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Today's News - Thursday, April 3, 2008

Should Western architects work in China: a yes and a no. -- The British mandate to design terror-proof buildings misses the mark: "Attempting to design a terror-proof building is the epitome of arrogance." -- Things are looking grim (again) for Grimshaw's Lower Manhattan transport hub. -- Kennicott is more than a bit disappointed in Washington's new stadium: "It didn't have to be this way." -- More on Sheffield's Tinsley towers: be wary of turning them into public art. -- New lighting for U.S. Capitol dome ignites partisan bickering. -- Dancing skyscrapers in the UAE are good for business. -- The architects giving Europe a face. -- Transforming dumps into lucrative properties is a growing trend. -- An industrial south Wales heritage site tells the world why it matters. -- Hume on recycling historic buildings. -- An architecture dean who is a would-be revivalist - and succeeding. -- Foster talks about his green agenda. -- Bernstein talks to green renovation experts; and visits a house that's a turning point in the architects' "campaign to defeat mortality." -- Heatherwick wows them at Yale. -- We couldn't resist: eyefuls of architectural monsters. -- UIA conference heads to Abu Dhabi. -- How to Turn a Place Around session coming up in NYC.

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Should western architects be taking on work in China? Yes, we have a moral obligation to be part of a global solution says Scott Findlay/RMJM; while William Menking/The Architect's Newspaper argues that building in an oppressive regime is a political act- BD/Building Design (UK)

Deconstructing the New Urban Fortress: UK’s Mandate for Terror-Proof Buildings: The latest directives from the U.K.’s Home Office urge architects to design terror-proof buildings...however, the American perspective...is typically one that integrates transparent security with design excellence, openness, and blast-resistant design. By Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA [links]- Buildings.com

Grimshaw's New York transport hub ditched: ...proposals for the vast Fulton Street project in Lower Manhattan have been scrapped due to soaring construction costs...will be dramatically pared back...for the second time in two years...unable to confirm if Grimshaw would remain involved.- The Architects' Journal (UK)

This Diamond Isn't a Gem: Nationals Park Gives Fans Plenty, But Its Bland Face Is a Muffed Chance: The ballpark...belongs to what we might call the architecture of distraction...it didn't have to be this way...a colossal symbolic failure with national and international import. By Philip Kennicott -- HOK Sport; Calatrava; Herzog & de Meuron [slide show]- Washington Post

Sheffield is losing its angels of the north: We should be wary of replacing our city's iconic cooling towers with a piece of public art...They achieved iconic status, not just through aesthetics (they are unusually slender and graceful)...Brutal, ugly; they also served the community and gave identity. [links]- Guardian (UK)

Beacon or Boondoggle? New Lights For the Capitol: The warm white glow of the Capitol dome may soon go green...to save energy and modernize the District's nocturnal landscape...plan to update the building's 18-year-old exterior lighting has ignited partisan bickering. -- The Lighting Practice- Washington Post

Dancing Skyscrapers Grow Along Man-Made Creek in Persian Gulf: ...home to more than $2 trillion worth of construction projects...Working for Gulf governments tends to mean quicker decision- making than in the West, a shorter project cycle, and, ultimately, bigger margins for architects. -- Zaha Hadid; Foster + Partners; Gehry Partners; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); I.M. Pei- Bloomberg News

British, Italian and German architects give Europe a face: Openness, transparency, efficiency: which buildings need a democracy? We span the European parliament, palace, court of human rights and Central Bank -- Architecture Studio; Henry Bernard; Rogers Stirk Harbour; Coop Himmelb(l)au [images, links]- CafeBabel.com (Paris)

Why Dumps Are Gaining in Allure: Transforming waste facilities into more lucrative properties is becoming increasingly common.- New York Times

Forget the Taj Mahal and pyramids: Blaenavon is the place to visit: Industrial south Wales heritage site tells the world why it matters- Guardian (UK)

New wine for the old ceremonies: Historic buildings designed for one purpose are discovering new uses: What's old is new again...in Niagara-on-the-Lake, architectural recycling has enabled the community not just to survive but thrive. By Christopher Hume- Toronto Star

The Would-Be Revivalist: When Mark Robbins became dean of Syracuse University School of Architecture, he resolved to help revive the city’s struggling downtown. -- Richard Gluckman; Toshiko Mori; Julie Eizenberg; Fiedler Marciano Architecture [images]- New York Times

Norman Foster: Building on the green agenda...discusses his own work to show how computers can help architects design buildings that are green, beautiful and "basically pollution-free"...at the DLD (Digital Life Design) Conference in Munich. [video]- TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design)

Met Eco: How Green is My Renovation? Green building experts offer insights and advice. By Fred A. Bernstein -- Rob Harrison/Harrison Architects; Eric Corey Freed/Organic Architect; Steven Lenard/urban planner; Denise Shaw; Brian Gitt/Build It Green- Metropolitan Home Magazine

A House Not for Mere Mortals: Bioscleave House (Lifespan Extending Villa)...makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium...will stimulate their immune systems. "They ought to build hospitals like this"... By Fred A. Bernstein -- Arakawa and Gins [slide show]- New York Times

Saarinen lecturer Heatherwick changes blueprints for ‘normal’: Thomas Heatherwick...was a surprising choice for the architecture series — which is altogether fitting, given the young designer’s eclectic work.- Yale Daily News

Top 21 Architectural Monsters - World's Tallest, Biggest Buildings: Fun & Thrills; Environmental; Bizarre [images, videos]- Trend Hunter

Building Futures Gulf by BATIMAT + International Union of Architects (UIA) Conference, Abu Dhabi, April 20-23- BATIMAT

How to Turn a Place Around training course, New York City, April 24-25- Project for Public Spaces (PPS)

Notably Nouvel: 2008 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate: This year's recipient will be saying "merci" in Washington, DC. [images]- ArchNewsNow.com

Herzog & de Meuron: CaixaForum Madrid, Spain

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