Architecture that Challenges your Concept of Reality | Mark Foster Gage | TEDxMidAtlantic

Mark Foster Gage is an acclaimed architect, innovator and Assistant Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. His pioneering design work fuses advanced technologies with philosophical speculation and interdisciplinary collaboration, and has been featured in institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Venice Biennale, and the Beijing Biennale. His projects have been published in venues such as Vogue, Fast Company, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and on PBS, Fox and MTV.
He has designed architectural projects across a variety of typologies ranging from the new Live Arts Center at Bard College to the twenty-two story “Aurum” residential tower in Manhattan. His work also includes experimental advanced technology projects that explore new forms of interactivity, virtual reality, robotics, 3d printing, and spatial social media for clients such as Intel Corporation, Lady Gaga, Google, Diesel, H&M, Samsung, and Vice Media. Mr. Gage also oversees, as the Product Design Director for Nicola Formichetti’s “Nicopanda” fashion line, a new series of high-tech accessories ranging from iPhone cases to USB jewelry. Mr. Gage has received recognition in the form of nominations or awards from various institutions including the Architectural League of New York, the American Institute of Architects, The Chernikhov Foundation, The Ordoz Prize Foundation, and the USA Artists Fellows Program, and was named an “Avant Guardian of Architecture” by Surface Magazine.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@allensomseb6133]

I love how he easily...break down the principle of the Golden Circle The What, The How,The Why... Amazing...As an architect its important to understand this,Thank you...

[@JoseDorda]

This guy should consider working for japanese game developer, his building look like they belong in Final Fantasy.

[@rosemelie]

Jose Dorda that’s what I kept reacting myself!!!! He just visited our school but I was too shy to asked him if he was ever inspired by video games or fantasy in general

[@vintheguy]

Which one?

[@rosemelie]

He just visited my university and wow I was amazed by his approach to architecture and I’m googling all related to his architecture. By far I love how he combines philosophy, perspective and aesthetics to create this fantasy world of architecture which we have only seen it in video games so far. LOVE IT!

[@sarahalsup2229]

Wow! Amazing way to reimagine how we perceive our world. Proud to know Mark before he became such an architectural genius!

[@vinayseth1114]

Anyone else was reminded of video games when looking at this buildings? Oh, and I thought the fractal building was a brilliant idea! Hope it- or some iteration of it- gets built some day!

[@deus2645]

yeah it looks like high fantasy themed rpg game.. looks good but not practical

[@ketaarc]

Still...this guy could've been the greatest level designer, ever.

[@adapa22]

I like your philosophy of greatness in architecture but not only in esthetics.... my Studio specializes in Architectural Acoustics one of the great invisibles Laws. Great talk! We all love your Mom now!!!

[@ameliedl7898]

“I’m pretty sure I’m gonna go down in history as designing the first Instagram proof room, if any of you wanna lock your kids in it” 😂

[@chikientran8742]

It's great concept, but to apply it into reality, it takes a lot to construct and to maintain it. But we need these people to continue because we will need this ability one day when bots can help us doing those above...

[@calsavestheworld]

That fractal design is truly incredible.

[@cvan7681]

The Bryson quote is excellent.

[@hawifituma9926]

I Love the idea and experimentation ...Good work!!

[@Spookspek]

Finally some architecture that goes beyond our new mundane minimalistic standards! It's disappointing how we're clearly capable of designing structures that radiate greatness, yet only let them shine through in what we consider fiction. Meanwhile, what we consider and therefore make reality has become more bland than ever before. Architecture, music, objects of daily use: all drained of anything awe-inspiring, replaced by standardised machine-faeces, made to be sold, made to be accepted by the simplest of minds. So what we can make big stuff look like a box? Our materials advanced, yes, but please get over it already. Once the novelty passes, things will really get interesting. For once we combine our technological knowledge with the state of mind of the builders of pyramids, cathedrals and the wonders of Art Deco, our reality shall look... divine.

[@vinayseth1114]

Interesting you mentioned fiction- the first thing that came to my mind upon looking at these buildings was -video games!

[@samuelon2733]

From a cost perspective, cleaning that building will be very very difficult and expensive. it looks amazing but only someone with flowing money can afford such a building who doesn't look at it from a bigger picture of cost.

[@asterbel2895]

From people's view, yes indeed, the building looks magnificent, something that is different and unique, like as if it just came out of from a fiction or the creator's imagination. I do agree that a lot of today's architects have lost their touch and vision in designing a building. But, this is not the way to solve the issue. As viewed from an architecture student, this kind of building is impossible to be built for several reasons, as Samuel On has pointed one out, for being too expensive. And I mean, waaaay expensive then it should be. Would any sane person or company pay extra money for the aesthetic look of the building, than being functional? Most likely not. If you look at Gaudi's works, they are the perfect example of the balance between being creative with the design, and yet being realistically possible to be built. But one day, when technologies advance, and it becomes cheaper to construct buildings, this kind of design may be possible to be built, and the architects will then go wild and create something new that has never ever been possible before.

[@javelinthrower3]

quick approximation for the Sagrada Familia from quora is 870 million euros. Not the best source, but I doubt any of his buildings would cost anythings like that. In general, the architecture is quite simple, no funky structure. Everything else would be CNC-milled like his marble minion. I think the big difference between the Sagrada and this is that simplistic and minimalist forms where reserved for barns and factories in Gaudi's time.

[@lamecklawra8805]

Is it possible for an architect to study the masters of structure Engineering???

[@joebermudez6351]

I want to become an architect and I found this video very helpful. 👏🏻🤘🏻

[@MichaelFlynn0]

Interesting ideas ... but how does the results tie together with his philosophical basis.

[@alexandraelenacristea]

He didn't explain this but he is a classicaly trained formalist architect and philosopher, he believes that art and architecture should solely be judged on the basis of their purely visual and formal properties, unlike conceptualist who always attribute some sort of verbal story or use symbolic meaning to support/explain their architecture. Formalists aren't as much preocuppied with for ex. the function/functionality or performance of a bulding, but they are interested in the visuality of it, they deal with for ex. form, color, light, space and atmosphere. That's mainly what his projects are also about!

[@MrThirteen1]

Yes so awesome to hear this speech! Not sure why all the criticism in the comments i think his ideas are wonderful and definitely worth looking into. Should architecture not evolve beyond Modernity? Many of you seem to share the sentiment that it shouldn't. I for one have been scratching my head for years as to why we dont see the use of fractal patterns more often in architecture, to me it seems like an ideal way to re-invoke meaning through architecture and to make our built world more beautiful, aesthetic and to align our buildings with the fundamental structures of reality. Hope to see this become more prominent in our lackluster world of Modern Minimalist architecture. Its time to move on from Modernism its had its purpose but now time to move on to greater and more meaningful endeavors. Again i think we can incorporate many of these ideas in a small scale that isn`t cost prohibitive something like introducing more patterns into our building facades and interiors is not hard to do, it dose not have to be some of the grandiose structures seen hear. Although hopefully with time and better technologies we can someday make these ideas reality.

[@bv32ification]

He’s not proposing to evolve past modernism, he is proposing to devolve to pre modernity but with all the tools and technology that modernity afforded him. Modernity will prevail (for a billion reasons other than aesthetic sensibilities) because the philosophy he is using realizes there is no objective beauty - everything is equally beautiful. The contemporary conceptions of beauty is always just a metaphor or rejection of past forms of accepted beauty. When the beauty in everything is realized, you’re back at utilitarianism

[@pigeon_the_brit565]

@@bv32ification that is not true. there is objective beauty, there are mechanisms that create beauty, there is the multifacetedness of an enviroment, there is the optical texture of a building. glass looks cold, it reflects it has no proper qualities of its own and it should only serve to be part of a larger building made from another material. the straightness, the unartistic and the corporate feel of modern architecture puts most people off. most buildings, it seems are designed by architects who are either not aware of or ignore popular opinion. we want interesting buildings back. take brutalism- the greyness of the concrete, jaggedness of the lines, it puts people off. and sometimes modern buildings have no visible windows- not only doesn this make it hostile for the occupier, no windows (sometimes) and no fresh air but i think the idea that you can't see what's happening in a building removes its facade and its occupants from the position in the public place, it creates a feeling of disconnect.

[@ghostrewind8708]

Those buildings look amazing however let's come back down to earth, the amount of engineering that would be involved in designing and constructing this building let alone the level of detailing that would be involved, you would have construction documents as thick as a platform dictionary. The question is what client would be willing to pay for all the design fees and also what GC would be able to run that project successfully within the time constraints that clients put on us. The ideas are great the feasibility not so and the why is the biggest question.

[@Cankersoar]

are you corn?

[@Studio39DesignStudio]

I was hooked with in 3 minutes

[@ceogroupconsultingprojetos5536]

Unfortunately just a few architects have ever heard about Antonio Sant'Elia. He was an Italian architect and a key member of the futuristic architectural movement. He left almost NO architectural works completed and is mostly remembered for his bold sketches and influence on modern architecture. Certainly the experiences, perhaps, architectural delusions of Mark Foster Gage, even if not executed, will be a milestone in this same bias. The history of architecture thanks you !!

[@TimSlee1]

I can see a basis for some really good ideas here. Some of them remind me of the symbolic uses of symmetry and patterns in art deco. For instance, many art deco skyscrapers create a sense of awe and wonderment by using wings and patterns that emphasized height. However, due to technological constraints, they were uniform and had to use realistic detailing. These constraints created uniformity which resulted in beautiful designs. A lack of uniformity can result in confusion and that's what I am seeing a lot of in this video. Much of his designs have good ideas, but as a whole, they end up looking disfigured, in fact, these designs look like they were created using a Mandelbrot fractal program. Again, interesting but nonsensical.

[@rosepestana9516]

He sounds so young

[@voiceofreason1663]

Please make that skyscraper with wings real!

[@Noor-fp1me]

Honestly the first half of the lecture was brilliant up until the architect showed us how he implemented that philosophy into architecture and i just lost it.... couldn’t relate the philosophy of gathering all our differences into a larger conception of reality, by using random figures thrown on a building.... also sorry to say it but, it’s not aesthetically pleasing at all.... and it’s not available to be interacted with, between humans and buildings ( All kinds of humans and our social/economical/cultural ) differences!

[@manaraldeeb4162]

Never agreed more

[@riccia888]

So does that mean concept artist can work in a architectural studio now

[@tinashen2984]

'designing the first Instagram-proof room' LMAO im done

[@johnalfrednuestro7049]

His designs help you live in 4040!!

[@solongmarianne5530]

I admire the intentions and the design ideas themselves are quite interesting...but I'm not sold on their success with regard to his philosophy. He seems to want these designs to snap people out of their assumptions about the everyday, but they never escape their own context. They reality behind them-what he is ostensibly trying to subvert-is still that of a late-capitalist society and all of the baggage that comes along with it. Their ultimate goal is still to separate consumers from their money-the architect is still the handmaiden of neoliberalism...Perhaps applying some of these ideas to our conception of architectural program, rather than appearance, might be a better place to start.

[@itsamemoria110]

so long marianne Hey if you are interested, search Bjarke Ingels and his buildings, he also has a TED talk. Somehow his work fits more with this philosophy.

[@bobvanboekel3966]

interesting lil brain theory indeed but in reality people wanna live in sweet and comfortable buildings not freaky strange ones. I personally adhere to the ancient idea that art is to bring completeness to our lives, to be reconciliation for our troubling earthly being. This completeness actually manifests often in the most mundane and normal things, but are so nice because they are so familiar and safe. I think the problem with all modernist architecture is that it is all based on heavy theoretic thinking and seems to abstain from actual feeling, does this building feel good? Do people wanna live and work in here? Is this a place I would want to walk through, sit down on a bench and watch the world pass by?

[@paolosalgo6987]

too good to be true aye. its like mmorpg.

[@yuxintian3924]

May the decorationism come back with more incrediable technique? Mark Foster's design reminders me Guadi's.

[@controledenergy]

How much these buildings gonna cost.

[@danielcaceres9971]

so, have any of these designs been built?

[@pigeon_the_brit565]

people here say : its too expensive, to make our built world to look attractive and hospitable for us. beautiful buildings were built before and with way less technology than we have. if the system doesn't work for us then it needs to change. the problem is money hungry developers hunger for something that doesn't actually exist and allways do things the cheapest way possible.

[@DARCHitecture]

The concept of fractals in a built form is not new...its already present in the Hindu temples of West and South India...the closer you go..the more details you see...and these were built at a time when there were no computers... something to think about i guess

[@Joice_M]

What is Philosophy?

[@svtcarat6386]

I suddenly wanna be a corn

[@pradyumnaerankar8391]

Fractal forms seems to be a great concept ofcourse with great budget just following it. But most of the renderings of buildings shown here have just regular interiors and planning!! ( 11:00 like here).. From architectural pov that's the most important thing.. the volume and environment felt by the users!! I don't understand what's the point of having futuristic exterior facades if there's no difference in planning and circulation of the spaces!!

[@mhdkreiz9254]

👍🏻

[@drsalka]

Are u corn? 😂😂😂

[@pietrovecchi2245]

It would be unfair to say that this isn’t something amazing and produced by a very imaginative artist. But when he said that “wars are the result of two opposite interpretations of the reality” it became clear that he design not because of some logic philosophical theory but just because some very superficial feeling. But in facts, by constructing theories based on relativism like those in which anyone can see what he wants, any logical argument is excluded. “If I feel that this is good, it is”. So in the end, those buildings and minimalistic buildings are just the same: they don’t have any reason to be that way.

[@archishme]

Form follows......................

[@naem1728]

Damn his designs look like places from Overwatch

[@AbDullAHMoHAAmeD]

Interesting but I don't think it is a cost effective giving the extinsive details and the good craftsmen you need to deliver this kind of concepts not to mention how hard it is going to be to actually build them like I said alot of craftsmen going to be involved and that's my opinion but other than that it is great work. Good job his mom did..

[@doaamo1]

everybody has a role at the end of the day

[@luxewulf4822]

While the details of his designs are very interesting, the buildings as a whole are industrious and dull

[@lstarrtna4288]

I didn't know james Cameron was an architect?

[@snaavs]

How does this help humanity?

[@Ynn97]

snaavs art & expression

[@svtcarat6386]

What do u think helps humanity tho

[@Luzonyoutube]

​@@svtcarat6386 Architecture is supposed to exist to help humanity and make the lives of people easier. It is supposed to satisfy a specific function, to resolve existing problems, simplify existence. I think it is supposed to be aestheticly pleasant while being practical. If there is one thing they asked me in architecture school is "why". You have to have an answer for everything. Why did you do the building like that? What are you looking to resolve? This architecture is beautiful and breathtaking but i think it belongs in a videogame. It is very whimsy and it doesnt have a specific reason to exist. It is incredibly expensive and for what? Its not ecological, its not economical. What`s the purpose?

[@svtcarat6386]

@@Luzonyoutube yes it is supposed to help humanity. However if you search about the meaning or the definition of Architecture, it is the 'Art of Construction' and the 'Construction of Art', and there is an idea, a reason, or a specific concept behind every art. And why does one think that a Concept isn't solving problems? One of its definitions is literally Solving problems. An Architectural concept exists and is important just like any other field and major. We study Architecture to have different ideas and express them. That really helps us find our inner abilities and how to help society and humanity. Otherwise every building is gonna be the same and there wouldn't be an evolution of humanity. As you can see, every country has a symbolic place or building that defines the country, and they hold a pride in it. They all have concepts, it's interesting and helps people differentiate between cultures. A concept helps bring out new ideas and forms. It really can be from anything not just a shape or a specific thing. Why would it not help humanity? Every technological item or company has had a concept, no? ( Ex: Apple) And it's very distinctive. It's like our personalities, how we are distinctive through our personalities, otherwise we'd all be the same. That's how it helps humanity, while solving problems.

[@mainstemmusic9729]

it'd weather horribly and be impossible to maintain - architecture at the far end of the stupidity scale. no wonder these designs don't win! they shouldn't. these projects represent everything wrong with architecture today. his philosophy seems to be to decouple function from design - he has succeeded completely!

[@artisticbuilding6852]

I hate his architecture but this was a fun Tedtalk

[@prophetrexlexful8783]

11:45 looks like new invented brutalism

[@lvrt8371]

wow, he designed demon. thats not easy.

[@ar.azharulislam9467]

sorry ,so far this concept of newness seems very messy and doesn't make sense. Although this idea has people and life, if we could use this knowledge to make built form negotiate with environment it could be a introduction of great architecture

[@svtcarat6386]

There's no certain limit to new ideas until they are done and get successful, then it's the new limit right :))

[@theladylaceyshow4333]

I hate every thing about the looks of the buildings.

[@javiertapia4724]

[@onefan99]

Ayy

[@G0ndry]

OOO

[@jstn1925]

1

[@mattswiden2202]

2

[@Nattyktown]

3

[@ParaSpite]

4

[@chansuyi8084]

5

[@stanley4583]

Shits

[@vichitxaiyavong8114]

ho you got a handsome big voice

[@ahmadrajab8907]

lol where are you

[@ncj4709]

Architecture is a discipline which was derailed in the US before 1990s and in the 1930s was the cruix of political concentration camps. The architectural movement s stagnant.

[@bv32ification]

His polemic is that people are too caught up in their individual conceptions of reality and his solution is to intensify it by playing on people’s false conceptions of beauty. It’s guys like this who give architecture a bad name

[@meraki9983]

i have no words. "Amazing" and "extrordinary" are just too small and lame to describe this architect

[@409raul]

So much BS.

[@ThomasDoubting5]

No it doesn't im well aware that while architecture is sometimes pretty and attractive.... But its temporary

[@Sohave]

Sure he is a smooth talker but what a horrible modernist! Modernism both as a political philosophy, and style in architecture and art is arrogant and self obsessed. The modernists are in the end totalitarians who press their philosophies down the throat of both the students and the general public, they have to be in this way, otherwise the classical arts and classical architecture would be re-emerging and threatening their current cultural dominance. Architecture should not be in this way, architects should not be super stars, they should be humble to the buildings they create, to the local history and to the many generations of people who have to live with these buildings. If we want visual noise we can go to an art museum, to the movies, search on the internet, see a performance. On our own terms, we should not be daily confronted with dominating monstrosities of visual distortion and aesthetic noise. Like with many modernist not only beauty but also elegance and all other principles of aesthetics has been made relative to this guy. Being bold is the new benchmark of grandness.

[@95GuitarMan13]

Novel, attention grabbing, little else.

[@kushagraasthana532]

It looks messy

[@baileyjorgensen2983]

Ew.

[@vajreshwarishekar4980]

If its not the responsibility of an architect to build in a way to help the environment, then whose is it? why is he so proud that he is not making such buildings? we don't build the way we used is because of the lack of resources these days, we have better material and and technology to convey the same. One must also live in the reality of things. Has he thought of low cost housing perhaps? guess not? I don't know...soon we are going to hit a housing crisis. Anyway I think his idea and philosophy doesn't justify the amount of energy he is burning to build the stuff.

[@andreipastushuk3234]

Such a complete nonsense and a waste of my precious time! Rubbish of a talk!

[@shutty666]

Hideous buildings. Modern architecture once again making the world uglier. Nice job

[@javierpacheco8234]

What a horrible building and why so tall when tall buildings are ruining Manhattan? That building looks like the inside of a computer. You know that green chip. Did this guy watch too much matrix cuase he is just disrespecting architecture.