Future Systems

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Image:Lord's Cricket Ground Media Centre.jpg Image:Bullring birmingham.jpg Image:Selfridge Exterior2.jpg Image:Selfridges interior1.jpg Future Systems is a London-based architectural and design practice, headed by the couple, Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete.

Future Systems shared many of their founding principals with the British High Tech architects (Kaplický previously worked with Rogers, Renzo Piano and Foster). However, Future Systems tended towards more radical, less 'machine aesthetic' buildings that were no less high tech. Often boatbuilding was more of an influence than traditional construction engineering.

During the 80's, they produced many, critically acclaimed designs, which were never realised. This led to them being dubbed "the best architects never built" by Vogue Magazine.

High profile projects include the Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground and the Selfridges department store (opened in 2003) in Birmingham.

The Selfridges store forms part of the redeveloped Bull Ring shopping centre on the edge of the city centre. It is the only part of the new development designed by a separate architects and makes a striking contribution to Birmingham's cityscape. Part of the early twenty-first century movement towards amorphous, organic shapes (sometimes referred to as 'blobitecture'), it should be compared to Peter Cook's Kunsthaus in Graz, Austria.

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