Philippe Barriere Collective (PB+Co)

“In architecture one is confronted with problems for which one must find solutions. The best architecture is the clearest and most direct solution to the problem.” Mies van der Rohe Firm Overview 2013 In the face of environmental crisis and globalization, architecture is becoming indispensable as an instrument to reconcile man with his (cultural, social and environmental) milieu, by either re-investing in this milieu to mitigate the structural deficiencies and/or by fostering its recovery. Taking this view, architecture is an ongoing experiment that constantly adjusts to contextual needs, implementing the new strategic and innovative interventions necessary to improve on man’s milieu; a process that redefines architecture. This approach provokes architecture to become a threshold over which or, a ‘channel’ through which to renegotiate the relation between man and nature and a ‘focal point’ for reducing the imbalance between extremes (social and environmental). Architecture becomes second nature, man’s link between human nature and society. Recently, the Collective has been involved with several international pro-active projects: - Tunisia (Tunis), building democracy with the configuration of a new center of Tunis (Place du 14 Janvier): Revolution Square, People Service Center Tower, People’s Agora and People’s Esplanade, designed with Microsoft for a Tunisian Foundation. May 2012 – Feb. 2013. - Haiti (Jacmel), rebuilding after the earthquake with 350-dwelling development, Jacmel (Haiti). - England (Liverpool), building peace, with the John Lennon Memorial Pavilion: “IMAGINE” in Penny Park for Planet Art eXchange and Penny Lane Development Trust. - November 2013, the Collective is opening a branch in Tunis and Oman. By integrating competent specialists, manufacturers and innovative materials early in the design process, the collective goal is to produce simple, efficient, economical and sophisticated cutting edge solutions.