Urban planner and renowned architect, Yona Friedman, has passed away at 96 years old, on February 20.
Friedman was well known for his concept of mobile architecture through the 1960s and 70s and was widely known for his imaginative paper architecture visions that blended futuristic tendencies, according to Archinet.
The Hungarian-born, French-Jewish architect was considered one of the most influential figures of the profession in the late 1950’s, according to Archdaily.
“His breakthrough work ‘Ville Spatiale’, or spatial city released in 1958 was an enormous superstructure that could span over existing cities and would allow people to construct their own habitats within the larger framework.”
Friedman worked with the Serpentine Galleries in London, the Venice Biennial, the Shanghai Biennial, Rome’s MAXXI Museum and taught at universities including MIT, Princeton, Harvard and Columbia universities.
His death was announced on his Instagram, “After 96 years on this earth, Yona has moved up to build Spatial City and install some Space Chains in the sky. The Fonds de Dotation Denise and Yona Friedman, which he founded last year, will continue his work.”
