Fraj Oto (Frei Otto) posthumno imenovan kao laureat Pricker nagrade za 2015.

Izvor: Dezeen

Nemački arhitekta Fraj Oto (Frei Otto), koji je umro 9. marta ove godine, proglašen je laureatom Pricker nagrade (Pritzker Prize) za 2015. godinu. Svetski najbogatija arhitektonska nagrada posthumno je dodeljena Otu za ”njegove vizionarske ideje, radoznali um, veru u otvoreno deljenje znanja i otkrića, njegov kolaborativni duh i brigu za pažljivo korišćenje resursa” naveo je žiri.

Najpoznatiji po svojim strukturama od mreže čeličnih kablova izgrađenim za Olimpijske igre u Minhenu 1972. godine, Oto je umro dve nedelje pre nego što je trebalo da se objavi dobitnik nagrade. Iz tog razloga žiri nagrade je ranije saopštio svoju odluku, umesto 23. marta kako je bilo planirano.

„Lekcije njegovog pionirskog rada na polju lakih struktura, koje su prilagodljive, promenljive i pažljivo koriste ograničene resurse, važne su danas koliko i kada su prvi put predložene pre 60 godina“, stoji u obrazloženju žirija Pricker nagrade.

Tom Pricker (Tom Pritzker), predsednik i upravnik Hajat fondacije (The Hyatt Foundation), sponzora nagrade, je rekao: „Naš žiri je bio jasan u svom stavu da je karijera Fraja Ota model za generacije i njegov uticaj će se i dalje osećati.“

Žiri je posetio Ota u njegovom domu u Varmbronu blizu Štutgarta, pre njegove smrti i saopštio mu da je dobitnik nagrade koja je trebalo da se uruči na ceremoniji u Majamiju, 15. maja.

„Ja sam zaista srećan što mi je dodeljena Pricker nagrada, i zahvaljujem se žiriju i porodici Pricker,“ rekao je Oto kada mu je saopšteno. „Ja nikada nisam uradio nešto čime bih stekao ovu nagradu.“

„Moj arhitektonski poriv bio je da dizajniram nove vrste objekata koji bi pomogli siromašnima, pogotovo u situacijama prirodnih nepogoda i katastrofa,“ nastavio je Oto. “Pa, šta bi bilo bolje od toga da dobijem ovu nagradu? Iskoristiću vreme koje mi je preostalo da nastavim da radim ono što sam i radio, a to je da pomažem čovečanstvu. Ovde imate jednog srećnog čoveka.“

„Vest o njegovoj smrti je vrlo tužna, bez presedana u istoriji nagrade,“ rekao je Pricker. „Zahvalni smo što mu je žiri dodelio nagradu dok je bio živ.“

Dodao je: „Srećom, nakon odluke žirija, predstavnici nagrade su posetili dom gospodina Ota i bili u mogućnosti da se susretnu i podele vest sa njim. Na ovogodišnjoj dodeli Pricker nagrade u Majamiju 15. maja proslavićemo njegov život i vanvremenski opus.“

Osmišljena po uzoru na Nobelovu nagradu, Pricker nagrada se dodeljuje svake godine i smatra se najprestižnijom nagradom u arhitekturi. Ona je i novčano najveća, donosi 100.000 dolara dobitniku, kao i bronzanu medalju.

Japanski arhitekta Shigeru Ban je laureat nagrade za 2014.godinu, a lista prethodnih dobitnika uključuje i sledeća imena: Norman Foster (Norman Foster), Hercoga i de Murona (Herzog & de Meuron), Hansa Holajna (Hans Hollein), Petera Cumtora (Peter Zumthor), Oskara Nimejera (Oscar Niemeyer) i Zahu Hadid (Zaha Hadid).

„Vreme ne čeka ni na koga“, rekao je predsednik žirija Piter Pelambo (Peter Palumbo). „Ako iko sumnja u ovaj aforizam, jučerašnja smrt Fraj Ota, titana moderne arhitekture, samo nekoliko nedelja pre njegovog 90. rođendana i samo nekoliko nedelja pre nego što bi mu bila uručena Pricker nagrada za arhitekturu u Majamiju u maju, predstavlja tužan i upečatljiv primer istinitosti toga.“

Pelambo je dodao: „Ovaj gubitak osetiće se svuda gde se praktikuju arhitektura i umetnost, zbog toga što je on bio univerzalni građanin; dok će njegov uticaj na one koji su toga svesni i na one koji nisu, sve više rasti.“

Pročitajte obrazloženje žirija Pritckerove nagrade za 2015. godinu u originalu:

Frei Otto, born almost 90 years ago in Germany, has spent his long career researching, experimenting, and developing a most sensitive architecture that has influenced countless others throughout the world. The lessons of his pioneering work in the field of lightweight structures that are adaptable, changeable and carefully use limited resources are as relevant today as when they were first proposed over 60 years ago. He has embraced a definition of architect to include researcher, inventor, form-finder, engineer, builder, teacher, collaborator, environmentalist, humanist, and creator of memorable buildings and spaces.

He first became known for his tent structures used as temporary exhibition pavilions. The constructions at the German Federal Garden exhibitions and other festivals of the 1950s were functional, beautiful, “floating” roofs that seemed to effortlessly provide shelter, and then were easily dissembled after the events.

The cable net structure employed for the German Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal, prefabricated in Germany and assembled on site in a short period of time, was a highlight of the exhibition for its grace and originality. The impressive large-scale roofs designed for the Munich Olympics of 1972, combining lightness and strength, were a building challenge that many said could not be achieved. The architectural landscape for stadium, pool and public spaces, a result of the efforts of a large team, is still impressive today.

Taking inspiration from nature and the processes found there, he sought ways to use the least amount of materials and energy to enclose spaces. He practiced and advanced ideas of sustainability, even before the word was coined. He was inspired by natural phenomena – from birds’ skulls to soap bubbles and spiders’ webs. He spoke of the need to understand the “physical, biological and technical processes which give rise to objects.” Branching concepts from the 1960s optimized structures to support large flat roofs. A grid shell, such as seen in the Mannheim Multihalle of 1974, shows how a simple structural solution, easy to assemble, can create a most striking, flexible space. The Mechtenberg footbridges, with the use of humble slender rods and connecting nodes, but with advanced knowledge, produce an attractive filigree pattern and span distances up to 30 meters. Otto’s constructions are in harmony with nature and always seek to do more with less.

Virtually all the works that are associated with Frei Otto have been designed in collaboration with other professionals. He was often approached to form part of a team to tackle complex architectural and structural challenges. The inventive results attest to outstanding collective efforts of multidisciplinary teams.

Throughout his life, Frei Otto has produced imaginative, fresh, unprecedented spaces and constructions. He has also created knowledge. Herein resides his deep influence: not in forms to be copied, but through the paths that have been opened by his research and discoveries. His contributions to the field of architecture are not only skilled and talented, but also generous.

For his visionary ideas, inquiring mind, belief in freely sharing knowledge and inventions, his collaborative spirit and concern for the careful use of resources, the 2015 Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded to Frei Otto.