....

[@alaneoliveira6645]

Me peguei a esse trecho da palestra. Sensacional!

[@karljosephallado780]

I'm an Architecture student, and I am for the poor, you're a big inspiration. I realized more now.

[@the_Falcon_fall]

In the past an architect was the right arm of a prince or a King or a Pope. Today architecture is more democratic than ever. It comes with better resources and more thoughtful solutions to society. As for winning big, remember that you can also lose big.

[@bb-fb6hu]

Finally the main question in the field of the architecture is not just about “how to design the best designed buildings“ which is referred for upper class of group of people / neighborhood resolved with advance technologies but it has concerned what to to do or how to find more pragmatical solutions for neglected spaces in the world where people are really under the poverty and these numbers are continually rising up.

[@zstephen5828]

well said

[@karlabrandao4799]

This guy is the reason why I still didn't drop out of Architecture School.

[@lunnasantos3978]

Bruh, same. He’s such an inspiration

[@korayyardas9801]

Can relate

[@karlabrandao4799]

@rodrigo what kind of question is that lmao

[@karlabrandao4799]

@rodrigo my school doesn't focus as much in the social aspects of architecture and we only have like 4 subjects to study city planning, so it's pretty discouraging to me, personally.

[@timchege3320]

Wow! He knows how to catch the attention of the crowd; sketching on a blackboard and an entertaining clip... unconventional of a TED Talk. Great presentation!

[@rcpcs]

Aravena opened my eyes of whats more important than just a beautiful form. the concept and the aftereffect of the project 20 years from now is much more countable. truly an inspiration!

[@TheChino360]

I am amazed by the things this man made for his country and architecture

[@darmaparamarta8513]

I realised that to appreciate a product of architecture, we need to know the (right) problem that the form of architecture try to solve. To be honest, not all of his building is extremely beautiful, but when we learn what are those buildings try to solve, we find out how brilliant his ideas are. Bravo!

[@alaneoliveira6645]

Exatamente. Nem tudo é estética. Nem tudo atende as necessidades do ser humano.

[@koowasha]

Congratulations for the 2016 Pritzker Prize! It will be interesting to follow up your future works!

[@josephndlovu8576]

An inspiring speech that can spark a major discourse on design approach and process Arch student

[@jm-yq7dd]

como chilenos deberíamos estar orgulloso de esto y no del fútbol

[@JosesitoSaldivia]

concuerdo, lo giles son puro flaite nomas xd

[@EderAlbertoContreras]

Podemos estar orgullosos de ambos... pa que con ese resentimiento xd (no me gusta el futbol).

[@the_Falcon_fall]

Mira, amigo chileno no sabría decirte qué es peor: el fútbol chileno o Aravena. Ahí te lo dejo.

[@stephierecam]

Realmente se merece el Premio Pritzker 2016! Que increible ver esto, más paises deberian empezar buscar soluciones como estas para las viviendas sociales y los desastres naturales

[@rrl7707]

I'm watching loads of architectural talks, so far this one's the best.

[@roxyguts23]

Dropped out of arch school with hopes to try again. Now I’m working on a masters in economics. This guy is literally thinking on both fields and more. It is genius. I am highly interested in this niche and I think it is essential to explore it some more.

[@IamSunil017]

Real ted talk- enlightening..super...kisses & hugs to the talker..bro wonderful...may god give u peace..

[@gabriellee8224]

This was truly inspiring! Congratulations on your "Nobel Prize" of architecture (Pritzker) as well as your recent appointments to this year's Venice Architecture Biennale.

[@ambeadesignstudio1707]

The challenge is great. Thank you Architect Alejandro Aravena

[@valevalientevalita]

Felicidades por el Premio Pritzker!!! Una excelente oportunidad para que todas estas increibles ideas se multipliquen

[@SAELSIBU]

Soy mèdico, estudiante de neurologia y gente como èste señor es lo que me mantiene inspirado. El concepto de sentido comùn mas que las doctrinas frente a los problemas y los proyectos sociales entendidos como inversiòn mas que un gasto son ideas revolucionarias profundamente. Bravo.

[@asraansari3066]

I really like his thinking process and he speaks beautifully

[@alejandrasepulveda1056]

La genialidad de la simpleza y el sentido común. Más que merecido premio.

[@peaceandlove544]

This man is not an architect but a visionary. The answer is inclusion of the right and force of the community, nature and of a visionary creative technical, social and moral leader.

[@dog-ez2nu]

It's amazing people like him that can say they've completely changed people's lives.

[@stellakrgn]

Congratulations!! I was really inspired by this speech!!

[@mich3134]

I haven't even started the video yet and I'm already challenged: I've never thought about bringing the community into the process of architectural design and I'm an Arch student.

[@heavenlydenied]

really ? where do you study ? at my school it's the first thing we talked about in our first year

[@martinsahagunsiles3513]

Its a new architectural movement in latin america!

[@mich3134]

Alex King I go to FAMU. I transferred so they might have covered the topic in some of the first year classes that I didn't have to take

[@danieladcjv]

I study architecture in latin america (Ecuador), and here it´s one of the main principles in architecture planning. I think probably the main problem in many latin american countries is that ideas are not heard by politicians or economists or someone who actually has the power to build this ideas, maybe there is a fear to innovate or not interest in doing things better by this parties, who knows, corruption is at many levels. I´m glad that in Chile ideas are being heard and actually developed.

[@polferx]

I am an Architecture Student as well! And Aravena is simply Amazing! I don't feel challege, but I have a huge motivation on doing what he does for his people.

[@chriselviernes8203]

Great discussion. This is not about romanticizing poverty. It is about initiating and creating more solutions that embodies with "common sense". Planning and designing is not all about forming a childish and romantic dream, it is all about facing the problems and situations that is more highly concerned about like illegal settlers and natural disasters especially in third-world countries. This is what architecture could provide all about analyzing and creating more solutions that the world needs the most today.

[@architexture4344]

looking forward to you sir

[@kosongduaduastudio2459]

the power of 'common sense', : incredible inspirational statement

[@tammylrivera2986]

inspirational and practical

[@cloudxavier50]

I made a report on this guy. Phenomenal person.

[@seongha411]

Thanks for good lecture 👏

[@LeonidasGGG]

Those are some pretty good ideas... Give this man a cigar!

[@teosito]

He doesn't smoke btw

[@MaZEEZaM]

Yes, though I wonder if the trees will be enough to withstand the tidal waves or whether they needed housing designs that can withstand the force as well as the trees?

[@wasdnty]

couldn't agree more! aravena is amazing!

[@L_ndR0]

O cara é excepcional!

[@konoh_419]

His hair is amazing.

[@pierfrancescorainieri2911]

FANTASTICO!

[@ingmarvitvitskiy2730]

"Рисует" не глаз а мысль! Царство роскошных идей!

[@syrop_sophie]

Great Works!

[@renezazueta5878]

Grande Aravena!

[@jakemoore3075]

Great stuff! 👍

[@yadneshvichare]

This is the best Solutions of Social Housing presented by Alejandro Aravena for the country like INDIA.

[@asmabelhadj6041]

bravo good job !

[@vivoslibertos]

Real Rock Star saves the world. Bravo Alejandro!

[@beymaragustinbalboaespinoz8949]

re crack el tipo , alto capo de la arquitectura

[@guardianofdeth]

What where the other 3 projects? I would like to know how he was able to combine the 4 projects.

[@shamus2198]

I like this guy.

[@Hen9207]

other than being a very beautiful man, he is also very inspiring!!!

[@jenniferacuario4669]

integrar la vida en la arquitectura.

[@kenaltmiller7975]

We must change our way of thinking and realize that we cannot continue to consume land with out looking to the future. Where when all the land around our city's is consumed by single family units will we be able to expand ? History and our globule neighbors may have the answer.

[@tommyhf.l7880]

Beautiful

[@mr.monochrome1332]

His hairstyle always caught my attention

[@chiranjitbanerjee8408]

Fantastic

[@juanmanuelvegas8369]

that's inspiring

[@user-ug9ns9ul9c]

国内曾经也有很多这样的棚户区，但是选择的方式是全部推倒重来，这固然能统一标准，甚至创造更多的利润，但却似乎没有完美的解决人生存的渴望和对自由的延展。难题总是需要更完美的方案来解决，尽管过程更加艰难。

[@andrea.8862]

«What that form is modelling and shaping is not cement, bricks or wood. It is life itself. Design’s power of synthesis it’s just an attempt to put at the inner most core of architecture the force of life»

[@sarapowell3717]

nice speech.

[@Rodrigo-tt2vx]

Brillante

[@MsFrancisconeves]

Genial. Pritzker merecido. Parece que acabaram os lobbies das Zahas dos Gehrys e dos Money Architects....

[@WAJK2030]

He is talking about the "Volonté Général"! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_will

[@hjeer04]

Brilliant engineer.

[@yashsalve7702]

He is an Architect.

[@angelomartinelli5425]

Genius!

[@bagassantosa8150]

morrisey I think

[@laurajoavannamendozag2735]

Hola soy estudiante de ultimo año de arquitectura y nos corresponde organizar un congreso de arquitectura y quisiéramos tomar este tema y que mejor ponente que Alejandro Aravena si alguien me pudieran ayudar a contactarlo lo agradeceria mucho soy de Leon, Gto. Mex. Gracias!!

[@angearteaga1848]

I prefer my language to explain my ideas, it is very easy.

[@Dev1nci]

8:38 while I love this, it very clearly creates a harsh urban interaction which may be severely rejected over time.

[@kaicoetzee7610]

I really like the idea, but I come from South Africa where we face many different problems but can incorporate this kind of design into our solutions. What happens to the social and psychological impacts, however, of working inside a concrete building with no view of outside? Do the people want to work there? Is it a success?

[@danielbahena5718]

It is the power of synthesis that may answer your question. You can't face the problem as complex as it is, but synthesizing it without taking for granted the main things that make it complex. Just find the right question. The point is that it is never going to be the same desing for different places.

[@ch4ts]

+Kai Coetzee That's exactly what i thought. The idea of having a more refrigerating space is nice, but the only view they will have is at the atrium in the inside, viewing another offices instead the city or the sea?

[@awww6321]

+Kai Coetzee I have been inside the building and its actually awesome there. The inner space is great and the openings of the concrete wall are huge, so you do have great sights and a lot of natural light. I would definitely love working there! (even though some people call the building "Azkaban")

[@Yishy22]

+Kai Coetzee yo estudiaba en esa universidad y me parece genial el diseño, esta unviersidad tiene muchisimas áreas verdes donde recrear la vista desde tal altura, o bajar a dar caminatas cuando parezca conveniente así es que es bastante cómodo

[@johnpark4650]

+Jes Chatham Well there are still large windows which allow the view of the outside in certain offices. Moreover, it's just the question of the balance between of having either a large view outside, or having a more sustainable working environment.

[@azharpayyannur]

Good

[@Huachimingovolador]

Español !! :C

[@paulosky_84]

Is heard simple but it is not, however Aravena could include this concept in its architecture, there is its achievement!

[@vanexxa354]

Me encanto como explica el tipo, es muy interesante ,me gustaría que en Chile tmb invirtieran en las instituciones educacionales y crear buenos espacios de estudios y no todos mediocres. Bien merecido el premio :) pd:Me gustaría saber q ciudad fue la que va a tener ese bosque

[@manueloz777]

constitucion

[@lShadowGhost]

+Vanessa 'Andrea Ya lo ha hecho, las facultades de matemáticas y medicina de la UC son obras de él. Puedes buscar imágenes para que termines de encantarte. Saludos

[@dinilkumar2380]

Vanessa 'Andrea

[@MarkNiceyard]

… and a nice haircut, too.

[@Rastafareeh]

MarkNiceyard Crazy haircut not? we are just a crazy country... viva Chile

[@StrangerHappened]

True, very stylish. Reminds me of a certain anime character.

[@revolvency]

Kakashi esque

[@kayem3824]

Its a cantilevered structure.

[@artecuartico]

Ace Ventura!

[@onemadhungrynomad]

this man needs to add more plants to his building designs.

[@onemadhungrynomad]

Daniel Martins also plants protect a building from normal weather wear.

[@holamoco]

Dominic dominic Sometimes you got to compromise some visual design for a more protected pragmatic use in the long term.

[@josetomas1548]

he couldnt afford to make a pretty design with the budget

[@The_DailyPodcast]

Interesting

[@talalkhan5504]

what does ground zero means ? at 10:00

[@puto8736]

Any thoughts about bringing the community into the process of Architectural design regarding private residences? Does the process still applicable on a smaller scale?

[@archishme9069]

Ohh wow..... I want to become an architect and guess what when he told the case of tsunami..... After listening to him couple of minutes.... I made my own idea of add forest in between.... But there was only one change between our ideas... And that was..... I thought of adding forest btw with some depth.... In that area..... Think so my idea was better.... And also i an become an architect now............ Btw i am just 16 years old and in 11th grade....... From India....... Cause its Indian mind..... Proud of my self....

[@vichomangiola]

Actually, inside the "forest" there is a huge artificial pond, intended to dissipate the energy of a tsunami even more. The project is being built (one part is already completed) and is called Parque Fluvial de Mitigación de Constitución.

[@pablogallardo1144]

Fuking amazing!

[@juantoro]

yes, housing sould be to free for all !!

[@TheArcosmos]

Geographical Genius..

[@moephillips7539]

This guy is wise

[@theriddler3637]

He sounds like Syrio Forel form Game of Thrones

[@jccgold]

Thats what the portuguese arquitect José Cisa Vieira has done for many decades, like with the buildings for the arab comunity in Berlin

[@designbookInc]

What we manage the problems? Building forests! Give the Oscar to this guy!

[@TyTang24]

i made it to 1:45 and when he wrote that equation i couldn't take him seriously anymore. i'll try again tomorrow.

[@notaras1985]

you are too narrow minded. maths are nothing more than compact real life logic.

[@TyTang24]

+notaras1985 i don't even know what this means.

[@TyTang24]

+green roof go him? i ended up watching the entire thing, and i really liked it.. but that equation is just as stupid. there was no reason for it, and it's completely meaningless.

[@teosito]

+Tim Tang architecture "nobel"

[@maximascali3678]

¿Cual es el nombre de la ciudad en la que se implanto el bosque?

[@canalespp5159]

+Maxi Mascali se llama Constitución, en la Región del Maule.

[@benjaminperez6756]

+Maxi Mascali Constitución

[@Benjavanni]

BUENA CTM!!

[@peaceandlove544]

Force of community

[@1_win_kite]

03:57~06:09 07:37~09:11

[@rocyang5947]

The definition of poverty we have today is 'the poorest something percentage of people in the world'. No-matter how much people's incomes increase by, there will always be people under the poverty line unless it is a fixed income threshhold.

[@VANityVlogChannel]

i hope the philippine govt may learn something from this to help esp victims of typhoon haiyan

[@pascualkerbyn.7531]

Just wait for our moments. We are the future of our country's architectures designs. Also, #OustDUTERTE

[@richallenvidanes250]

@@pascualkerbyn.7531 personal matter for me President Duterter is my future, im refering to his "build build build project" I'm an architecture student. "The scarcest resource in cities, which is not money, but coordination."- Alejandro Aravena any ways world peace

[@pascualkerbyn.7531]

@@richallenvidanes250 we can get that 'world peace' if the admin is competent and doing their jobs as they should. However, this current admin is anti poor and have their focus not this kind of progress but ro their own satisfactions and not supporting our needs. In conclusion, the current administration is not giving us the coordination you are talking about.

[@hananamira1896]

merçi menssieur Ali Khan . dro

[@dawoodakhtar9108]

👍

[@Mightyyy8]

Shout out to all the students taking reading buildings

[@savannahhunt13]

👍👍👍

[@diogenes848]

Very interesting ideas. That said, glass buildings like green houses can regulate their temperature very easily by ventilating. It doesn't take fans. Along a green house you have ports that automatically open when the temperature hits a certain level. The hot air vents until the temperature in the green house falls back to the desired temperature and then they close. You could do the same thing in a glass tower. Aesthetically, I just prefer the glass towers to that concrete monstrosity. Another idea which might be tried that links into your slum idea, is building the core of a skyscrapper but not filling out the floors. Rather, let the tenants fill out the floors the same way they might bare land. I'm not sure how practical that is but it seems an interesting hybridization of your different concepts. In regards to natural disasters, actually sea walls do work. You just have to understand Murphy's law. "Anything which can happen, will happen." And that means not building the walls to resist AVERAGE disasters but rather to withstand a worst case scenario. There were sea walls in Japan that held just fine because they were over engineered. They were much higher then the walls that failed. Is that much more expensive? Sure. But it works if you're willing to do it. As to the whole idea of having a natural area to absorb the brunt of the wave. Nicely done.

[@diogenes848]

Charles Yeo Depends entirely on how wide you open the vents. If it is comfortable on the street... then it will be comfortable in the building. Let me explain how green houses work. You have sun coming into a pocket of TRAPPED air that is heated up and not allowed to mix with the ambient air. That trapping effect maintained by keeping the compartment closed is why the green house heats up. Open the vents and the temperature inside the green house normalizes with the temperature outside the green house. So... are we assuming the temperature is higher outside then people would be normally happy with? Or are we instead assuming that the temperature is only uncomfortable because of the trapping effect? If the air is hot outside regardless, then this idea of the concrete barrier will only have a limited effect. And if we are assuming that temperature outside is otherwise acceptable then simply opening the windows solves the problem. The issue with most skyscrappers is that you cannot open the windows. They're sealed. And do you know something else about tall buildings? They're warmer at the top flours then at the bottom floors... because heat rises. But at the same time... do you know what happens to the temperature outside a tall building as you go up? It gets cooler. The wind is stronger up there and you're farther away from the ground so it is cooler. Which means if you open the windows... it really doesn't take much to make it chilly at the top floors even in the worst heat wave. Because no matter how hot it is at ground level... on the 30th floor on up... temperatures just drop. All I was saying is that if you have a problem with a green house over heating... here is the radical idea... Open the window and let the cool air inside. Doesn't seem like rocket science to me. But then the only reason they seal those windows is to stop crazy people from jumping out of them. That and dropping things. True story. Which means the next easy solution to the problem is to have an easement around the building of perhaps 10 to 20 feet in every direction. Plant a garden or put some trees in... whatever. Just don't have people walk there. And there you go. When people get depressed and want to have a thrilling fall... no pedestrians are taken as collateral damage. And the same thing for kids etc that drop their little action figures out the windows. Or you can make a horrible concrete monstrosity that is a civic eye sore and focuses all attention inward ignoring what might otherwise be beautiful vistas. Your choice.

[@diogenes848]

Charles Yeo Saying it is uncomfortable outside in that sort of weather is not a viable position. Cultures have lived in that temperature quite comfortably for... thousands of years. Is it comfortable for white guys from New England? No. But for someone that lives in that part of the world, that sort humidity is just normal. You wear loose fitting short sleeved shirts and make sure all your clothing is light. It isn't a big deal. What is more, this other design isn't going to reduce the humidity. And the temperature isn't going to be cooler then just leaving the damn windows open in the other system. In fact, the open windows model will be substantially cooler for the upper stories. The lower stories not so much. But they'll be the same temp as it is outside which should only be uncomfortable to people not used to it.

[@diogenes848]

Charles Yeo Air conditioning is great stuff isn't? I know I love it. But I try to live in places where I don't need it. As to things being uncomfortable out there... I'd have to point at many cultures that live in similar conditions and don't seem to be suffering too much. But really it is all besides the point. The point is that putting big walls around your building are not going to stop hot damp air from getting into the building. Yeah you'll keep the sun from getting into the building... but that only means you're avoiding the green house effect. It does not mean that the air is cooler. You are still going to be pulling air from outside into your building. And that air is that nasty hot sticky air your people hate... despite living there for generations out of mind and not moving. What I am saying is that if you don't want to deal with the green house issue... open the window. Problem solved. If you open all the windows on a green house they stop functioning as green houses. It is basically as if the green house were not there at all and the plants were just outside. That is what happens when you vent a green house. Now, you can do limited venting that just kicks off some extra heat without losing it all. But we're actually TRYING to avoid a green house situation here so opening the windows gets us there. As to not liking the sun coming in and boiling people. You do realize that blinds were invented right? So... we have these things... called "window blinds" and what they do is stop the light from getting into rooms from outside. They can be any color you want including silvered or mirrored if you really want to get rid of all that nasty light. What is more, you can actually install them outside the building if you really want to do that so when they heat up marginally they won't even impart that small amount of heat to the room because they'll be outside. Understand my perspective here. You are suggesting that we create a giant subterrainan apartment that is above ground and yet is utterly cut off from the outside world. If I can't see out from my apartment... especially if I am in a high rise... I am going to consider the design a fail. I want to see out. I don't think that's unreasonable. And then the question becomes how to do keep the building cool despite not having giant concrete walls that block out all light. Well, I have told you two ways to do that. 1. Opening the windows prevents a green house effect. 2. If the light itself is a problem then blinds will reflect nearly all of it away. All of this said, I do appreciate the power of geothermal cooling. I would simply argue that the design not completely remove external windows to accomplish this goal. If you really really want giant thick concrete walls around your apartment... at least provide port holes so people can see out.

[@nikitadronov6101]

How will they prevent illegal occupation of the forest?

[@vichomangiola]

It´s the idea of a forest. As it is built, It's actually a public park, well mantained and secure.

[@edibkahraman437]

Türkçe çevirisi bazı kısımlarda baya kötü çevrilmiş

[@flamingrobin5957]

so did they take away private property to build this forrest?

[@go803312]

Please translate it into korean ..

[@taynaioricamargo1679]

9:20