Thomas Heatherwick explains his studio's "human-centred" approach to the design of public spaces in this filmed talk hosted by Dezeen and Second Home in Los Angeles.
The British designer, whose studio designed the Coal Drops Yard shopping district in London and the Vessel centrepiece at Hudson Yards in New York, told Dezeen founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs that his projects are open to users' interpretations.
"We're trying not to tell people what they're supposed to do," he said. "We're just making platforms."
"We prioritise projects that are publicly accessible and are interested in the human-centred dimension," he continued. Thomas Heatherwick spoke to Marcus Fairs in a talk hosted by Dezeen and Second Home
The talk, which took place in Los Angeles to coincide with the launch of co-working brand Second Home's Hollywood location, focussed on the design of cities in the digital age, and the way in which Heatherwick's designs counter the rise of the digital realm with "hyper physical" spaces.
The conversation touched on the importance of collaboration at Heatherwick Studios and the problems posed by abstract briefs in architectural education, as well as criticism of the designer's involvement in the controversial Hudson Yards development.
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