The diary of a year of architecture
“In the wake of Rudy Ricciotti, Patrick Bouchain, Lacaton & Vassal, Luca Merlini, Lefèvre & Aubert, TYIN and Anna Heringer, the villa Noailles wishes to briefly halt an astonishing explorer who endlessly travels the planet in order to observe and capture the architecture of this period, along with the life which evolves within it.
Iwan Baan has been invited to the villa so that he may share his visions, which are like so many stopovers in his many endless trips around the world. He possesses a unique perspective on world architecture, because it is synchronous. But that which interests him is the life and interactions which evolve within and around these new structures, such as the large stadium by Herzog and de Meuron in Peking, or the Learning Center by SANAA in Lausanne, and also the Cultural Center of Medellín in Colombia, or the mud brick Ahmed Baba Library in Timbuktu, Africa. After completing his studies in photography, this young Dutch artist suggested a photographic project to his well known compatriot, Rem Koolhaas, who accepted without hesitation, and thus ensued a regular collaboration.
The villa Noailles has invited this tireless globe-trotter to come in to land for a short while, in order to offer the public a series of 35mm digital snapshots, which are unique photographs of the “architecture – planet”.
At 35 years of age, Iwan Baan has recently been awarded the Julius Shulman prize, which places him within the elite of important architectural photographers. His distinctive vision focuses upon the impact of structures, upon their environment and upon the life which evolves within and around them.”
Jean-Pierre Blanc, Director and Florence Sarano, associate curator

Villa Noailles
montée Noailles, Hyeres
20th February – 27th March 2011
opening - Saturday 19th February at 6pm 

www.villanoailles-hyeres.com