Showing posts with label Architecture News. Show all posts
Architecture for Humanity on Frontline
26 June 2008
Architecture for Humanity's work in India is currently being featured on Frontline. Purnima McCutcheon is working on the ground in India, in areas affected by 2004's tsunami to make a difference by providing a village hall. Supported by a team in San Francisco, Purnima is able to change lives through her designs... Check out the rest of the interview with Purnima, as well as an interview with Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr (founders of Architecture with Humanity) -and more info and photos. Purnima's take on sustainable design being beyond prius' and solar panels and absolutely necessary for the developing world is quite interesting. While the special is obviously geared towards the general public, designers and architects should also find it entertaining and thought provoking.
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Tuned Mass Damper
25 June 2008
If you are like me, then you probably don't work with tuned mass dampers on a regular basis. In fact, my only experience would be in structures classes and when I was studying for the ARE. So, its really cool to see a tuned mass damper, not just in a building, but actually working during an earthquake. The Taipei 101 is currently the world's second tallest building and because it is located only 600 feet from a fault line, it required a ginormous tuned mass damper. During the Sichuan Earthquake, this four story 730 ton ball kept the building from tipping over. Not bad for something that spends most of its time as a tourist destination.
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Via Gizmodo
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Starting Tomorrow
19 June 2008
Starting tomorrow (or perhaps already today for some readers) is the New London Architecture Festival. Taking over for the London Architecture Biennale, the celebration will include about 12 pavilions, all sorts of lectures and exhibits, and even a jelly (jello?) competition. I'll be interested to see more of the pavilions and hear from anyone who has a chance to visit. More information can be found here.
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Sad News
28 May 2008
This actually happened a few weeks ago, but I just found out via ecAr... The architecture building at TU Delft has burned... pretty much to the ground. I was lucky enough to study abroad at Delft for about 6 months and spent a lot of time in that building. During the summer, our program (a globalization workshop) had the building to ourselves, but I stayed for another 2 modules and was also able to experience it full of students. The building was significantly larger (7 stories if I remember?) and much different than Crown Hall where I studied at home... My memories of the building are mostly sentimental... of the cafeteria, computers, and classrooms. I hope that the students are able to get back to work, and hopefully the school will be able to build a new even better building, deserving of TU Delft's high standards of architecture..
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Dwell on Design
23 May 2008
Most everyone probably already knows that the Dwell on Design Conference and Expo is taking place in Los Angeles, June 5-8.If you haven't already checked out the conference, consider going... it should be well worth it. And if you're already in the area, then you have no excuse!
Here is a link to the conference registration... Dwell has been nice enough to send us a code for a free ticket to the exhibit - BDODEC , and a discounted conference ticket code - GRP22SP .
They are also offering Atelier A+D readers a free month to Dwell's online magazine. If you don't already subscribe, check it out!
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I hope some of these links will be helpful! I sure wish that I could attend the DOD... maybe next year!
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Talent Runs in the Family
18 April 2008
Maybe you all already knew this... but I just found out. Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel is the nephew of Moshe Safdie!.
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A New LEED Office
Its great to see architectural firms actually following their own advice... GGLO has recently finished a new expansion to their Seattle office, and kept it green in the process! Their new expansion has achieved Silver LEED status, and looks like a healthy (in the non-toxic sense!) and fun place to work!.
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Architecture for Auction
25 March 2008
While I quite like the idea of museums collecting significant architecture, much in the same manner that they would collect significant work, I'm a little bit nervous about such pieces going up for auction. We can only hope that the type of people willing to purchase a well-known piece of architecture at auction, will respect the original structure much as they would respect an original painting. .
We can certainly say that the auction house Wright, which is putting Louis Kahn's Esherick House up for auction is trying to attract buyers interested in the architectural value of the house. The idea that they are committed to a collection of works including art, design, and architecture shows an intent to maintain these properties for future generations. And their press release is certainly geared towards those of us interested in the architectural and historical value of the house with this to say about the property...
"Situated at a perfect angle on a property measuring more than half an acre, the house has a striking presence. The approach features a planar composition with a textured mortar finish bisected by a strong vertical chimney, while keyhole windows framed with Apitong and placed at irregular intervals punctuate the front facade. The floor plan reveals Kahn’s refined design of two symmetrical side-by-side rectangles that allow for both openness and structural clarity. Kahn’s use of pure geometry in the facades and interior spaces speaks to archetypal references that Kahn drew on throughout his body of work. Here, like in all his buildings, Kahn united this architectural history with the modern present in a truly unique structure...
...The architect and 2006 Louis Kahn professor David Adjaye states, 'I had the great pleasure of visiting the Esherick House in the Spring of 2006. As a student I was always mesmerized by its playful graphic geometry of the windows and the deceptive simplicity of its plan. It was a real surprise to see the care and joy of the materials still very much intact and it being lived in as I’m sure Kahn would have approved. There were two particularly ecstatic moments for me. Firstly was ascending the beautifully crafted, Japanese- or Shaker-esque, staircase with its simple timber balustrade, which overlooks the living room. The second was opening the shutter of the window in the library where knowledge and nature seemed to freeze into one image. The Esherick House is definitely one of Kahn’s most important works which defined lessons he’d go on to use in later projects.' "
So, if you're interested in buying this lovely and historic property, check out the Wright auction. If the house itself isn't in your budget, the photos by Todd Eberle are worth a look.
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2007 Seattle AIA Honor Awards - Unbound
08 November 2007
Montecito Residence, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen - Commendation
Stirling Residence, Pb Elemental - Commendation
Centre for Music, Art and Design, Patkau - Commendation
Bellevue City Hall, SRG - Commendation
Outpost, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen - Merit Award
Rolling Huts, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen - Merit Award
Olympic Sculpture Park, Weiss Manfredi - Honor AwardC & I attended the AIA honor awards this past monday (with a few friends)... Having never attended the Seattle honor awards before, I was a bit surprised about the format. The first part of the evening was a bit of a mingling period, with drinks and food, a few models, and a slide show of all the evening's entries (not just the winners). Once we entered the theater, we could see that the stage was set with a couch and chairs, with the format of the evening becoming ever more clear. The jurors were invited on stage (Jeanne Gang, Joshua Prince-Ramos, and Frank Harmon) where they presented the winners in a discussion format, all moderated by the UW's dean of Architecture, Daniel Friedman.
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I was a bit surprised at how critical the jurors were of architecture in Seattle. While I myself can often be quite critical of the cities strict reliance on regionalism (sometimes I think that if I ever seen another timber framed structure with exposed bracketing I might die of boredom), I found it a little odd for the jurors to be so overly critical. I mean, this was an awards show after all. Its not to say that the jurors has nothing positive to say, but they certainly found issues with each and every project, and especially with Seattle architecture as a whole. It made me wonder what they thought of the non-winning entries.
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To me, the strangest part of the criticism, was that the final selections didn't seem to reflect that critique. I actually agree with the jurors' main statements... Seattle Architects are masters of craft (or grammarticians, as one juror said). With nearly unlimited budgets, this architectural community has created some of the most exquisite jewel boxes I've ever seen. Perfecting an idea of craft, and a regional design aesthetic that has become stronger and more refined over time, architects and designers in the Pacific Northwest have created some immaculate spaces.
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However, as the jurors repeatedly mentioned (and I wholeheartedly agree) this regionalism is lacking a consistent exploration of concept. Furthermore, many architects in this area seem to be too timid to push an idea or diagram that diverges from the local aesthetic. While I concur with the juror's statements up until this point, I disagreed on one of their last... The jurors all implored local architects to use their skill as master craftsmen and designers to create a beautiful space for the community, rather than creating a multitude of single family residences for wealthy homeowners. This seems like a valid request, except for the fact that its already been done, and the jurors seemed to ignore this fact.
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The city of Seattle has put a great deal of money into the local library system, building a number of neighborhood libraries (not just Rem's SPL) by local architects. Many of these libraries are magnificent pieces of architecture, not just for their craft and design, but also for the ways in which they engage the community. In many neighborhoods, these libraries are quickly becoming icons and destinations in their own right. Now, I know that at least 3 of these libraries were entered into the AIA Honor Awards, and yet, not one of them won. While the jurors continuously asked us to create significant architecture for the entire community and not just the individual, they proceeded to select 4 single family 'jewel box' homes (of the 6 built projects). Personally, I would have liked to have seen them back up their statements with appropriate selections.
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Thoughts?
Surprised
31 October 2007
The images for OMA's CCTV tower in Beijing have been out for so long (and are fairly realistic), that I sometime forget that the building is still under construction. Needless to say, when I stumbled on this image of the current state of construction at BBC's Day in Pictures, I was pretty surprised! Somehow I thought the project was much further along!Ever Evolving Concrete
06 August 2007
I was reading an article today on Treehugger that was describing a new sealant made from sodium acetate (an ingredient commonly found in potato chips) that is proving to be a cheap and efficient way of sealing concrete. The chemical seeps into the pores of the concrete and crystallizes after contact with any water, thus restricting any further water infiltration. It sounds pretty cool, but imagine what it does to your stomach! Anyway... it got me thinking about concrete and all the new ways in which we are developing it as both a structural and finish material. Honestly, its really amazing to think about how concrete has been in use as a building material for thousands of years and yet we are still finding new ways in which to use and create it! Below are just a few examples of new types of concrete.
Graphic Concrete is a really interesting product out of Finland that provides amazing detail etched into the concrete. There are standard patterns available as well as custom designs. The designs are created by applying a surface retardant to a special membrane, which rejects the concrete in certain areas... then when the membrane is removed, the design's various shapes and depths appear.
Concrete Blond is yet another company that specializes in a variety of concrete applications. Many of their projects incorporate glass, steel, and concrete (among other materials). I'm not exactly sure how this particular 'wallpaper panel' is created, but its quite impressive to see the minute detail, texture, and sheen created by the concrete.
The image shown above is an actual sample of a Pixel Panel in which the concrete panels are actually translucent, if you can imagine that.... Via Liquid Stone
Designed by Frederik Molenschot, Solid Poetry shows its inherent design when wet...
Something tells me that these concrete innovations are just the tip of the iceberg... I can't wait to see what else the design world comes up with!
Live in Seattle? Got an Opinion?
03 August 2007
If you're annoyed with the way the local AIA is run... now You've got a chance to voice your opinion. The AIA Seattle has set up an online survey to help find a new direction for the chapter. So fill it out and help improve the Seattle AIA... You might win a gift certificate to Perter Miller or ITunes while you are at it...A New Source of Energy?
27 July 2007
Two MIT students have developed a way to generate electricity by harnessing the energy of crowds... The Crowd Farm is made up of a system of sub-flooring blocks that depress under weight, creating a mechanical energy that can be translated into electrical energy."A responsive sub-flooring system made up of blocks that depress slightly under the force of human steps would be installed beneath the station's main lobby. The slippage of the blocks against one another as people walked would generate power through the principle of the dynamo, a device that converts the energy of motion into that of an electric current."Its a pretty sweet idea, even after realizing that a single human step is only capable of lighting (2) 60w bulbs for a mere 60 seconds. The intent is not to generate enough energy to light a house, but rather to help educate people about energy usage.
Via Geekologie
Snohetta on Wide Angle
25 July 2007
Last night C and I were watching Wide Angle's documentary on Snohetta's experience as an architecture firm vying for a prestigious project in Ras-al-Khaimah. I was planning on writing all about it today, but John beat me to the punch... I don't have much more to add, except that I thought it was particularly interesting to watch the architects and the sheik (and the sheik's representatives) communicate. It always amazes me to see designers and clients around the world conversing in English, with most of them possessing a better grasp of the English language than the average American. Its all a bit embarrassing. I don't personally have much of a chance at learning Arabic or Norwegian, but I do think I will work on regaining a modest mastery of Spanish. It seems like the least I should do...
Olympic Construction
17 July 2007
As I mentioned before, like a lot of people I am very excited to watch the construction of the water cube by PTW in Beijing. I only wish that I could attend the Olympics and see the completed structure in person, and I'm completely jealous of anyone who will be there! Its especially interesting to see the intricate structure supporting the ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) pillows that create the water effect.[Be sure to check out the view of H&dM's birdnest stadium in the background.]
The above photos of the construction are from a variety of sources including 1.618, Flickr, Chris Bosse, David Teoh, and The Wall Street Journal.
Interactive Map of Gulf Architecture
05 May 2007
Dezeen has created (through Google maps) an interactive map of significant Gulf area architecture. Its especially handy for people like me, who have never visited the Gulf area and have trouble understanding the geographical relationships between architectural sites in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Dezeen is creating this in preparation for the International Design Forum in Dubai (27-29 May), but I find it a great reference for my architectural reading.
35 Hours of SAM
04 May 2007
SAM addition by Allied Works/Original Seattle Art Museum by Robert VenturiRing House
17 April 2007
The Ring House by TNA-Arch is one of seven Record Houses for 2007. What is especially intriguing about this house, is that its actually a spec home! And who says spec homes can't be fabulous? This young firm worked hand in hand with a developer to find and build a solution that enhanced the site and resolved some of its complexities. After completion, the house was purchased before it was even seen in person! Hurray!- Innovation and commercial success can work together... Take a look at TNA-Arch's site and check out their architectural, furniture, and industrial projects; they are all worth a look.Style and Design 100
14 April 2007
Time Magazine just came out with the Style and Design 100. Their list included 4 architects; SANAA, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Frank Gehry, and Thomas Heatherwick. A few of their projects are shown below...
As I mentioned in earlier posts, I like and respect the work of SANAA and DS+R, but I'm disappointed by the inclusion of Gehry on this list. [I won't comment on Thomas Heatherwick because I'm not very familiar with his work.] For a list of designers that are supposed to be producing great and innovative design, I feel like Gehry simply does not belong. He may have produced some of the most innovative designs of the 90s (and provided innovation in the design process), but since then his work seems to be a lot of the same, except significantly less successful. Still, I have to give Time some credit for introducing some lesser known architects to the general public... I'm sure Gehry was included because he is one of the few architects that Americans have actually heard of. I also thought it was great that Time included a list of blogs, including some of my favorites; BLDG Blog, MoCoLoco, and Design Boom.
Celebrating Architecture
08 April 2007
This week marks the start of both the Rotterdam City of Architecture 2007 (which was officially kicked off on April 5th) and the America's First National Architecture Week (which begins April 9th).Rotterdam is trying to reassert itself as the premier city for architecture in the Netherlands and abroad. It has long been home to some spectacular architectural firms, but the actual building in the city sometimes falls behind. Rotterdam's mayor has helped to provide a program of events including sites, stories , books, tours, workshops, and more. All of the projects are further enhanced by purple (in some fashion) in order to reaffirm the concept for the cities' inhabitants and visitors alike.
At the same time, the AIA is in the midst of celebrating its 150th anniversary, with the National Architecture Week coinciding with the opening of the 'America's Favorite Architecture' exhibit. Additional events include green exhibits, walking tours, and an AIA Kids' Day.
I think the comparison between the events says a lot about the priorities of the American and Dutch public. Our national celebration receives far less public exposure than Rotterdam's citywide events, yet the 150th anniversary should be a significant milestone. Although I'm glad that we are celebrating architecture in the United States, I wish (as always) that it was a bigger part of the greater social conscience.