Improving Cities Through Design: Nada Breitman-Jakov and Marc Breitman speak about their life's work

Published 2022-02-08

Award-winning architects and urban planners Nada Breitman-Jakov and Marc Breitman present their projects as part of the Annual Michael Lykoudis Lecture Series: The Shared Building Traditions of the World.

This new series, presented by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), was named in recognition of Michael Lykoudis’ incredible contributions as the former Dean of the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture. In this inaugural event of the series, the ICAA asked Michael Lykoudis to share a few words about the importance of recognizing parallel building traditions across cultures, and also invited architects Nada Breitman-Jakov and Marc Breitman for a special livestreamed presentation about their urban planning projects. The lecture, open to ICAA Members only during its live stream, is now available to watch online in its entirety.

00:34 Introduction by Michael Lykoudis
08:30 Nada Breitman-Jakov and Marc Breitman
10:33 Westermoskee in Amsterdam
17:08 A new master plan for Le Plessis-Robinson
26:40 Revitalizing former coal company housing in Pas-de-Calais
32:54 Renovating a high-rise apartment complex in Arras
38:23 Building a new mixed-use urban environment in Puteaux

Nada Breitman-Jakov and Marc Breitman are Paris-based architects known for improving cities through quality architecture and urbanism. A native of Belgium, Nada Breitman-Jakov attended the L’École de la Cambre in Brussels, receiving degrees in both architecture and urban planning. In Paris, she received a degree at the “Ecole de Chaillot” for the preservation and restoration of historic buildings. Marc Breitman was born in Paris and received an architectural degree from the École des Beaux-Arts. Together, the two formed Breitman and Breitman, an architecture and urban planning studio in 1989.

For over 30 years, Nada and Marc have created built environments in cities across Europe that highlight the value of social bonds that develop in urban life. By mixing residential and commercial spaces and private and public housing, they have turned anonymous areas into congenial and convenient urban spaces that represent the complexities of urban life. As proponents of walkable cities, Nada and Marc approach each project with a constant concern for integration and respect to the characteristics of the place. They were awarded with the Richard H. Driehaus Prize in 2018 for their outstanding achievements in bringing the grace of classical architecture to public housing developments and enhancing civic welfare in France, Spain, Belgium, and Holland. Past projects include the urban layout of towns like Le Plessis-Robinson and Bruay-la-Buissière, restoration of several French landmarks such as the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, original designs for socially conscious housing in Europe, as well as the iconic Westermoskee in Amsterdam.

Sponsors
Thank you to our Lead Lecture Supporters:
Mark Ferguson
Jared Goss
Historical Concepts
Anne Kriken Mann
Peter Talty
Matthew and Joyce Walsh
Russell Windham

Thank you to our Contributing Lecture Supporters:
Ankie Barnes
Bradford R. Houston Design Studio
Barbara Eberlein
Hart Howerton
Anne Lazar
John B. Murray
Mark Pledger
Ong-ard Satrabhandhu
Bunny Williams

And thank you to our other Lecture Supporters:
Robert Adam
David Dowler
HBRA Architects
Kirk Henckels
Michael Lykoudis
David Rau
Foster Reeve
Suzanne Tucker
Paul Williger

This video was produced by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), a nonprofit educational organization committed to promoting and preserving the practice, understanding, and appreciation of classical design. To see more educational videos and courses like this one, or if you are interested in attending our classes or becoming a member, visit www.classicist.org .

@michaellamb5534 2 years ago

This was a very interesting program. Their buildings are attractive and well designed. They both seem like very nice people as well. Merci beaucoup. Hopefully their ideas can spread to America.

@eugeniesissi8686 2 months ago

Quel bonheur de te revoir Nada !

@danielparker7544 2 years ago

This was a wonderful talk from Breitman & Breitman. Thank you for sharing!

@goncalodias6402 2 years ago

Wonderfull projects, specially that mosque and square in Amsterdam, just bequtiful

@katiatrost3759 5 months ago

Please redo many more towns and restore beauty!

@marcosgarcia2643 2 years ago

I love this channel!

@ZURESHT 2 years ago

Well done! It is always nice to see beautiful architecture. These transformations must be fun. Like putting on a nice new robe. And the towers are wonderful. You can build more of those. But I also feel alone with my idea of architecture. So I am jealous of all of you!