Think of the most famous sites in the world, The Eiffel Tower. Golden Gate Bridge. The Colosseum. All different parts of the world. All different shapes and sizes. But what’s the one simple and crucial thing they all have in common?
Architecture.
Without it, the designs and ideas of these beautiful sites would not exist.
One person who knows the value of architecture is Eric Clough. Eric is the founder of 212box, a multidisciplinary design firm based in New York City.
“We think through ideas holistically and at every scale, but what we love is combining architecture and narrative,” said Eric.
Eric discovered his love for design as a child. He grew up in places like Brussels and London where he experience worldly cultures and design concepts. He continued to travel as an adult which gave him a great attention to detail and appreciation for texture, craftsmanship and pattern making. His passion eventually led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in architecture from Yale University.
Eric thinks about the look and aesthestic of the structure, but also the story it tells and will continue to tell. Eric believes the way he designs something can have an affect on the character it will play in the architecture’s narrative. In people, character is what makes us who we are. And it’s the same for buildings.
“We build stories combining architecture with a strong sense of narrative, in turn having architecture become important ‘characters’ in our stories” said Eric.
Eric will discuss his unique design approach at TEDxNavesink 2016 this Saturday in his talk “INTO MYSTERY: Crowdsourced Architecture.” Eric is a maker in the truest sense of the word. He quite literally makes buildings, but he is also a maker because of his approach to ideas. He does not run a traditional architecture firm, and he takes pride in that.
“I don’t believe that many architects think like we do,” he said. “Even though in some cases we work on a fee-for-service model like other firms, we are actually trying to break that model and to see our vision come to life in other ways.”
His talk will highlight how his passion has inspired him to inspire others. Eric has grand plans to create a building that is the size and significance of the Eiffel Tower. His design includes a revolutionary structural system and a construction process with unique construction material. The only catch is “We’d like to use crowd-sourcing to fund it entirely, bypassing government and private corporations, to create a monument to creativity that will effectively belong to all,” said Eric.
The project is called INTO MYSTERY, and involves a series of 18 clues to stimulate and galvanize the multitudes. You can check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
How can architecture unite people? Can 800 million people really come together and create something that has never been made before that showcases their ambition and creativity asks Eric.
“I hope my talk inspires creativity because the ultimate goal of INTO MYSTERY is to construct a literal, physical building the likes of which the world has never seen, and to offer it as a monument to inspiration, creativity, and human endeavor,” said Eric.
Eric’s talk is a call to action. He wants the audience to understand what he is saying and then help him achieve it.
When asked why he wants to build such a large structure with the help of so many people his answer was simple, to learn about people and culture and expand his mind even more. “Working together to make actual objects with different people from completely different backgrounds, you get to know them in such a different way – their sense of culture, history and morals come through and through in the very act of making.”
There are just days left to get your ticket for TEDxNavesink! Get them here.