David Gianotten

David Gianotten is an architect and managing partner at OMA – Office for Metropolitan Architecture. Beyond the architectural projects he oversees, he is responsible for the firm’s overall organizational and financial management, business strategy, and global development. He joined OMA in 2008, inaugurated the Hong Kong office in 2009, and became a partner in 2010, coordinating the Asia-Pacific division for seven years before returning to the Netherlands in 2015 as Managing Partner. On March 28, he presented recent projects as well as the renewed operational approach of the office in Athens, in an event organized by the Dutch Embassy and the Hellenic Institute of Architecture.

S.M.: In your recent lecture in Athens, on March 28, the keyword was “sustainability.” When and why did the office begin to emphasize this dimension of architecture so strongly?

David Gianotten: I believe that decorating a building with a green roof and lots of trees on top does not represent “sustainable architecture” but simply makes it look like a broccoli. I have always been – and remain – skeptical of greenwashing phenomena that attempt to present themselves as sustainability models. Sustainability is much more than the use of tools such as photovoltaics and green walls to simply meet certain requirements. At our office, until recent years, we did not emphasize this aspect of our work externally, although the concept of sustainability is intrinsic to the way we work – which, from the beginning, takes the environment into account and responds to specific programmatic requirements.

This began to change when I started collaborating with Ronald Akili, founder of the Potato Head hospitality brand, which promotes sustainable tourism. At some point, while we were working together on the Potato Head Studios resort in Bali, Ronald went surfing with his children and realized the extent of the plastic waste problem. From then on, our design for Potato Head Studios – as well as subsequent collaborations – focused mainly on sustainable design approaches and zero waste. We experimented with different uses of local and recycled materials and also explored approaches to eliminating the waste generated by and for tourism. In 2022, OMA and Potato Head co-curated the exhibition Nthing is Possible* at Singapore’s National Design Center, presenting the results of this research. Earlier this year, the AIR Circular Campus and Cooking Club was inaugurated, a collaboration between OMA, Ronald, and chefs Matt Orlando and Will Goldfarb. The restaurant is dedicated to experimenting with zero-waste cooking and dining.

Essentially, in all our projects, our understanding of sustainability goes beyond energy issues and extends to society. For us, social sustainability is vital, and we always make references to the place – to culture, techniques, materials, needs, and aspirations.

S.M.: Tourism may be the least sustainable industry – both environmentally and socially. Can the architecture of large hotel complexes really make a difference?

D.G.: I am optimistic, as I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact Potato Head had in Bali, leading to a broader transformation. We designed Potato Head Studios as part of the Desa Potato Head complex, which includes clubs and the Katamama Resort. We were not only involved in the architecture but also acted as consultants for the overall program and operation of Desa. Together with Potato Head, we created an experience that is not just about leisure for visitors but also connects them to local culture and fosters environmental awareness.

Upon arrival, guests receive a welcome package including a beautifully designed fabric bag and a metal bottle, which they are encouraged to use throughout their stay, thereby minimizing plastic waste. This practice proved feasible, and in 2019 it led to the province of Bali banning single-use plastics altogether.

Culturally, inside Potato Head Studios we designed a public platform at ground level, which remains permanently open to the local community. We run programs related to local art and culture, and the space has progressively transformed into a place of cultural exchange, both intentionally and unintentionally. The success of Desa has convinced me that making a difference is possible. All it takes is courage and a good plan. In tourism, you can have fun and at the same time do the right thing.

S.M.: OMA has acted as an advisor to the Singapore government on waste management. Why would such an institutional body entrust an architectural office with a service not directly related to conventional design, and what kind of “design” could that be?

D.G.: OMA is an office of architectural and urban design, but we also maintain a genuine, strong interest in other fields. We have a dedicated think tank called AMO, where we research a wide range of environmental topics such as energy networks and the countryside. One example of our research is the roadmap Roadmap 2050: A Practical Guide to a Prosperous, Low-carbon Europe, published in 2010, which explores how the European Union could develop a carbon-free energy network by 2050. Over the past decade, we further researched rural issues, examining the impacts of urbanization as well as the opportunities it brings. Through these research programs, we have built a body of knowledge that has greatly expanded our perspective on environmental issues.

This knowledge and broadened perspective are factors that influence our built work worldwide. I believe that our unique experience, which combines theoretical research with practical application, can be invaluable to any institution. As for the result, it is difficult to predetermine. It could be a design –for example, an energy network– but it could equally be a guideline system for best practices in construction. Or, as in the case of Singapore, a proposal on how the city might change its perspective on waste and its management policies, learning from examples in other places, such as Bali.

Read the full interview in ek issue 288 | July 2024.