Join us at PA Talks 68 for an exclusive office tour and interview with Arthur Mamou-Mani, an acclaimed architect renowned for his innovative use of 3D printing and eco-friendly materials.
Arthur Mamou-Mani is a French architect and designer, recognized for his leading role in the fields of parametric design, digital fabrication, and sustainable architecture. He is principal of Mamou-Mani Architects, London-based architecture practice specializing in using state-of-the-art technologies like 3D printing and parametric tools to develop ecologically sensitive modular structures.
Mamou-Mani gained recognition on an international level through large-scale installations, the greatest of which was at Burning Man. One installation at Burning Man 2018 was a massive, spiraling wooden pavilion entitled Galaxia, representing interconnectedness and the universe.
Along with running his architectural practice, Mamou-Mani teaches at the University of Westminster and is one of the most vocal advocates for digital fabrication. His practice often investigates how technology can allow more sustainable and efficient construction methods for buildings and artworks. He has also developed and used software, including Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D, to extend the boundaries of architectural design.
Mamou-Mani is also involved heavily in open-source design; many of his projects and designs are uploaded online for the inspiration of other minds to gather, collaborate, and innovate further.
Galaxia is one of the most iconic installations that ever came into existence in Burning Man history, created by Arthur Mamou-Mani in 2018. Galaxia was to become the official Temple of Burning Man that year-a place of contemplation, mourning, and spiritual release. Galaxia drew inspiration from the interrelatedness of everything in the universe.
It was an integrated universe wherein everything connects to each other, just like the galaxy itself. The design had a huge spiraling wooden structure made up of 20 timber trusses that converged at one point, which was the arms of a galaxy. Each truss radiated outward, creating an open lattice pattern to form a lively and airy space for participants to come into, rest, contemplate, or leave personal messages inside the structure.
Other key elements of Galaxia included its use of digital fabrication and principles of sustainability. The techniques of digital fabrication involved Mamou-Mani and his team in the use of parametric design tools, such as Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D, to generate the complex geometry of the structure.
Hosted by Hamid Hassanzadeh, founder and creative director of PA, the PA Talks interview series brings together the brightest minds in architecture and design. These captivating conversations explore these individuals’ lives, careers, and visions for the future.
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