BMW in collaboration with Guggenheim Museum and Foundation launched the BMW –Guggenheim initiative, to explore the challenges and opportunities of life in urban cities today, and work towards the creation of forward-looking concepts and designs for building sustainable cities of tomorrow.
In an attempt to address the issues of contemporary urban life, this initiative took the shape of a mobile laboratory, which is designed to be a platform that acts as an urban think-tank, a travelling tool-box, community centre and gathering space that inspires innovative ideas for urban life. A six year project that aims to cover 9 major cities worldwide, this mobile lab will travel to three cities during each phase.
The first phase of this project will be launched on August 03, 2011 in New York City, followed by Berlin and a city in Asia, which as per the recent announcement by the BMW Guggenheim advisory board will be Mumbai, India.
This structure, being inaugurated in New York today, will further travel to Berlin and Mumbai, building on-site and online communities that raise awareness of important issues, generate ideas specific to each urban situation, and engage with innovative and sustainable designs, yielding lasting benefits for cities around the world.
Led by international, interdisciplinary teams of emerging talents in the areas of urbanism, architecture, art, design, science, technology, education, and sustainability, the Lab addresses issues of contemporary urban life through programs and public discourse. Its goal is the exploration of new ideas, experimentation, and ultimately the creation of forward-thinking solutions for city life.
The theme for Cycle 1 of the BMW Guggenheim Lab is Confronting Comfort. In New York, Berlin, and Mumbai, the BMW Guggenheim Lab will explore how urban environments can be made more responsive to people’s needs, how people can feel at ease in an urban environment, and how to find a balance between notions of modern comfort and the urgent need for environmental and social responsibility.
“From the beginning, we were certain that we wanted one venue of the first cycle of the BMW Guggenheim Lab to be in Asia and after careful deliberation, we selected Mumbai. A vibrant, diverse city, with a fascinating and complex history, Mumbai is the most populous city in India and one of the most populous in the world. Together with our local partner, the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, it will be an endlessly rewarding place to explore and create dialogue around a range of urban issues, including access to comfort and culture, environment and social issues.” Said Mr.Richard Armstrong, Director, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation
“The Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum is delighted to collaborate with the Guggenheim Museum, New York, in bringing the BMW – Guggenheim Lab to Mumbai. It will be the first time such an innovative project has been conducted by a Museum in India and the first major collaboration between a US and Indian Museum. We are excited about reaching out to the people of Mumbai to develop ideas about how our city can retain its extraordinary cultural attributes and yet become modern and efficient in its delivery systems.” Said Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, Managing Trustee and Honorary Director, Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum.
