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Today’s News - Wednesday, June 10, 2020

● Hilburg updates news of the School of Architecture at Taliesin - it will change its name ("it can no longer use the Frank Lloyd Wright or Taliesin name"), and move to Paolo Soleri's Cosanti and Arcosanti, with hopes to make Cosanti its permanent home.

● Madsen reports that the renovation of Cret's 1937 Federal Reserve Board HQ, "a prime example of neoclassical civic architecture" in Washington, DC, "might become a proving ground for the draft executive order mandating neoclassicism as a federal architectural style" as a minority on Commission of Fine Arts "clamors for more marble."

● Block brings us eyefuls of Sharon Davis Design's rammed-earth hospital campus in "one of Nepal's poorest and most remote regions": "Without local materials, this project may not have been possible - it's a three-day drive on narrow, mountainous roads from the nearest manufacturing centers around Kathmandu."

● Cecília Garcia introduces us to architect Carina Guedes's Architecture in the Periphery project that is teaching women fighting for housing in Brazil to actually design and build houses - "another important social purpose, that of making architecture recognize and react to the abysmal social inequalities in Brazil."

● Safdie's "horizontal skyscraper" (with a glass-bottom deck) that stretches across the tops of four of the eight skyscrapers of the Raffles City Chongqing riverside complex is ready for its close-up: "It's easy to see why 'The Crystal' is one of the most highly anticipated new attractions in China."

Of public space, protests, and pandemics:

● Sisson looks at how the "convergence of crises could ultimately help convince local leaders and the public to reconsider the importance of public space, and even see parks as part of a broader plan for economic and social recovery" (though severe budget cuts loom).

● Greenwald looks at how "outdoor urban assets are no longer being seen as superfluous, but instead finally being recognized as essential. And so are the masterminds behind them," and talks to some of them re: "what's next for landscape architecture."

● Harrouk: "Public space is a form of democracy. It is a space of freedom of movement and expression, and most importantly it is our first contact with a city - a reflection of the urban fabric - discover public spaces of expression around the world."

● Kamin explains why "Chicago's 'reopening' of the lakefront west of Lake Shore Drive is, in reality, a public relations sham" - a lot of it was never closed - though the "shutdown inadvertently discriminated against residents, many of them African American, who live along Burnham Park" - it's time to restore the entire shoreline "to its rightful owners - the people of Chicago."

Of protests, racism, and urban issues - the industry responds:

● Alati lines up professional networks and organizations "that have made it their mission to support BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Color] architects and designers."

● Gibson x 2: She reports on the architects and designers who have created "a Google Docs spreadsheet to highlight design, architecture, engineering, and planning studios [currently 108] founded by BIPOC," with hopes "to raise awareness of jobs available and encourage emerging architects and designers to apply for them."

● Gibson talks to Michael Ford, who minces no words, saying architects should "stop working on spaces which disproportionately impact African Americans" (like jails and prisons) "if they want to really impact the fight for racial equality" + his Hip Hop + Architecture as Design Justice competition and #DesignasProtest initiatives (comments abound).

COVID-19 news continues:

● Tingley delves into Joel Sanders' think tank MIXdesign that aims "to identify those whose needs have rarely been considered in architecture. The chaos that Covid-19 has brought to once-familiar places lent an urgency to this mission - to suggest improvements to pervasive design flaws no one else has identified yet."

● Caulfield asks 40 AEC and commercial real estate firms "how the coronavirus pandemic could change the built environment - it could have broader, longer-term implications for how people work and businesses and buildings operate. Some saw opportunities to re-examine preconceived notions about building practices and codes that have been etched in stone for decades."

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Jonathan Hilburg: School of Architecture at Taliesin will change its name, move to [Paolo Soleri’s] Cosanti and Arcosanti: ...with plans to try to make Cosanti its permanent home...after a protracted back-and-forth with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation ..can no longer use the Frank Lloyd Wright or Taliesin name, though it will retain its accreditation and students...Aaron Betsky, who departed as the school’s president in May, will be temporarily replaced by current dean Chris Lasch of Aranda\Lasch...- The Architect's Newspaper

Deane Madsen: Renovation of Federal Reserve Board headquarters portends a battle over civic architecture: Paul Philippe Cret’s 1937 building...stands as a prime example of neoclassical civic architecture [in] Washington, D.C...may have prompted new proposed guidelines around federal architecture, if conversations swirling in meetings of the Commission of Fine Arts are any indication...might become a proving ground for the draft executive order mandating neoclassicism as a federal architectural style...Fortus team seemed taken aback by the new critical voices...CFA seems to be split along aesthetic lines...minority clamors for more marble...-- Jules Henri de Sibour; CallisonRTKL Quinn Evans Architects; James McCrery; Duncan Stroik; Justin Shubow; Toni Griffin/Urban Planning for the American City- The Architect's Newspaper

India Block: Sharon Davis Design builds rammed-earth hospital in Nepal: Bayalpata Hospital is a medical complex in Achham...Serving one of Nepal's poorest and most remote regions...also includes 10 houses and an 8-bed dormitory for hospital staff to live in..."Without local materials, this project may not have been possible because of its incredibly remote location...a three-day drive on narrow, mountainous roads from the nearest manufacturing centres around Kathmandu"...Reusable plastic formwork was used so the team could build the hospital campus quickly employing untrained workers...courtyards act as informal waiting rooms, and patient rooms all have access to a garden or balcony.- Dezeen

Cecília Garcia | Translated by Tarsila Duduch: Architecture in the Periphery: Teaching Women to Build Houses in Brazil: The spirit of the women who participate in the movements fighting for housing in Brazil is as hard as lime and wood...they vigorously coordinate organizational and political practices of settlement and popular housing construction...Women teaching women to design: Architecture in the Periphery is the result of a master's thesis by architect Carina Guedes...offering technical assistance courses to women in territories with insufficient housing and infrastructure...the project has another important social purpose, that of making architecture...recognize and react to the abysmal social inequalities in Brazil. -- Marina Bornel; Rafaela Dias and Tereza Barros- ArchDaily

Glass-bottom deck opens atop China's 'horizontal skyscraper': It's easy to see why "The Crystal" is one of the most highly anticipated new attractions in China. Designed by Moshe Safdie...it stretches 350 meters across four of the eight skyscrapers that make up Raffles City Chongqing, a multi-use riverside complex...recently unveiled...The Exploration Deck...Raffles...teamed up with National Geographic to create an exploration-themed exhibition...sky bridge will be home to The Private Club, a members-only clubhouse, as well as The Sky Garden, a food and beverage destination.- CNN Travel

Patrick Sisson: Amid Protest and Pandemic, Urban Parks Show Their Worth: ...the critical role that public space plays during a crisis. But severe budget cuts are looming. Can investing in parks be part of the urban recovery? ...one theme runs through the twinned crises: the power and value of public spaces....Despite big investments in signature parks...a widespread lack of equitable access to green space remains...But there’s some cautious hope here, too: This convergence of crises could ultimately help convince local leaders and the public to reconsider the importance of public space, and even see parks as part of a broader plan for economic and social recovery...It’s not just savvy political thinking, but a smart way to integrate smaller, community-focused green space in neighborhood-level development. -- Trust for Public Land- CityLab (formerly The Atlantic Cities)

Rebecca Greenwald: After COVID-19, What’s Next for Landscape Architecture? The urban crisis brings many challenges, but also presents opportunities for landscape architects to help build more equitable green spaces and cities: ...public space is decidedly having a moment...Parks, plazas, and other outdoor urban assets are no longer being seen as superfluous, but instead finally being recognized as essential. And so are the masterminds behind them...how leaders...are processing and responding to the health crisis...the themes and ideas they’re considering right now. -- Agency L+P; Asakura Robinson; City Architecture; OHM Advisors; Interboro; Studio Zewde; KDI; Chris Reed/Stoss; Kinder Baumgardner/SWA; Kathryn Gustafson; Ryan Gravel/Atlanta Beltline/Sixpitch- Metropolis Magazine

Christele Harrouk: Public Spaces: Places of Protest, Expression and Social Engagement: Open, free, accessible to all, and financed by public money...people define how public space is used and what it means...In times like these, while people still need to "take their issues to the streets" to be heard and seen, public space resurfaces as a topic of discussion...Public Space is a form of democracy. It is a space of freedom of movement and expression, and most importantly it is our first contact with a city. A mere reflection of the urban fabric, it reveals cultural, economic, and political influences...discover public spaces of expression around the world.- ArchDaily

Blair Kamin: Don’t be fooled by Chicago’s ‘reopening’ of the lakefront west of Lake Shore Drive. Much of it was already open: Dutifully reported as a relaxation of restrictions...is, in reality, a public relations sham...A lot of this parkland was never closed...shutdown...inadvertently discriminated against residents, many of them African American, who live along Burnham Park...they had little alternative parkland west of the drive...the “reopening” doesn’t change that...I initially supported Lightfoot’s ban ...But...the mayor’s stance has come to seem...Intransigent because the closure forced scores of walkers and bikers into the streets and narrow sidewalks, making social distancing difficult...[inconsistent] - how can the city justify allowing masses of people to...demonstrate...while prohibiting even small groups of bikers and joggers from using the 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail...Restore the shoreline, all of it, to its rightful owners - the people of Chicago.- Chicago Tribune

Danine Alati: Bookmark These Professional Resources for Black Designers and Architects: These networks and organizations are focused on supporting Black A&D professionals: With protests against the systemic racism that has plagued our nation for hundreds of years raging on...the design community is also taking stock of its shortfalls and addressing the changes that need to happen...the following organizations that have made it their mission to support BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, People of Color] architects and designers.- Architectural Digest

Eleanor Gibson: Architects and designers create Google Docs spreadsheet listing black-owned studios: ...to highlight design, architecture, engineering or planning studios founded by black, indigenous and people of colour [BIPOC]...currently lists 108 studios and the group intend to update it continually...Among the main aims of the project is to raise awareness of jobs available at studios and encourage emerging architects and designers to apply for them. -- Dong-Ping Wong/Food; Tei Carpenter; Dominic Leong; Preeti Sriritana; Oana Stanescu; Joey Swerdlin; Naïla Opiangah; Esther Choi; etc.- Dezeen

Eleanor Gibson: "Stop working on spaces which disproportionately impact African Americans" says architect Michael Ford: Architects should stop designing jails and prisons, which are representations of systemic racism in the US, if they want to really impact the fight for racial equality...[He] told Dezeen that designing buildings for confinement conflicts with an architect's role to protect people...in light of George Floyd's death, Ford launched the Hip Hop + Architecture as Design Justice competition...has also established #DesignasProtest with designer and activist De Nichols, and architect Bryan Lee Jr.- Dezeen

Kim Tingley: How Architecture Could Help Us Adapt to the Pandemic: The virus isn’t simply a health crisis; it is also a design problem: Joel Sanders formed...MIXdesign to function as a think tank and consultancy...to identify those whose needs have rarely been considered in architecture...The chaos that Covid-19 has brought to once-familiar places lent an urgency to this mission...people with autism, and other groups that have faced difficulties in the built environment, are in a special position to identify creative solutions to the spatial challenges the virus poses - and to suggest improvements to pervasive design flaws no one else has identified yet...Covid “is forcing all of us to be aware of how the design of the built environment dictates how we experience the world and each other.” -- Vishaan Chakrabarti/PAU; Rosalie Genevro/Architectural League of New York; Hansel Bauman; Seb Choe; Magda Mostafa; Mabel O. Wilson; Marco Li; Deborah Berke- New York Times

John Caulfield: Going viral: How the coronavirus pandemic could change the built environment: Architecture and construction firms - and their clients - are asking new questions about infection control as it pertains to people assembly, building wellness, and technology: ...the virus could have broader, longer-term implications for how people work and congregate, and how businesses and buildings operate...need to figure out new ways to keep workers and patrons safe...40 AEC and commercial real estate firms...were, in the main, cautiously optimistic, despite having seen projects delayed or postponed...Some even saw opportunities to re-examine preconceived notions about building practices and codes that, in some cases, have been etched in stone for decades.- Building Design + Construction (BD+C)

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