Vinciane Albrecht
Username
Vinciane Albrecht
Proposer First Name
Vinciane
Proposer Email
vinciane@oulipo-studio.com
Proposer Last Name
Albrecht
Proposer Company/Organization
OulipO architecture studio
Proposer Phone
(347) 761-8181
Proposer Job Title
Principal
Boston 2023 Areas of Focus
Proposer Additional Info
Vinciane Albrecht is co-founder with Anne Carcelen of OulipO, a transatlantic award-winning architecture studio, WBE certified, based in Paris and New York City. Our studio is specialized in highly sustainable architecture, mass timber and off-site construction. Our unique expertise offers European excellence in sustainable architecture combined with informed experience in the American context including codes and regulations. Thanks to this integrated blend of design skill and technical knowledge, we got selected by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to be part of their “contractors pool” for the next four years.
Proposed Session Description
Let's open the potential of our aging heritage toward a new resilient city. The future no longer lies in demolishing and rebuilding; the future lies in renovating and extending existing structures through targeted interventions. With its high strength-to-weight ratio, off-site and dry construction process, timber allows to carefully build the interstices: within, above, in between... low-carbon extensions within the existing fabric to densify while minimizing both carbon and ground footprints.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
The theme of our session doesn't focus specifically on diversity, equity or inclusion. However, the theme leads indirectly to these aspects. Indeed, renovating and extending existing buildings through targeted interventions help protecting neighborhoods and their communities from gentrification. As mentioned in the description of the theme, an existing building is a precious witness of the history, holds the identity of a site, the lessons of the past, the soul of our stories.
Regarding our office, OulipO enjoys a very diverse group of professionals: 42% are minorities and 59% are women.
Learning Objectives
1. Gain awareness regarding the value of the existing building fabric.
2. Understand the potential of mass timber to densify while minimizing both carbon and ground footprints.
3. Understand the potential of hybridization of periods, materials and techniques to unite the old and the new.
4. Get convinced that the architect has still the power, and the responsibility, to innovate.
Rather than seeing the climate crisis as the end of the road, let's see it as the opportunity to imagine richer ways of living.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 2 - Some prior knowledge helpful.
Session Format
Other (please describe below)
Session Format Details
40-minute presentation followed by Q&A
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2023
Reviewer 1
Widjaja, Karno
Proposal #
142
Committee Decision
Rejected
Presenters
Full Description
- DEMOLISH LITTLE: THE EXISTING BUILDING FABRIC AS A RICH HERITAGE TO AWAKEN
The best embodied carbon saving is a building that is not demolished. Billions of sf are readily available for adaptive reuse. Furthermore, an existing building is a precious witness of the history, holds the identity of a site, the lessons of the past, the soul of our stories. We make it play an integral part of the formal and functional recomposition of the city.
- BUILD LITTLE: THE LIGHTNESS OF TIMBER AS THE INSTRUMENT FOR TARGETED INTERVENTIONS
The future lies in renovating and extending existing structures. In this very context, timber has a strong advantage over steel or concrete. Its high strength-to-weight ratio, off-site and dry construction process allow low-carbon extensions within the existing building fabric. We densify while minimizing both carbon and ground footprints.
- DRAW A BRIDGE: THE CREATIVE ACT AS THE LINK BETWEEN PAST AND FUTURE
We hybridize the periods, the materials, the techniques to unite the old with the new, reveal their joint potential and enhance our cultural wealth. Faced with the climate emergency, we architects must not give up our creativity, our capacity for synthesis to design the hybrid and resilient city of the future. It's our responsibility.