Nelly Ben Hayoun - Designing the Impossible

Designer Nelly Ben Hayoun creates a space for thoughts, debate and provocation around the sociological and critical impact of new technologies. As a pioneering Designer of Experiences, Ben Hayoun questions the meaning of information today, and in global hubs such as airports. Her work demonstrates how the human condition can prevail over technology. Pledging for Greek Tragedy, she believes that innovation often comes from ‘multidisciplinary conflicts’. Looking at the challenges in her own practice, Ben Hayoun defyies and desigs in the gravity of the hyper real—a world where fiction is as truthful as reality. Large-scale projects such as The International Space Orchestra and Disaster Playground, introduce the public to her ‘hammering and total bombardment’ philosophy.

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Dubbed the ‘Willy Wonka of Design and Science,’ Nelly Ben Hayoun is an award winning explorer and director, a fearless and passionate provocateur. She is the Designer of Experiences at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, Head of Experiences at We Transfer, a Wired Innovation fellow, Advisor to the United Nations Virtual Reality Lab, a member of the International astronautical federation and in 2013 Icon Magazine touted Ben Hayoun as one of the 50 international designers “shaping the future.” She works with leading scientists to devise subversive events and bring chaos and critical thinking amongst members of the public and institutions.

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In coordination with the 15th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, AERIAL FUTURES, GROUNDED VISIONS: Shaping the Airport Terminal of Tomorrow was a two-day symposium that took place from October 17th to 19th, 2016. The symposium brought together diverse voices in a discussion about the future of air travel, as seen through the lenses of architecture, design, technology, culture and user experience.

Airports and the aviation industry are at the frontline of global demographic shifts, acting as economic engines and cultural icons. Despite being among the youngest of building typologies, airports are taking the lead as intricately-designed, highly frequented and resource-intensive structures that define how we travel, trade and connect with each other. Sessions at the symposium incorporated presentations and roundtable discussions regarding various aspects of airpot design.

Aerial Futures was organized around four main themes represented in the following panels: Fantastic Infrastructure: 21st Century Terminals, Icons and Engines: Catalysts for Urban Development, Getting to Departures: User Experience, and Landing in the World of Tomorrow.

Participants included:
Frank Barich, Barich Consulting
Nelly Ben Hayoun, NBH Studios
Miklos Deri, Drive Through Airport
Lukas Feireiss, Studio Lukas Feireiss
Curtis Fentress, Founder & Principal, Fentress Architects
Anna Gasco, ETH Zurich / Future Cities Laboratory
Max Hirsh, University of Hong Kong
Christian Henriksen, Nordic Office for Architecture
George Kafka, &beyond collective
Agatha Kessler, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Jonathan Ledgard, The Droneport Project / EPFL Lausanne
Tobias Nolte, Certain Measures
Dr. Wayne Place, NC State University College of Design
Ashok Raiji, Arup New York
Andres F. Ramirez, PLANE—SITE
Ostap Rudakevych, Clouds Architecture Office
Sila Siva, Autoban
Alex Sutton, Sevil Peach Architecture + Design
Tom Theobald, Fentress Architects
Andrew Vasey, Vasey Aviation Group
Martin Zangerl, UNStudio