Michael Ford, Hip Hop Architecture lecture at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.
Press Release
September 19, 2015 - The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) hosted Michael Ford during his Hip Hop Architecture lecture tour. Ford was a keynote speaker during the National Organization of Minority Architects Students (NOMAS) Symposium titled, Breaking The Glass Ceiling.
Read MoreThe annual NOMAS Symposium is hosted by the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students. This year's theme: "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" is geared towards raising awareness to minorities who have been able to break barriers and overcome obstacles to become successful within the field of Architecture. It will feature a special lecture from the Hip Hop Architect Michael Ford and many more activities, such as mini-lectures and round table discussions--which will be led by some professional architects and some of the School of Architecture's very own faculty.
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Photo By: Nicholas Oran
Hip Hop has established itself as a gravitas culture that crosses borders of race, ethnicity, class, religion and professions. Members of the hip hop generation carry the residue of the culture into all spaces they inhabit and their individual works are seasoned with its’ flavor. As professionals continue to argue the academic validity of hip hop and disseminate the social significance of rap, it is time architectural professionals learn the benefit the culture provides to its’ practitioners.
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Photo By: Adidas Big Sean at Detroit Cass Tech
Rapper Big Sean unveiled a new music studio at his alma mater, Cass Technical High School in Detroit Michigan. Cass Tech is the alma mater of many of Detroit's black architects and designers, including myself and Rainy Hamilton Jr. Cass Tech is recognized as one the best high schools in the nation and is one of the only Detroit Public Schools which requires students to take admissions test and requires a minimum grade point average for enrolled students. Big Sean graduated from CT with a 3.7 gpa and despite many scholarship offers, he choose to follow his true dream, entertainment.
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Photo By: Nick Oran
The following audio and related transcript is an excerpt from my lecture, Hip Hop Inspired Architecture, at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design on April 8, 2015. During the lecture I presented my project, Urban Renewal vs Urban Reality, which juxtaposes a series of hip hop music videos and architecture documentaries exhibiting The Golden Era of Hip Hop as a post occupancy report for inner city dwellers inhabitation of modernist visions.
Read MorePharrell Williams discusses starchitecture with his guests Alex Gorlin, architect, and Daniel Arsham, artist. Gorlin then discusses his work with Common Ground, a non-profit that helps produce housing for homeless people that positively impacts the neighborhood. Arsham discusses the multi-dimensional nature of the different mediums in which he works.
Artst Talk, is a new take on the talk show format hosted by award winning producer, artist, designer, and businessman Pharrell Williams. Each episode features two special guests at different career stages to discuss their work, motivations, inspirations, and philosophies. In this episode, "Pharrell Williams discusses starchitecture with his guests Alex Gorlin, architect, and Daniel Arsham, artist. Gorlin then discusses his work with Common Ground, a non-profit that helps produce housing for homeless people that positively impacts the neighborhood.
Read MoreHip Hop Inspired Architecture lecture by Michael Ford and Eryk "The Arch-E-Tech" Christian at Madison College, in Madison, Wisconsin on April 29, 2015 at 12:30pm.
On April 29, 2015 my DJ, Eryk "The Arch-E-Tech" Christian and I will deliver a lecture on Hip Hop Inspired Architecture at Madison College located in Madison Wisconsin. This lecture is a continuation of my current lecture tour, which has included an exhibit at the 2014 AIA Convention in Chicago Illinois, lectures at University of Detroit Mercy, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Syracuse University and Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Read MoreHere are a couple of renders I created to visualize new concepts for inner city, low income housing utilizing shipping containers. The design is a mixture of current architectural styles, projects and design theories on low income housing.
Read MoreHere is a list of the tracks, in order, from my most recent Hip Hop Architecture lectures and seminars. The lists range from old school classic hip hop to modern day rap. The use of the tracks not only provides a transition between topics as I make an argument for hip hop architecture, the tracks contextualizes the discussion points through lyrical references. It is my hope that the memory evoking power inherent in music will allow attendees recall discussion points from the presentation once its concluded.
Read MoreThis symposium explores a wide range of questions. Does hip-hop architecture, however it is defined, exist? If so, who are its practitioners? Is there an architectural image or a style that reflects hip-hop ideals? Is there a formal language or organizational structure that it should employ? Or is there a process and attitude towards design that will separate hip-hop from conventional architectural practice?
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After reading KRS One's, The Gospel of Hip Hop, First Instrument for the Temple of Hip Hop and The Hip Hop Deceleration of Peace within its' pages I had to introduce the powerful text to the hip hop architectural community to assure that we abide by the principles set fourth by the founders of hip hop culture.
Read MoreOn March 25, 2009, I was selected to present my research on Hip Hop Architecture during AIA Detroit's Pecha Kucha Night at the Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Detroit. The presentation focused on the re purposing of materials to create architectural spaces which encouraged the development and entrepreneurial spirit of hip hop culture.
Read MoreOn Friday, February 13, 2015 I will team with Eryk "The Arch-E-Tect" Christian to deliver a lecture at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's School of Architecture and Urban Planning titled, "LeCorbusier, The Forefather of Hip Hop?". The lecture focuses on the subconscious contributions of famed architects and urban planners to the environments which necessitated the birth of hip hop culture. This lecture will culminate with urban culture’s influence on the architectural profession through three interconnected realms: academic research, professional practice and media, ultimately introducing a new architectural style, one inspired by hip hop culture.
Read MoreGEICO TV Spot, 'Push It: It's What You Do' Featuring Salt-N-Pepa Whether you're in an elevator or taking a baby class, be prepared to be ambushed by Salt-N-Pepa who will tell you to push. Besides pushing, we're all likely to switch to GEICO.
Europe’s first music hotel is here - in the heart of Berlin. Located directly on the banks of the river Spree, and at the epicentre of the music, fashion and creative scene, a new lifestyle hotel that has yet to meet its match in Europe: the nhow Berlin. The nhow Berlin is located right next to Universal Music and MTV Europe.
Read MoreZvi Belling of ITN Architects + End to End Project Rendering
Big thanks to my big homie, Zvi Belling of ITN Architects in Melbourne for sharing project imagery of his End to End Project which the second of three architectural projects based on hip hop culture. The first in the series, The Hive, has received acclaim around the world as Zvi used graffiti as a permanent, structural element as opposed to a temporal, surface application serving aesthetic purposes.
Read MoreThe Hive Apartments - Zvi Belling ITN Architects
Big thanks to my homie Zvi Belling at ITN Architects in Melbourne for providing me with images of The Hive. I applaud Zvi for using graffiti as a structural element within the facade transitioning it from a temporal, surface application typically serving aesthetic purposes only.
Read MoreWhat happens at the intersection of urban culture and architecture? How can the four elements of hip hop (DJing, MCing, Breaking and Graffiti) inspire the built environment? Participants are encouraged to create a sketch using mediums of their choice to depict new building forms, urban design concepts, and/or architectural products inspired by the four foundational elements of hip hop.
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Thanks to AIA Brooklyn (American Institute of Architects - Brooklyn Chapter) for publishing images of the Hip Hop Inspired Architecture exhibit at the 2014 National AIA Convention in Chicago, Illinois in their recent newsletter. Click the button below to access the pdf version of the publication which focuses on distributing information fromt the 2014 AIA Repositioning Report from AIA National.
Dr. Craig Wilkins - Photo by: Art X Detroit
If you want to know what hip hop architecture is all about, I suggest you start with one of the first individuals to do extensive publications on the concept, Dr. Craig Wilkins. His article, "Warped Space: The Architecture of Hip Hop" published in the Journal of Architectural Education was heavily quoted during my graduate design thesis titled "Cultural Innovation: Hip Hop Inspired Architecture" completed almost ten years ago. Click the "download" link below to read the article.
Read MoreCheck out this video of the "Beatbox" which brings together architecture and music through experience and form.
