Yona Friedman

yona_friedman_490_(2).gifBorn in Budapest in 1923, Friedman is considered one of the founders of "Mobile Architecture". His architectural style is based on the central role that citizens play in the creation of their own habitat; a structure that adapts to the needs of who lives and uses it. Friedman believes that architects should serve the public, for it is the citizens that have to be involved first hand in the creation of a project.

The great architect is also father of the Groupe d'études de architecture mobile (GEAM), that during the late 1950s and the early 1960s, developed the concept of city bridge, as well as taking part of the cultural and utopist architectural movements such as the Age of Mega structure. Between the mid 60s and throughout the 70s, Friedman taught in various American universities and wrote texts on subjects that space from architecture to physics, sociology and maths. He also collaborated with Unesco and UN on a series of projects based on the selfconstruction of the Third World. The most important work accomplished for this cause is the "Museum of Simple Technology of Madras", is situated in India. In 2010 Yona Friedman exhibited in Venice works on the various levels of social participation and daily life of the lagoon city. Due to its three levels, water, streets and turrets, Freidman considers Venice the most modern city of the world.