To architect Ole Scheeren, “we should think of architecture and buildings as a space for stories — stories of the people that live there, of the people that work in these buildings. And we could start to imagine the experiences our buildings create.” Sharing insight into the design process, and narratives shaping a selection of his projects in Beijing, Singapore, Berlin, London, and somewhere in the ocean in Thailand, Scheeren explains how buildings should be seen as a life form with circulatory systems, rather than merely built substance. When people inhabit and engage with a building, the architecture becomes an urban actor, reflecting various personas, writing and performing multifaceted stories about city life, and the design and construction process.
Sarah is an urban planner and artist from Melbourne Australia, currently living in Seattle. She has contributed to diverse long-term projects addressing housing, transportation, community facilities, heritage and public spaces with extensive consultation with communities and other stakeholders. Her articles for The Urbanist focus on her passion for the design of sustainable, inviting and inclusive places, drawing on her research and experiences around the world.