Sergison Bates architects

Sergison Bates are known for a body of finely crafted impressive work throughout Europe and recently in China. Describing themselves as a research-based practice they are also committed teachers and writers. This exhibit opens the doors into two parallel worlds, that of the Sergison Bates’ practice and that of the teaching atelier. The exhibit shows us these two worlds and presents what Jonathan Sergison describes as “both forms of practice”, side by side. Architecture here is explored as a “creative, reflective practice”, where critical exchanges and collaborative activities are shared.
In this intimate “temporal freespace”, a film shows the work of highly accomplished practitioners together with that of their aspirants. This temporal space is made of floating stretched canvas frames. One feels a sense of privilege, invited ‘backstage’, where one witnesses and is offered access to a space where imagined worlds are made real. The canvas screens suggest just enough enclosure to focus, but open enough to allow new ideas and influences to enter into this ever-changing process of exploration and design development. There is a generosity and clarity about this exhibit that beautifully describes the overlap and rich exchange which happen in the practice of teaching.
YF+SMcN