Research Architecture: Selection from the Collection Orleans, France

Research Architecture was an exhibition of over one hundred architectural models, drawings, and documents from the international art and architecture collection of the Fonds Regional d’Art Contemporain (FRAC) du Centre, Orleans, France.

The exhibition was presented in three parts: at Thread Waxing Space, Part I focused on work of the 1950s and 1960s and Part II, hosted by Pratt Institute, emphasized architecture after 1983. Part III was exhibited at Storefront and traced the most immediate ramifications of this legacy of experimental work through a presentation that highlighted ARCHILAB, an annual symposium organized by FRAC that brings together cutting edge architects, designers and theorists to initiate dialogue around key issues impacting the vastly changing field of architecture. This unique collection of works focused on Post World War II experimental, research-based architecture. It explored the architectural ramifications of concepts such as utopia, anticipation and criticism—ideas of heightened interest to contemporary artists and architects.