UNStudio (United Network Studio)

Although he has eluded mainstream “starchitect” status throughout his over 20 year career, Ben van Berkel has made his mark on the architectural landscape and has developed the recognition to pack a lecture hall as he did recently at The Cooper Union in New York.  From his launch of Van Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau with Catherine Bos to its evolution into UNStudio in 1998, van Berkel’s practice has been on the forefront of innovation in architectural style and practice.  As one of the first firms to utilize scripting in its design process years before the advent of programs like Grasshopper and the like, technology plays a pivotal role in UNStudio’s projects. And like its namesake would predict, the firm is readily positioned to connect with professionals and consultants in allied fields across the globe to create some of the most ground-breaking objects of contemporary architecture imaginable.

The way his unique style is represented in different scales so finely across his portfolio is such a defining characteristic of his work.  From the Burnham Pavilion installation in Chicago to the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, van Berkel’s projects are easily identifiable and often become local icons of culture, infrastructure, or civic interest.  One of UNStudio’s most recognizable buildings, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart has become a symbol of an already well-known brand.  By using an ingenious “cloverleaf” floor plan, the relatively compact building is able to accommodate over 160 vehicles illustrating the evolution of the brand.

Through the progression of his incredible career, van Berkel has been a fantastic advocate for the advancement of the profession through embracing new methods of practicing architecture, as well as the development of a bold, contemporary style which stands out while meeting programmatic requirements efficiently.  Both of these subjects are often at the top of current issues in architecture, but so few address them both as beautifully as Ben van Berkel and UNStudio.