Architect
country:USA
website: www.loharchitects.com
Bio
Since LOHA’s inception in 1990, founder and principal Lorcan O’Herlihy has sought opportunities to engage the ever changing complexities of the urban landscape with respect to spatial and experiential information.
In 2004 the Architectural League of New York selected Lorcan O’Herlihy as one of the eight “emerging voices” in the United States. In 2009 Lorcan was elevated to the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the profession. Lorcan’s commitment to design excellence in commercial, educational and residential projects has earned over 60 national and local design awards, including the 2010 AIA / Los Angeles Firm of the Year Award. The firm’s work has been recognized internationally with numerous exhibitions and publications including The New York Times, MARK, Wallpaper*, A+U, Architectural Record, Architectural Review, Abitare, as well as a book on LOHA’s completed works.
Lorcan’s professional practice has been coupled with intellectual rigor since the inception of his office. He has taught and lectured extensively over the last decade, including the Architectural Association in London, Southern California Institute of Architecture [SCI-Arc], Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan, Columbia University, New York and currently holds the Jon Adams Jerde chair in Architecture at the University of Southern California.
Previously, Lorcan worked at I.M. Pei and Partners on the celebrated Grande Louvre Museum in Paris and as an Associate at Steven Holl Architects on projects in both New York and Europe.
:: Photo information and credits:
1-2 > Formosa 1140 / LOHA Architects
photo courtecy © Lawrence Anderson
3-4 > IM Digital / LOHA Architects
photo courtecy © Frank Oudeman
5-7 > Habitat 825 / LOHA Architects
photo courtecy © Lawrence Anderson
8-9 > Jovanovic Residence / LOHA Architects
photo courtecy © Michael Weschler
10 > Jovanovic Residence / LOHA Architects
photo courtecy © Tate Lown
Most recent people interviewed (View all)
Toal O' Muire
Árpád Ferdinánd
Constantin Xenakis
Isaac A. Meir
Kim Herforth Nielsen
Most recent list of themes (View all)
on Architecture and Theory
on Architecture and Competent Authorities
on Architecture
on Architecture and Sustainability
on Educating Architecture
on Promoting Architecture
on Architecture and Events
on Guiding Architecture
on Architecture and Photography
on Architecture and Politics
on Architecture and Skyscrapers
on Architecture and Art
on Architecture and Travel
My point of view:
on Architecture and Travel
Interview Date: 06-07-2011
VIEW the entire interview on VIDEO!
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What is the importance of Architectural Tourism?
Ideally Bilbao museum by Frank Gehry is a wonderful example of how it can help to invigorate cities by tourism and especially if you have significant buildings like the Bilbao museum. That really helped the whole city. It’s a perfect example. Architectural tourism is important.
What is the added value that Architecture creates within a city?
As an added value, design inspires people by their environment. So if you create great architecture people want to go there, if you design well it means it’s a place where enriches your life in terms of not only sustainably but other way. So it’s enriching the process.
What is the importance of Architectural events (like WAF) worldwide? What are the profits for a city holding such kind of major events?
When people come to cities, hopefully experiences like WAF bring people from all over the world but they appreciate the efforts that Barcelona, for example, has reached out to have this kind of events. As a result of that, you tend to want to give back and be able to return economically perhaps.:: You are the founder and principal of ‘Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects’, where you seek opportunities to engage the operative layers of the urban landscape with respect to spatial, sensory and experiential information.
Is the urban environment of American cities satisfactory for the people who live in it? Does urban planning need empowerment? In which ways should this be done?
Los Angeles is a city that you can speculate, you can look at ideas. We are not held down by history and having to design in a certain way to necessarily fit in. So as a result you tend to look at projects that are unique. My clients don’t come to me and say “Here’s a building next door. Let’s make yours like that.” They come and say “Here’s a blank campus. Create.” Los Angeles is that type of city where you can create unique architecture but also enhances the urban environment.
Is the world financial crisis an opportunity for everyone to reconsider the ways that we design and construct the buildings and the urban environment?
Based on the economic constraints you have to learn to design within very strict parameters where the budgets are smaller. So you have to be very specific to design projects that recognize that. That’s good because then it’s more for the masses. If you build for less perhaps you can do housing, or you can do projects like right now President Obama has provided funds for supporting housing for the homeless. The opportunity as an architect like me to do that benefits everybody.
In recent years attention turns to green urban regeneration. Do you think that it is imperative for the city or it’s just a new fashion with economic outcomes and covertly interests?
At the end, can you please provide your personal proposal for 10 buildings (constructed and visitable) which you think as the most important worldwide that someone must visit anyway?
The Herzog & de Meuron’s Olympic stadium is a wonderful project. I’m a great admirer of their work.
Other projects would Enric Miralle’s projects here in Barcelona. The market is tremendous, the one with the roof on it.
The Seattle Library by OMA.
The Yokohama Port Terminal, FOA is great, that’s a great project.
There’s a number of housing project throughout the world, like Elemental in Chile, it’s a very small project but relevant in terms of seeing how that project works. Another housing project would be MVRDV’s a number of social housing in Madrid. Madrid is a great city to seek for that.
In Los Angeles I’m a great admirer of Frank Gehry’s work; The Walt Disney Concert Hall.
In Denmark, I like BIG’s projects.
Steven Holl has done some great work too; the housing projects in China are very strong as well.
