Proof is the ninth in an annual series of publications that features the best young practicing architects as selected by the Architectural League of New York in their annual Young Architects competition. Competition entrants were asked to use the theme "proof" to frame their portfolios and critically evaluate their work. This required creating projects that acknowledge architectural design as a unique process that begins with a speculation and gains traction through the subsequent testing, confirming, checking, and rechecking that occurs before and after designs encounter the real world. Each of the winners-Aranda/Lasch, Jinhee Park, ludens, PARA, PRODUCTORA, and Uni Architecture-confronted this year's theme with work that is original, and inspiring.
The Architectural League of New York is an independent forum for the presentation and discussion of creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related design disciplines. Founded in 1881, the League promotes excellence and innovation in architecture and urbanism by furthering the education of architects and designers, and by communicating to a broad audience the importance of architecture in public life. Through an active schedule of programs, the League provides a venue for contemporary work and ideas, identifies and encourages the work of talented young architects, creates opportunities for exploring new approaches to problems in the built environment, and fosters a stimulating community for dialogue and debate. All of the League's work is shaped by its ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and international exchange, and by its concern for the quality of architecture and city form as critical components of a vital and dynamic culture.