Caroline Bos facts for kids

Caroline Bos, born in 1959 in Rotterdam, is a talented architect from the Netherlands. She helped start a big, award-winning architecture company called UNStudio in Amsterdam. Caroline Bos also writes, gives talks, and teaches about architecture at different schools. Her amazing architectural drawings and models have even been shown in museums like MoMA.

Becoming an Architect

Caroline Bos studied art history at Birkbeck, University of London and earned her bachelor's degree in 1991. Later, she got her master's degree in architecture from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. It was in London that she first met Ben van Berkel, who would become her future business partner.

Designing Amazing Buildings

Caroline Bos first worked as a journalist with Ben van Berkel. They wrote for publications like Forum and "Diagram Works."

In 1988, Bos and van Berkel started their own architecture company in Amsterdam called Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau. This company designed many well-known projects in the Netherlands.

UNStudio: A Team Effort

In 1998, their company's name changed to UNStudio. They decided to remove their own names from the company. This shows Caroline Bos's belief that architecture is a team effort. UNStudio is known for using new ideas and knowledge in their designs.

The company has many experts in architecture, city planning, and building roads or bridges. Caroline Bos works closely with everyone on a project. She makes sure they are all working together to create great ideas. UNStudio believes in teamwork to take on big building projects.

They call their approach "deep planning." This means they think about the neighborhood and surrounding areas when planning a new building. Caroline Bos and Ben van Berkel believe that building is a team effort. They think that architects are just one part of a much bigger process. Some people even call Caroline Bos UNStudio's "secret weapon." This is because she wasn't trained as a designer. Her unique view helps her approach architecture in new ways.

Projects and Teaching

As of March 2012, UNStudio had 153 staff members from 17 different countries. They had finished 69 projects by then. Caroline Bos was involved in all of these projects, working with the different teams.

When they first started, much of their work came from architecture competitions. This was a good way for new companies to get projects. Some of the major projects Caroline Bos worked on include the Prince Claus Bridge in Utrecht, Netherlands. She also helped design the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum at night

Caroline Bos has taught at many places. These include the Academy of Architecture in Arnhem, Liverpool University, and the Vienna University of Technology. She also taught at the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam. With Ben van Berkel, she was a visiting lecturer at Princeton University. They also wrote several books about UNStudio's work. In 2012, she received an Honorary Professorship from the University of Melbourne.

New Ideas in Architecture

Caroline Bos likes to challenge old ideas about architecture. Early in her career, she compared architecture to fashion. She said architects would be "dressing the future." She also believes it's important to fit new buildings and roads into cities well. It's also important to think about all the different people who will use them.

As her work continued, she noted that city planning has changed. Now, it's more about "architecture and politics." She says that she and Ben van Berkel always wanted to build things, not just think about ideas.

Who Inspired Caroline Bos?

Caroline Bos says she has been especially inspired by architects from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. These include famous builders like Filippo Brunelleschi and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. She also looks up to the 20th-century Dutch architect, Aldo van Eyck.

See also

In Spanish: Caroline Bos para niños