The Midnight Charette, now known as The Second Studio is a podcast series curated by architects David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet of FAME Architecture & Design, which thrives on candid and lively conversations with prominent guests while offering fresh insights into the world of design. Taking its name from the French word “charette,” which denotes the intensive and fast-paced character of architectural work, The Midnight Charette had its humble beginning in a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, New York.
In episode 108 of The Midnight Charette, hosts David Lee and Marina Bourderonnet sit down with the visionary architect Neil Denari for an engaging and insightful conversation. Denari, the founder of Neil M. Denari Architects and a professor at UCLA Architecture and Urban Design, opens up about his diverse passions, from experimental music to urban design, and his rich teaching experiences. The discussion takes listeners through the wild energy of New York City, Denari’s perspectives on Los Angeles and Paris, the transformative development of the High Line, and the essence of city landmarks.
Teaching Design
Denari discusses a wide range of subjects with Lee and Bourderonnet, beginning with how he teaches architecture. His studios have been working on large-scale urban projects for the past ten years, influenced by the experimental work of the 1960s. Students are encouraged to discuss urban issues including housing, transportation, and congestion in these studios. To promote a better comprehension of the issues, Denari highlights the significance of going beyond simple massing diagrams taking political and social factors into account and introducing the students to first-world problems.
In “freefall mode,” students are encouraged to conduct in-depth research without a specific design program, they recognise core issues, and come up with original solutions. Denari believes that this approach helps students navigate the complexities of urban planning while fostering in them a critical thinking and argumentative skill set.
New York during the Eighties
Drawing on his observations made in New York City during the 1980s, Denari presents an interesting portrait of a vibrant creative and cultural scene. He considers how the emergence of rap, hip-hop, and electronic music affected the city’s cultural landscape. Not just in music but also in architecture and urban planning, this era was characterised by experimentation and invention. Citing New York metropolis as “Disneyland coming to life as a real city,” Denari emphasises the city’s capacity to spur innovation and push limits. His time in New York City had a profound impact on him and his approach to both music and design.
Los Angeles: An Enigma
Denari talks highly of Los Angeles, describing it as mysterious and intellectually freeing, in contrast to the hectic pace of New York. Denari asserts that LA’s distinctive quality is its capacity to pique curiosity and permit impromptu investigation. Denari also answers typical critiques of Los Angeles, such as the idea that it lacks the density of a “proper” metropolis and its dependence on vehicles. He contests these opinions by highlighting the city’s abundance of cultural diversity and the unrestricted thinking and creativity that it offers, suggesting that it is for a person who sort of likes a dystopia, and you live more in your head than through your eyes.
Paris: A Benchmark Experience
One of the most noteworthy times of Denari’s youth was spent in Paris. He worked for an aerospace business for six months after graduating from Harvard’s master’s degree and took time to explore the city’s rich architectural legacy. His admiration for Paris’s exemplary blend of modern innovation and historical preservation grew as a result of this encounter.
He describes Paris as a city that does not take itself too seriously, allowing history to influence but not dictate new developments. This flexibility and openness to radical projects, such as the controversial yet iconic Pompidou Center, make Paris one of Denari’s favourite cities. His experiences in Paris have informed his approach to urban design, emphasising the importance of integrating new ideas into established urban contexts.
The High Line
One of the significant projects discussed in the episode is the High Line in New York City. The High Line is one of the most visited tourist destinations in New York City. Looking back at the project’s evolution, Denari notes how it combined urban redevelopment, creative vision, and private money. Due to the High Line’s success, the neighbourhood has seen a significant increase in development and tourism. Denari calls it an “attraction in a theme park”, which has now become a local catalyst, and the tourists move around the High Line as the buildings become dioramas, like in a museum, while they look at the buildings from different eras. He talks about how, similar to how the Pompidou revitalised its surroundings, the High Line has made its neighbourhood a vibrant, ever-changing urban environment.
The Intersection of Music and Architecture
Another intriguing element of Denari’s artistic life is his fondness for music, especially the experimental and minimalist genres. He describes how his passion for music, which started as experimental guitar playing during his college years, has developed into a focused hobby using modular synthesisers. Denari sees similarities between the ordered, hierarchical elements of architecture and the repeated, textured quality of minimalist music, even though he has not yet given a public performance. For Denari, music is a means of bringing passion and energy into his life and creations.
The episode highlights Neil Denari’s huge influence on contemporary architecture and urban planning. His insights into the link between music and architecture, the changing dynamics of urban spaces, and the need for experimental teaching methods are all valuable lessons for architects and urban planners. The Midnight Charette #108 is a must-listen for anybody interested in the future of cities and how design influences our urban experiences.
References:
The Second Studio (2019) The midnight charette #108 – architect Neil Denari on music, design, the High Line, NYC, and Paris, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_53B6OxiXY (Accessed: 25 July 2024).
LLC, S.S. (2021) #108 – Neil Denari, architect and professor at UCLA, THE SECOND STUDIO. Available at: https://www.secondstudiopod.com/podcasts-5/108-neil-denari-architect-and-professor-on-music-design-the-high-line-nyc-and-paris?rq=108 (Accessed: 25 July 2024).
