It’s all in the process: a new show explores the work of Richard Meier

’Richard Meier: Process and Vision’ is a new show at Chicago’s Mana Contemporary that looks into the process behind some of the architect’s most iconic work.

(Image credit: Photography courtesy of Richard Meier & Partners Architects)

A new show at Chicago’s Mana Contemporary looks into the process behind some of Richard Meier’s most iconic work. 'Richard Meier: Process and Vision', which opens this weekend as part of the opening festivities of the very first Chicago Architecture Biennale, explores contrasts and different approaches within the architect’s designs and artwork.

Four of the practice’s seminal projects, the Getty Center, the High Museum of Art, the Canal+ Headquarters and the Arp Museum, as well as four of its most recent projects in the United States, Latin America, and the Middle East act as case studies in the exhibition, illustrating the special set of challenges an architecture project can encounter – be it social, environmental, technological or financial. Architectural drawings, sketches, and study models that explore the design processes, which helped overcome such challenges, are a key part of this show.

Art complements the architecture. Celebrating the iconic architect’s international body of work, this exhibition also features displays of mixed-media silkscreen prints created by Meier himself, blending art and design. Rich in colour and detail, the artworks seem to almost contradict the architect’s signature clean lines and neutral palette – they are, however, an invaluable piece in the development of each project and offer a unique insight into the architect’s exploration of forms and design strategies.

A model of the firm's Reforma Towers, a major project in Mexico City.

Richard Meier Architectural concept — Eight highlighted projects illustrate the special set of challenges an architecture project can encounter – be it social, environmental, technological or financial.

Architectural concepts — Architectural drawings, sketches, and study models that explore the design processes, which helped overcome such challenges, are a key part of this show.

the Getty Center concept — The four seminal projects featured are the Getty Center (pictured), the High Museum of Art, the Canal+ Headquarters and the Arp Museum.

The Arp Museum Concept — The Arp Museum.

Celebrating the iconic architect’s international body of work, this exhibition also features displays of mixed-media silkscreen prints created by Meier himself, blending art and design.

INFORMATION

'Richard Meier: Process and Vision' opens tomorrow and is on view until 30 January 2016

ADDRESS

Mana Contemporary
Chicago 2233 S. Throop Street
Chicago, IL, 60608

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Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).