Today’s News - Thursday, August 10, 2017
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tomorrow and Monday will be no-newsletter days; we'll be back Tuesday, August 15.
● ANN feature: Nuts + Bolts #15: McKissack & McKissack's Anders offers three core practices to help keep the peace in managing relationships on construction projects.
● Urban Design London's Kurland offers some suggestions to planners who "need better design guidance. There are many ways architects and their clients try to hoodwink planners. The fight-back starts here."
● Sorkin offers a "simple idea" to resolve "NYC's most awkward developer feud": "invest the $250 million earmarked for the largely vanished Pier 55 in Pier 40. Then add as much additional fabulousness as possible."
● BNIM's Hoxie and Native American activist Tilsen talk about the challenges of "envisioning and creating a sustainable community for his people": "Progress moves at the speed of trust."
● Scruggs picks 3 ideas that work anywhere to "help cultural institutions survive redevelopment pressure," based on Seattle's "The CAP Report: 30 Ideas for the Creation, Activation & Preservation of Cultural Space."
● Ascarelli explores how Newark, New Jersey, is "trying to navigate arts-driven revitalization equitably as a new (and wealthier) residents move in" (both cities now have a cultural advocate in City Halls).
● REX's Prince-Ramus talks about "rejecting 'starchitecture,'" philosophy, and designing the arts center at Ground Zero: "If there are many possible solutions, we always choose the one that is most beautiful."
● Davidson ponders "why dystopian movies look so much like our world": "The fantasies of visionary filmmakers simply recycle the present and make it bigger, and worse" (check out the 2016 Pentagon video!).
Weekend diversions (and lots of 'em!):
● Middleton parses three films that illustrate how "architects on the silver screen don't do themselves or the profession any favors" - they "tend to shoot themselves in the foot in these films."
● Hawthorne proffers that the "understated" film "Columbus" is "a complex portrait of small-town America through the modernist architectural mecca of Columbus, Indiana - and a timely portrait of Donald Trump's America."
● Jenkins considers "Columbus" is "soulless, by design" - the characters "are more like miniature humans in a 3D model of a modernist structure, their slightly messy presence meant only to set off the purity of the overall scheme."
● Ciampaglia says that while "'Columbus' might look like a standard indie film with gorgeous shots of photogenic buildings, at its core is a challenging examination of the way place influences human interaction."
● Anderton talks to "Columbus" director Kogonada "about this valentine to architecture and contemplative movie-making."
● There's just a short time left to catch "Creativity on the Line: Design for the Corporate World" and its "landmark objects" at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University (great pix!).
● Lange cheers "Ettore Sottsass: Design Radical" at the Met Breuer that "displays a giddy and comprehensive collection - demonstrating his devotion to making the everyday weird."
● Denny delves into Ain, "the Red Scare, and the house that disappeared" that is now the subject of "This Future Has a Past" at NYC's Center for Architecture.
● Saffron cheers the globe-trotting Louis Kahn retrospective making its last stop in Philly (it almost didn't happen), and how the "real gold" in the show is the "crude cardboard models" that "make his genius all the more human and accessible."
● Keats gives kudos to "Architectural Pavilions: Experiments and Artifacts" in San Francisco: they are the "architectural equivalent of concept cars" that "show how wild the future may be, and why you should care."
● Anderton ponders "California: Designing Freedom" in London, "a survey of California design from the drug-fueled 1960s style of the hippies to the tech-utopian visions of Silicon Valley's founders."
● "The Moderns: European Designers in Sydney," in Sydney, puts the spotlight on the city's "forgotten mid-century modernists," but "who had a lasting impact on its culture and look."
● There's not much more time to catch the traveling "Zaha Hadid Architects: Reimagining Architecture" in Singapore before it makes its last stop in Melbourne.
● In "Utopie Plastic," futuristic prefab micro-homes from the 1960s land on the lawns of Friche de l'Escalette, Marseille's new sculpture and architecture park.
● Mañosa: Beyond Architecture" traveling exhibit puts spotlight on the Filipino icon.
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Nuts + Bolts #15: From Adversary to Partner: Managing Relationships in Construction Projects: Three core practices to help keep the peace while keeping a project moving forward. By Lisa Anders, LEED AP- ArchNewsNow.com |
Esther Kurland/Urban Design London: Planners need better design guidance if we're to have high-quality cities: There are many ways architects and their clients try to hoodwink planners. The fightback starts here: We need to tackle some of the ways that planning can get in a tizzy about design. Here are some suggestions. ["The Design Companion for Planning and Placemaking"]- BD/Building Design (UK) |
Michael Sorkin: Happy Marriage: How to solve NYC’s most awkward developer feud: Our idea is simple: invest the $250 million earmarked for Pier 55 in Pier 40. Build facilities...of exactly the same size and capacity as planned for the uptown site. Then add as much additional fabulousness as possible...Thomas Heatherwick would be great choice for architect! -- Terreform [images]- The Architect's Newspaper |
The Unique Challenges of Planning and Designing on the Reservation: Christina Hoxie talks to Native American activist and organizer Nick Tilsen about envisioning and creating a sustainable community for his people: The Thunder Valley Regenerative Community...in South Dakota [is] Lakota culture materialized in a built environment. -- Bob Berkebile; BNIM; Pyatt Studio; KLJ;Studio NYL- Common Edge |
Gregory Scruggs: 3 ways cities can save cultural spaces: As booming cities...grow more and more expensive, cultural establishments...are facing a squeeze...That’s why [Seattle] has created a position tasked specifically with maintaining its cultural vibrancy...cities around the world can benefit from "The CAP Report: 30 Ideas for the Creation, Activation & Preservation of Cultural Space"...ideas that help cultural institutions survive redevelopment pressure can work anywhere.- Citiscope.org |
Miriam Ascarelli: As Construction Cranes Loom, Newark Tries to Keep True to Arts Hub Rep: ...trying to navigate arts-driven revitalization equitably...as a new (and wealthier) residents move in...one challenge will be “keeping things authentic"...the current vibrant grassroots arts community has strong support from City Hall...the mayor has created an office specifically devoted to arts, cultural development and tourism...- Next City (formerly Next American City) |
Interview: Joshua Prince-Ramus: The founder of REX Architecture and one-time OMA partner talks to Kim Megson about rejecting "starchitecture", embracing philosophy and designing an arts centre at Ground Zero: "If there are many possible solutions, we always choose the one that is most beautiful."- CLAD (Community of Leisure Architects & Designers) |
Justin Davidson: Why Dystopian Movies Look So Much Like Our World: The fantasies of visionary filmmakers can be astonishingly earthbound: The inventors of nonexistent cities don’t have to worry about building codes, zoning...Rather than use that freedom to unleash radical design or dream up darkly beautiful architecture, they simply recycle the present and make it bigger, and worse.- New York Magazine |
Mark Middleton/Grimshaw: Architects on the silver screen don’t do themselves or the profession any favours: It’s no surprise that fictional portrayals of architects are so stereotypical when documentaries reinforce exactly the same myths: ...a self-inflicted wound...Architects tend to shoot themselves in the foot in these films. -- "How much does your building weigh, Mr Foster?"; "The sketches of Frank Gehry"; Bjarke Ingels/"Abstract: The Art of Design" (Netflix)- BD/Building Design (UK) |
Christopher Hawthorne: 'Meth and modernism': The understated "Columbus" offers a complex portrait of small-town America: ...Kogonada explores themes of home, freedom and obligation through the modernist architectural mecca of Columbus, Indiana...[he] sees famous buildings less as stylish backdrops and more as the means to a thematic end...offers a subtle critique of globalization and a timely portrait of Donald Trump’s America.- Los Angeles Times |
Mark Jenkins: "Columbus" Is Soulless, By Design: This stark, cerebral not-quite-romance is set in a city known for its spare modernist architecture, and that sense of severity pervades the film...[Characters] are more like miniature humans in a 3D model of a modernist structure, their slightly messy presence meant only to set off the purity of the overall scheme.- NPR / National Public Radio |
Dante A. Ciampaglia: In 'Columbus,' Filmmaker Kogonada Begins a New Conversation About Modernism: Shot on location in the Modernist mecca of Columbus, Indiana...frames this deceptively-slight narrative around a compelling investigation of place...treating it as one of the film’s characters...might look like a standard indie film with gorgeous shots of photogenic buildings...but at its core is a challenging examination of the way place influences human interaction.- Architectural Record |
DNA/Frances Anderton: "Columbus" celebrates modernist architecture mecca: Where in America's Midwest can you find a very small town with more than 60 modernist gems? The place is Columbus, Indiana. Now the city is the star...first-time director Kogonada...talks to DnA about this valentine to architecture and contemplative movie-making.- KCRW (Los Angeles) |
Mid-century corporate design through 126 iconic objects: The Cantor Arts Centre, California, offers a new perspective on the creation and production of mid-century modern design with "Creativity on the Line: Design for the Corporate World": ...landmark objects...see a narrative emerge about the relationship between the designers of the 1950s-70s with the top management of large corporations; thru August 21 [images]- Architectural Digest |
Alexandra Lange: Hippie Modernism, Italian Style: A centennial retrospective examines Ettore Sottsass's enduring legacy: Best known as the ringleader of Memphis...[he] was perpetually tweaking the nose of modernism while embracing its machines, its manufacturers, and even its colors...“Ettore Sottsass: Design Radical" displays a giddy and comprehensive collection...demonstrating his devotion to making the everyday weird; at the Met Breuer thru October 8- Curbed |
Phillip R. Denny: The Architect, the Red Scare and the House That Disappeared: Gregory Ain’s most important design was for a modern house commissioned by MoMA. It’s been missing for six decades: ...a midcentury champion of modern architecture...is virtually unknown outside Los Angeles today. His left-leaning politics made him the object of decades-long F.B.I. surveillance and McCarthy-era witch hunts that took their toll on his career and legacy...That house is now the subject of “This Future Has a Past” at the Center for Architecture, NYC; thru September 12- New York Times |
Inga Saffron: World-traveling Louis Kahn retrospective finally comes home to Philadelphia: "Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture"...The real gold is in the crude cardboard models...evidence of his many false starts and show him thinking through the designs of his greatest masterpieces...The visible effort in the models makes his genius all the more human and accessible; Fabric Workshop and Museum thru November 5 [images]- Philadelphia Inquirer |
Jonathon Keats: Architects Experiment With The Future Of Construction By Building Their Biggest Visions In Miniature: The architectural equivalent of concept cars, pavilions are the ultimate environments for experiencing what's next in building. "Architectural Pavilions: Experiments and Artifacts" at San Francisco's Museum of Craft and Design shows how wild the future may be, and why you should care; thru January 7, 2018- Forbes |
DNA/Frances Anderton: From acid to Apple: a survey of California design: From the drug-fueled 1960s style of the hippies to the tech-utopian visions of Silicon Valley's founders, California's design sensibilities have had a global reach. "California: Designing Freedom" at the Design Museum in London looks at how the Golden State came to have such a powerful influence on contemporary design; thru October 17 -- Justin McGuirk; Brendan McGetrick- KCRW (Los Angeles) |
Sydney's forgotten mid-century modernists: Rebecca Hawcroft's lecturers never mentioned the names of men like Henry Epstein or Hans Peter Oser...And that left her puzzled....these are all architects and designers who had a lasting impact on Sydney's culture and look...most of the names - apart from that of Harry Seidler - are still forgotten even though the homes they built are now recognised as significant examples of modernism in this country..."The Moderns: European Designers in Sydney" at the Museum of Sydney thru November 26 -- Paul Kafka; George Korody; Susan Kozma-Orlay; Hugh Buhrich; Hugo Stossel; Jean Fombertaux; Max Dupain; etc. [images]- Australian Financial Review |
Zaha Hadid exhibition launched in Singapore for the first time: "Zaha Hadid Architects: Reimagining Architecture" will showcase...the late architecture doyenne's transformational projects across the globe...It will move on to its third and last stop in Melbourne, Australia, next; at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands thru August 15- The Straits Times (Singapore) |
Futuristic micro-homes land in Marseille for “Utopie Plastic” ["Plastic Utopia"] exhibition amid stone ruins: ...rare structures, which date back to the late 1960s, serve as pavilions for the display of significant plastic furniture...on view by appointment at Friche de l’Escalette...opened in summer 2016 as a park for sculpture and demountable architecture; thru October 1 -- Matti Suuronen; Jean-Benjamin Maneval; Georges Candilis; Max Bill [images]- designboom |
Traveling exhibit puts spotlight on icon: “Mañosa: Beyond Architecture” featuring Filipino architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa...When everyone was focused on architectural feats in the great cities...[he] used Philippine textiles, and building materials, championing Filipino architectural design through his work.- Manila Bulletin (Philippines) |
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