Yona Friedman, Paris
The french architect, philantrop and cosmopolit Yona Friedman born in Budapest and emigrated from Hungary in 1945/46 is well-known for his manifesto 'Architecture Mobile' and 'La Ville Spatiale' since the 1960s. Being his time around nearly a half century ahead, he has a big influence to generations of architects and urban planners. Also visionary have been his superstructures above existing cities in which the individual had the freedom of choice in designing his own living enviroment. Yona Friedman's ideas, concepts and utopias tend beyond architecture and urban planning to sociology, economics, mathematics, information science.
By means of visual art and film-making Yona Friedman's oeuvre formulates its own language. For many years he has adressed with intension and commitment the problems of housing in the so-called Third World Countries. The aim was to make these people self-reliant.
During this period comissioned by the UNESCO, Friedman proposed several projects like 'Self Supporting Society as a Response to Poverty in Rio', 'Self-help Housing in Belapur/ India' or 'Manila Sqatter Settlement'. His work at the last Documenta in Kassel and his project at the Art Biennale in Venice, 2003 was much appreciated.
The exhibition at Aedes Extension Pavilion will grant a view to the personal universe of the today eighty-year old outstanding architect and philosopher.
