Architecture, the ancient and constantly renewing discipline, forms the foundation of our everyday lives. It shapes our world in visible ways by defining the streetscape and the skyline. it also shapes our world in tangible ways by creating spaces where we live, work, and play in relative safety and comfort.
Architect Stephen Chung, calls such spaces cool. He’s right. In this new public television series conceived, assembled, and hosted by Chung – highly approachable, using everyday language – he draws us into interesting projects, unlocking architecture for a generation that values design but wants to learn more. He asks obvious questions that most of us would like to ask. Who wanted this done? Why? What did they hope to accomplish? Why do these buildings look and feel the way they do, and, ultimately, what did it take to bring them to fruition.
Over the course of a single episode, he demystifies architecture by making it understandable and approachable, allowing us to love and learn simultaneously. Viewers will be able to walk through New York, San Francisco, Chicago, or their own hometown with newly opened eyes, thanks to COOL SPACES. Buildings featured in the series are located in the following cities: Brooklyn N.Y., Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, New Haven Conn., Phoenix, Seattle, Raleigh N.C., Philadelphia, and Charlotte N.C.
Episode One: "Performance Spaces" airs Wednesday, April 23 at 11 p.m. - Barclay's Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. by SHoP, (New York); Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, Texas by HKS Architects (Dallas); Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, Mo. by Moshe Safdie (Boston).
Episode Two: "Libraries" airs Wednesday, April 30 at 11 p.m. - Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Wash. by OMA/REX (NYC); South Mountain Community Library, Phoenix, Arizona by Richard+Bauer (Phoenix); Hunt Library in Raleigh, N.C. by Snohetta (New York).
Episode Three: "Art Spaces" airs Wednesday, May 7 at 11 p.m. - Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Mo. by Steven Holl (New York); Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, Pa. by Tod Williams Billie Tsien (New York); Gantt Center for African Arts and Culture, Charlotte, N.C. by Freelon Group, (Raleigh, N.C.).
Episode Four: "Healing Spaces" airs Wednesday, May 14 at 11 p.m. - Ruvo Center, Las Vegas, Nev. by Frank Gehry, (LA); Yale University Health Services Building, New Haven, Conn. by Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam (Atlanta); Health Sciences Education Building, Phoenix, Ariz. by CO Architects, (LA).
COOL SPACES: THE BEST NEW ARCHITECTURE is on Facebook, Google +, and you can follow @CoolSpaces on Twitter.
