DAISY AMES

charles renfro of the new york firm diller scofidio + renfro gave a presentation at a dinner party at the guggenheim in early 2008. the event was a fundraiser in support of brown university’s first “art collection” or rather… aspirations to accumulate one. the dinner was held in the main atrium space where the uber-anitmated renfro eagarly described plans to build a creative arts center for the university. he flattered the audience by praising their passion for the arts while enthusiastically waving his hands every which way. the (primarily) conservative crowd calmly listed on as his eccentric attitude and overzealous plans for the structure were being articulated ever so circuitously by renfro on stage. he personally lost me when his off-the-cuff statement that he was “unsure what the building will be used for… for anything!… for everything!… it will simply make students happy!” at that point, i bit my lips together, hung my head, and was convinced he blew it…

ah yet! i was wrong. this building that had no apparent purpose, whose use was very uncertain just a year or so ago, is now being built… and i am still confused as to why, and most importantly how…

there are very necessary traits that architecture firms, or architects themselves, have to have: likability, smarts, business perspective, and the ability to say no. lots of times not having all (most) of those characteristics can make or break success. but, i think diller scofidio + renfro have come together to meet the needs of running a business, transmitting architectural vision, and luring their clients in. elizabeth diller exudes the ability to affectively talk about their work in a convincing, strategic and intellectual way. i believe renfro adds the pizazz that certain clients and the public demand in order to outwardly appear cutting-edge. in any event, it is interesting to see the coexistence of these forces as one. i have not witnessed ricardo scofidio in action. but, when i do, i will certainly post again.

juilliard school for performing arts - 2009

for more on diller scofidio + renfro:

diller scofidio + renfro homepage - dsrny.com

diller scofidio + renfro -  wiki page

elizabeth diller - 2007 ted talk video