Today’s News - Friday, May 29, 2015
• While we're not very good at tooting our own horn, the Philadelphia University School of Architecture just posted a Q&A with yours truly as part of its Expert Interview program (toot toot!).
• Appelbaum on the uncertainty of our future in an era of climate change: "In uncertain times, urban design should make public places more flexible, more reassuring, and more public. Even big-budget projects [like The Dryline] are trying to design in human connections to manage uncertainty."
• Whitaker wades into what is perhaps "the most intriguing" (though unseen) feature of the new Whitney - its custom flood-mitigation system (a post-Sandy add-on): "While the country has been stuck in a surreal debate over the reality of climate change, institutions in vulnerable areas are having to respond in real time," bringing on "an era of improvised ingenuity, of localized efforts to address a problem in dire need of a global solution."
• No matter which Chicago park the Obama Presidential Library lands in, South Siders "are already dreaming big about the potential ripple effects. They want jobs and housing - and they want it in writing."
• Long lays out his vision for the V&A's new outpost at Olympicopolis that "will have a strong focus on architecture and urbanism," and an impressive team to steer the development - he's also looking to hire a senior curator (job posting included).
• Bernstein offers his take on the One World Observatory: "The best part of a visit may be the ride to the 102nd floor. The problem is it lasts only 47 seconds," and, despite a few quibbles, it is "a chance to celebrate New York's post-9/11 renaissance. And then there's the elevator ride down - almost as enjoyable as the ride up."
• Eyecandy for the day: a photo tour through the new Chicago Athletic Association Hotel (yum-yum!).
• Weekend diversions:
• Betsky sees "a Calatrava future" in Disney's new "Tomorrowland" - and hopes it never comes, especially if it's in the shape of the "failed carcass of cultural aspirations, sitting in a Spanish flood plain as it gathers debt and loses roof tiles. I say we need less Calatrava and more funk."
• BD picks some of the best trips worth making at the London Festival of Architecture, starting Monday.
• Lange finds many levels of meaning at Manhattan's MAD show "Pathmakers: Women in Art, Craft and Design, Mid-century and Today" about "women's role in postwar Modernism" and "the uneasy gender imbalance between craft and industrial design."
• Iovine is more than intrigued with MoMA's Latin America show: it "does not offer pat conclusions about whether the building boom found the answers to massive urban problems or improved the lives of those most in need. But this very complex diversity is, in fact, the show's strongest recommendation and the source of its compelling fascination."
• Torre ponders whether the MoMA show does the region justice, and concludes it does: the "richly documented exhibition aspires to present architecture from within the cultures it examines, an objective largely achieved."
• Blahut cheers the Graham Foundation's Bo Bardi show, which "emphasizes how her work and writings have influenced contemporary architecture - and the inclusiveness of her designs, both socially and aesthetically."
• Eliasson brings LEGOs to the High Line - along with a slew of starchitects working in the nabe "contributing one building which the public will then be able to adapt, extend or work around."
• Philly's "first foray into a season-long celebration of outdoor fun at The Oval" is "Future Sensations," an "exhibition of epic proportions" with "ephemeral pavilions" offering a "sensory journey of science, storytelling and art" (celebrating Saint-Gobain's 350th, too!).
• Green cheers Lydon and Garcia's thoughtful, informative "Tactical Urbanism" for being "the first book to really organize all the small fixes that seem to have spontaneously sprung up in so many communities in a way that everyone can understand."
• Flint cheers "Busby: Architecture's New Edges," which "details the theory and practice of what might be called Green Building 2.0. The idea is not to be satisfied with efficiency for its own sake."
• Webb is fairly wow'd by Pallister's "Sacred Spaces: Contemporary Religious Architecture": "sacred spaces are enjoying a creative revival, even as congregations dwindle and organized religion feels increasingly irrelevant (or repellent) in the developed world - a covetable volume."
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Keeping Up With the Built Environment According to Kristen Richards: The best architects, engineers and firms strive to keep up with the boldest and brightest innovations in the industry...how will you stay informed post-graduation?- Philadelphia University School of Architecture |
In Uncertain Times, Design for Community: We don’t know exactly how climate change will play out, but two things are clear: Parts of our cities are in for severe stress. And we will have to get through it together...In uncertain times, urban design should make public places more flexible, more reassuring, and more public...Even big-budget projects are trying to design in human connections to manage uncertainty. By Alec Appelbaum- The Dirt/American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) |
Protecting Priceless Art From Natural Disasters: The new Whitney Museum has been lauded for its cutting-edge architecture, but the most intriguing feature is the one that kicks in in case of emergency: ...custom flood-mitigation system designed...in the aftermath of 2012’s Hurricane Sandy...While the country has been stuck in a surreal debate over the reality of climate change, institutions in vulnerable areas are having to respond in real time...augur an era of improvised ingenuity, of localized efforts to address a problem in dire need of a global solution. By John Whitaker -- Renzo Piano; Walz & Krenzer- The Atlantic |
How Paris Is Trying to Fix One of the Worst Planning Decisions It Ever Made: ...erecting a grandiose glass canopy over one of its most contested sites as part of a new culture and shopping complex...will do more than give shoppers something new to gawk at and shelter under...While so many urban renewal plans seem to be about using the monied to push the less wealthy and the young away, the Les Halles revamp seems to be at least trying to weave them together. Let’s hope it works. By Feargus O'Sullivan -- Patrick Berger and Jacques Anziutti [images]- CityLab (formerly The Atlantic Cities) |
South Siders lobby for promises in writing as Obama library takes shape: ...whether it’s Washington Park or Jackson Park, nearby residents are already dreaming big about the potential ripple effects. They want jobs and housing - and they want it in writing...coalition pushing for a formal community benefits agreement, or CBA...Chicago has never had a successful CBA...But more than 10 miles south of downtown, another group is trying to change that.- WBEZ Chicago Public Radio |
V&A moves into top gear at Stratford: Kieran Long reveals O’Donnell & Tuomey will design new museum...putting together the team that will steer the development of its new outpost at Olympicopolis...provisionally branded V&A E20, will have a strong focus on architecture and urbanism...also recruiting a senior curator... -- Allies & Morrison; Gustafson Porter; Josep Camps/Olga Felip Arquitecturia- BD/Building Design (UK) |
Through the Eyes of a Critic: One World Observatory: The best part of a visit...may be the ride to the building’s 102nd floor...The problem is [it] lasts only 47 seconds. The rest...isn’t quite as spectacular as the $32 ticket price might suggest. But in the end, the expense, the privatization of the top two floors, and the lack of inspired design are quibbles...offers some of the world’s most stirring vistas [and] a chance to celebrate New York’s post-9/11 renaissance. And then there’s the elevator ride down...almost as enjoyable as the ride up. By Fred A. Bernstein [images]- Travel + Leisure |
A Tour Through the New Chicago Athletic Association Hotel: The finished product is a hotel that pays homage to its past while feeling very modern and new. -- Henry Ives Cobb (1893); Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture; Roman and Williams- Curbed Chicago |
Why "Tomorrowland" Should Never Come: ...a Calatrava future: It seems ironic to me that it is exactly that failed carcass of cultural aspirations, sitting in a Spanish flood plain as it gathers debt and loses roof tiles [City of the Arts and Sciences], should be the emblem of what our architecture will become...If Tomorrowland is right, we are destined to live in monuments to structural bravura...I say we need less Calatrava and more funk. By Aaron Betsky [images]- Architect Magazine |
Trips worth making at the London Festival of Architecture: BD picks out some of the best events at the festival which opens on Monday: Now in its 11th year, the LFA runs for the whole of June.- BD/Building Design (UK) |
Women were unwelcome in architecture, but male architects couldn't live without them: "Pathmakers: Women in Art, Craft and Design, Mid-century and Today" at New York's Museum of Arts and Design about women's role in postwar Modernism highlights the uneasy gender imbalance between craft and industrial design...The continuing gender politics around craft reveal a spikiness that continues to command attention. By Alexandra Lange [images]- Dezeen |
"Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980": Developmentalism was the movement to modernize the entire South American continent...[MoMA show] does not offer pat conclusions about whether the building boom found the answers to massive urban problems or improved the lives of those most in need...But this very complex diversity is, in fact, the show’s strongest recommendation and the source of its compelling fascination. By Julie V. Iovine- Wall Street Journal |
Too Much, Too Late? An expansive exhibition at MoMA reflects on Latin America’s Modernist legacy. Does it do the region justice? "Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955–1980"...a richly documented exhibition...doesn’t merely update the earlier survey. It aspires to present architecture from within the cultures it examines, an objective largely achieved... By Susana Torre [images]- Metropolis Magazine |
“Lina Bo Bardi: Together”: The Graham Foundation is hosting the first U.S. exhibition of the Italian designer who is remembered for her work as a mediator of modernization and stayed true to her adopted homeland's roots...emphasizes how her work and writings have influenced contemporary architecture...A key aspect...is the inclusiveness of her designs, both socially and aesthetically. By Chelsea Blahut -- Noemi Blager; Assemble [images]- Architect Magazine |
Olafur Eliasson To Bring LEGO Installation “The Collectivity Project” To The High Line: ...high-profile architects who are working in the vicinity...contributing one building which the public will then be able to adapt, extend or work around; May 29 - September 30 -- BIG - Bjarke Engles Group; David M. Schwarz Architects; Diller Scofidio + Renfro; James Corner Field Operations; OMA New York; Renzo Piano Building Workshop; Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Selldorf Architects; SHoP Architects; Steven Holl Architects- ArchDaily |
Saint-Gobain Turns 350, Announces Futuristic Global Exhibition Coming to Philadelphia May 30 - June 6: "Future Sensations" is an immersive experience with five distinct ephemeral pavilions that take visitors on a sensory journey of science, storytelling and art...the first foray into a season-long celebration of outdoor fun at The Oval...to advance Philadelphia's "More Park, Less Way" action plan... [images]- Metal Architecture magazine |
Everything You Wanted to Know About Tactical Urbanism: "Tactical Urbanism: Short-term Action for Long-term Change" by Mike Lydon and Anthony Garcia is the first book to really organize all the small fixes that seem to have spontaneously sprung up in so many communities in a way that everyone can understand...One of the only criticisms of this thoughtful, informative book is there is no candid assessment of where tactical urbanism has gone wrong. By Jared Green- The Dirt/American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) |
Can Regenerative Design Save the Planet? "Busby: Architecture’s New Edges" details the theory and practice of what might be called Green Building 2.0. The idea is not to be satisfied with efficiency for its own sake. Regenerative design aspires to an active participation in ecosystems all around. By Anthony Flint -- Peter Busby/Perkins+Will [images]- CityLab (formerly The Atlantic Cities) |
In Service of Architecture: "Sacred Spaces: Contemporary Religious Architecture" by James Pallister is a mix of celebrated and obscure spaces of worship from around the world: Everyone will miss a few favorites, while making many discoveries, for sacred spaces are enjoying a creative revival, even as congregations dwindle and organized religion feels increasingly irrelevant (or repellent) in the developed world...The great strength of this anthology is the detailed coverage of every project....a covetable volume. By Michael Webb- The Architect's Newspaper |
INSIGHT: A Focus on Local: Structure and Design of the Columbus Museum of Art Expansion: How DesignGroup worked with the museum to become more visible, relevant, and connected to the community as a meeting point between art, the public, and the physical city. By Michael Bongiorno, AIA, LEED AP BD+C [images]- ArchNewsNow.com |
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