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Always Evolving

CLICK HERE for a video about BAM's practice

BAM Is About Evolution

BAM developed its design practice by taking any opportunity which came in the door. Over the past 10 years BAM’s admittedly dumb strategy of "just say yes" has led to countless mistakes yet ultimately has resulted in a portfolio of strange, exuberant works with seemingly incomprehensible breadth, from the design of costumes, parades, building facades, parks, musical events, furniture, to wickless hand candles. As such BAM’s retrospective exhibition is intended be honest and even show errors in BAM’s logic. Although poised to be one of China’s leading design practices with a special focus on landscape architecture, BAM continues along divergent paths, pushing farther into the depths of design. Inbound at terminal velocity... ALL-NEW BAM PROFILE sharing what BAM believes and what BAM loves!

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Who We Are

BAM has built projects from architecture to landscape to art installations around the world. BAM’s office has a background in ART and CRAFTSMANSHIP and integrates these skillsets into the design process. With experience in many design fields, BAM’s founders focus on projects times they believe promote HEALTHY URBAN LIFE. BAM has delivered over 100 projects in the most demanding and fast-paced markets since 2007.

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What’s in a Name?

BALLISTIC The term ‘ballistic’ refers to our explosive and energetic exploration of a variety of design and art fields without regard to traditional disciplinary silos of practice. When BAM discovers a new and interesting mode of working, style, or field, that new realm is not explored lightly or dabbled in but is pursued at full charge.

ARCHITECTURE ‘Architecture’ refers to an architectural methodology or process, either using or going against the tools and language of architecture in order to create work. Design, unlike the arts, is heavily defined by constraints. The question of how one can come as close as possible to an inherently unachievable ideal is the central mantra for all design. An architectural method provides rigor though which BAM explores our schizophrenic interests.

MACHINE ‘Machine’ refers to our intense, unwavering drive to work and create.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, What 3 Things Does BAM Love Most All?

1. BAM LOVES TO MAKE PHYSICAL MODELS!

In a time when architectural design is dominated by the shiny gloss of fantasy renderings, when photo-realistic capabilities eliminate any question of discovery from the drawn to the built, when the computer is indicative of an aesthetic typology as opposed to a tool in service of the human mind, in a design climate where personality and technology seem like mutually exclusive pursuits, making things with our hands stands either as a contradiction to its time or a glimpse of a time to come.

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The computer allows the objects of contemporary architectural formalism to become precious. Thus, the ideas, forms, and materiality become fixed, predefined, or prescribed. The rendering, or visualization, is arguably architecture’s purest state. The desire to keep the physical outcome of the built closely aligned with a representation, thus maintaining its purity, results in a reciprocal fear of further exploration.

Physical model-making keeps things loose. Modeling with real materials in real environments at all scales is an exploratory bodily action. Almost always modeling leads to surprising directions and opens doors to diverse new information.

2. BAM IS CRAZY ABOUT BUILDING!

We LOVE working with builders. Historically in China those who work with their hands are lowest in rank. Designers aren't supposed to get dirty! BAM is different. At BAM we roll up our sleeves, get mud on our boots, and put in some elbow grease! The more involved BAM is in the building process, the more BAM learns about builder skill sets and capabilities, their insights and challenges. All of this exciting information helps BAM engineer more optimal outcomes and extend design opportunities and artistic scope deep into the process of realizing ideas, all the way to the finish line.

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3. BAM GOES NUTS OVER DETAILS!

The buck stops at details. With OCD-level perfectionism for meticulous craftsmanship, BAM has experience working in a wide variety of materials at tiny and big scales, with inert and alive materials. BAM LOVES to sweat the small stuff when it comes to making our projects real!

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BAM Ethos: NATURE IS AN IDEA

BAM believes that just as the constructed landscape is a cultural artifact, the definition of nature, lies in culture. Among different cultures, views of what nature is and where it exists vary greatly. The more we understand the differences between our varied definitions of nature the more it is evident that nature is in fact an idea. As our cultures meld, and globalization ties us closer together, our varied definitions of nature may come to be the only remaining differences between cultures.

Our respective definitions of nature are reflected in our cities. Whether we collectively define the city as nature or not, shapes our cities. Whether we collectively see cities, parks, and landscapes as nature itself or whether we see them as constructed environments in turn shapes how cultures design and construct them. Whether or not we understand nature and the landscape to be one and the same or view them as having the potential to be completely different fundamentally shapes our built environments. The way in which we answer these questions is culturally determined and certainly not a global constant.

These very different views on where nature lies and what the humans role within nature is, creates drastically different outlooks towards our urban environments, and drastically different understandings of where the landscape lies within that urban construct. The show, “10 Years of Dumb” illustrates through the work how BAM has grappled with these culturally defined issues, and how different ideas of nature shape our built environments.

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Publications & Features

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“China Needs the 1980s Designers BAM.” Fang Zhenning, Maxxi Museum, Rome 2011

“Their collective training as artists, architects and landscape architects has allowed [BAM] to tackle nature and technology aggressively.” Nadia Amoroso, Digital Landscape Architecture Now

“Daxing Park gives a feel of definite dynamic and power that emerges through the interplay of form and scale between architecture and landscape.” Alexandra Wilmet, Landscape Architect Network

“In keeping with BAM principles, there was a constant back and forth between physical models and digital imaging; knowledge, and questions gleamed from one hand of the process were tried against the other in order to further bolster the designers’ convictions.” Fang Zhenning, Maxxi Museum, Rome 2011

“Much of BAM’s forms seem to come more directly from Saturday morning cartoons rather than the history of architecture proper.” Carson Chan, Kaleidoscope

Services & Clients

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Partner Background

Daniel Anthony Gass became interested in architecture as a child when his father brought him on visits to museum and stadium building sites. Daniel attended the architecture school at Cornell University for BArch and MArch, obtaining the university-wide Merril Presidential Scholar Award. At Cornell Daniel founded a controversial publication within the Architecture and Art Schools, Tabula Casa, for which he and BAM’s future co-founders were nearly expelled. With the co-founders of BAM Daniel worked in the landscape office of Martha Schwartz, where the trio began to define their professional agenda.

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^ Jacob Schwartz Walker grew up in the design offices of his parents. Not satisfied by the prospect of following in their footsteps, Jake, along with the co-founders of BAM, set out to establish a design studio with far greater breadth which does not focus on the accomplishments of one individual, but instead what can be achieved through true collaboration. As such, Jake’s trajectory into professional practice is uniquely his own and the combination of his potent personality and design talent, form a pillar of BAM’s multidisciplinary design process. Personally carrying many of BAM’s finest projects from concept to construction, Jake leads the studio with hands-on engagement.

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^ Allison MacNeil Dailey grew up learning craftsmanship skills in a variety of materials from glass to metal. With an affection for hand-drawing Allison entered Cornell University’s Art Department, but following advice from her mentor, graphic artist Milton Glaser, transferred to Cornell’s Architecture Department to study the relationship between form and function at bigger scales. Allison would continue to expand her scale of study, earning an MLA from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Having observed her family of professional artists focused on gallery and museum markets, a cornerstone aim at Ballistic Architecture Machine is to expand artistic scope into bigger unexpected territories.

BAM’s Newest Partner!!! GJW SUPER GENIUS POWER Guan Jingwen is the first employee to be made partner since the original three founding members of BAM established the company in 2007. Jingwen is an extremely talented and much welcome addition to the BAM partnership structure. Jingwen excelled in her landscape Master’s program at Peking University and started at BAM as an entry level designer. She quickly rose through the ranks to her position as the business director for China and the leader of the Beijing office. Jingwen’s combination of sharp negotiating skills with a sensitive political touch combined with unwavering dedication to the highest quality of design work has propelled BAM forward as the best landscape architecture firm in China. BAM’s continued success in China is as much due to Jingwen’s tenacious drive as it is due to the unique work produced by the office.

点击这里 为BAM的实践介绍

BAM关乎演变

演变是BAM的关键词。BAM抓住一切机会进行设计实践。在过去的十年中,BAM公认的愚蠢的“只会说是”的策略导致了无数的错误,但最终也产生了一系列奇怪并且众多的作品,从服装、游行、建筑立面、公园设计中看似难以理解的广度,音乐活动、家具、无芯手型蜡烛。因为这样的BAM的回顾是诚实的,甚至在BAM的逻辑中显示错误。虽然BAM一直致力于成为中国领先的景观设计专业设计事务所之一,但它沿着不同的路径前进,并将其推向更深入的设计领域。 此外,全新的BAM简介,分享BAM相信的内容以及BAM的热爱,极速抵达每一个读者!

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我们是谁

BAM的作品包括从建筑、景观到世界各地的“艺术”装置。BAM的办公室拥有艺术和技术的背景,并将这些集成到设计过程中。BAM的创始人拥有许多设计领域的经验,专注于他们相信促进健康的城市生活的项目。自2007年以来,BAM已经在最苛刻和极速发展的市场上交付了100多个项目。

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名字的内涵

弹道(Ballistic) “弹道”一词指的是我们对各种设计和艺术领域的爆炸性同时强有力的探索,而不囿于传统的建筑学。当BAM发现一种新的有趣的工作,风格或领域模式时,这个新领域不会被轻描淡写地浅尝辄止,而是会被充分探索。

建筑(Architecture) “架构”指的是一种架构方法或过程,无论是使用还是违背架构的工具和语言来进行创造。与艺术不同,设计受到诸多严格的限制。人们如何尽可能地接近一种不可实现的理想是所有设计的中心理念。尽管我们探索着诸多充满矛盾的兴趣,但建筑方法提供了严格的规定。

机器(Machine) “机器”是指我们强烈的、坚定不移的工作和创造动力。

BAM最爱的三件事是什么?

1. BAM热衷模型制作!

当今的时代是流畅的效果图支配建筑设计的时代,当今的时代是摄影现实主义能够消除从设计到施工过程中发现的任何问题的时代,当今的时代是电脑作为影响审美的工具而不是作为为人脑服务的工具存在的时代。个性和技术在当今的设计大背景下,更像是两个相互对立的个体。

用我们的双手做事情,要么与时间相矛盾,要么是对未来的一瞥。

电脑使得当代建筑形式主义的“物”变得宝贵。因此,思想、形式和物质性变得一成不变、未卜先知。渲染或可视化可以说是建筑学最纯粹的状态。希望保持建筑的物理结果与代表性保持一致,从而保持其纯粹性,导致对进一步探索的相互恐惧。

物理模型制作让事情变得松动。在各种规模的真实环境中使用真实材料进行建模是一项探索性的身体动作。几乎总是建模导致令人惊讶的方向,并打开各种新信息的大门。

2. BAM狂热地重视建造!

BAM喜欢与建筑商合作。在BAM,我们卷起袖子,让我们的靴子沾上泥土,并洒下我们的汗水!BAM参与建设过程越多,越清楚自身的建筑技能和能力。所有令人兴奋的信息都可以帮助BAM获得更优化的结果,并将设计机会和艺术范围深入到实现想法的过程中,一直延伸到终点。

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3. BAM坚持细节!

BAM的飞跃在于BAM的细节。 BAM具有OCD级完美主义的精湛工艺背景,拥有作用于各种材料的丰富经验,包括惰性和活性植物材料。BAM一定会让我们的项目变得真实!

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自然是个概念

BAM认为,正如人工景观是一种文化的产物,自然的定义也是在于文化。在不同的文化中,对自然是什么和自然在何处的观点有着巨大的差异。我们愈了解种种自然定义间的差异,就会愈加明显的发现,实际上自然是一个概念。随着我们文化的融合和全球化发展,将各种文化更加紧密地联系在一起,可能我们对自然的各种定义会将成为文化间唯一的差异。

我们各自对自然的定义反映在我们的城市中。无论我们是否用自然定义城市或塑造城市。无论我们是否都把城市、公园、景观看做是自然本身,或看作是建造的环境,都显示出文化是如何设计和建造它们的。无论我们是否理解自然和景观是相同的,还是认为它们有可能完全不同,都从根本上塑造了我们的建设环境。我们回答这些问题的方式是在于文化,而不是一个全球化的普遍性。

这些关于自然的本质和人类在自然界中地位的不同观点,对我们的城市环境造成了截然不同的看法,以及对城市建设中景观地位的截然不同的理解。这场展览“愚蠢的十年”将会通过作品来阐述BAM是如何处理这些文化定义的问题,以及不同的自然的概念如何塑造我们的建设环境的。

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出版物和特点

“中国需要80年代的设计师一代BAM。” 方振宁,Maxxi博物馆,罗马2011

“他们作为艺术家,建筑师和景观建筑师的训练使得BAM积极应对自然和技术。” Nadia Amaroso,数字景观建筑

“BAM的许多形式似乎都来自周六早上的漫画,而不是建筑本身的历史。” 卡森陈,万花筒

“大兴公园让人感受到建筑与景观之间形式与规模的相互作用所产生的明确动态与力量。” 亚历山德拉威尔梅特,景观设计师网络

“根据BAM的原则,物理模型和数字成像之间存在着不断的来回;知识以及从过程的一方面闪现的问题与另一方进行对比,以进一步增强设计师的信念。” 方振宁,Maxxi博物馆,罗马2011

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服务与客户

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合伙人背景

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^ (Daniel Anthony Gass) 丹尼尔·安东尼·葛思,对于建筑的兴趣源自于从小跟随父亲参观博物馆、体育场等建筑工地。丹尼尔在康乃尔大学建筑学院获得建筑学学士与建筑学硕士学位,并被授予Merril Presidential Scholar Award大奖。在康奈尔大学期间创办了在建筑与艺术学院极具争议的出版物TabulaCasa,因此丹尼尔和他未来的BAM联合创始人们差点被学校开除。在玛莎·舒瓦茨事务所一同工作的过程中,BAM的三位创始人开始奠定了他们的专业路程。

雅各布·舒瓦茨·沃克,从小在父母的设计工作室中长大。不满足于跟随父母的脚步,雅各布与BAM的联合创始人们一起创建工作室,追求真诚合作的价值而并非拘泥于个人的成就。就其本身而言,雅各布的设计实践轨迹是独立的,他依靠个人魅力与设计天赋在BAM的跨领域设计发展中撑起了一片天空。雅各布亲自主持并参与BAM项目的概念设计到施工,履行BAM亲力亲为的诺言。

艾丽森·麦柯尼尔·戴莱,拥有景观建筑学、建筑学和艺术学学位。曾与玛莎舒瓦茨合作完成冰岛雷克雅未克艺术博物馆装置艺术、比利时花园艺术节Broel 博物馆、并与草间弥生、皮皮洛蒂·瑞斯特、珍妮·侯哲尔共同竞标一个澳大利亚悉尼的竞赛项目。艾丽森在康乃尔大学取得建筑学学士,在哈佛大学取得景观建筑学硕士。在哈佛大学期间,她曾教授过一门叫做涂鸦技术的研讨课,探索通过涂鸦表达的直觉分析思想,从而产生了“本能的空间和材料”的理论。这套理论在BAM里帝欧餐厅的实践中得以运用。

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^ (Guan Jing Wen) BAM的最新合作伙伴!关景文,是自2007年三位创始人建立BAM公司以来第一位成为合伙人的中国员工。她极具天赋而且备受欢迎地加入到BAM合伙人体系中。景文在北京大学出色地完成景观研究生课程,从最初BAM的初级设计师快速成长为中国地区的商务总监与北京办公室的负责人。景文拥有干练的谈判技巧与敏锐的政治触觉,加之她对高品质设计坚定不移的追求,使BAM逐渐成为中国最优秀的景观建筑事务所。BAM在中国的不断成功与景文坚持不懈的努力及其创造的独特作品都密不可分。