Archinect - Features

Instigating Change with Common Ground

2012-09-18T10:16:00-04:00

In the age where cultural production has usurped industrial production as the driver for Western economies, the Venice Architecture Biennale represents a special kind of affair. This three month-long bonanza of architecture and urban design represents a collection of diverse principles produced under a unified curatorial umbrella. Despite the trash-talk that has proliferated in certain circles since the opening of the event in late August, this year’s Biennale doesn’t have much to be cynical, negative, or nasty about.

The CRIT: Thoughts on MoMA's Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream

2012-01-30T15:25:00-05:00

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work."
— Daniel Hudson Burnham (1846-1912)

“yes i was wondering how i go about not lossing my house it has been in my wifes famlily for over a hundred years my wife was layed off the morgage company wouldnt talk to us because she was layed off and now we are so far behind we cant get cought up so now we are loosing our home is there help out there for me”
— unedited comment from MoMA workshop blog (2011)

In Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream, part of MoMA’s Issues in Contemporary Architecture series, five architects-in-residence and their interdisciplinary teams [1] were challenged to “engage in a rethinking of housing and related infrastructures that could catalyze urban transformation.” The investigation also sought to “begin a conversation,” on the “recent” (though painfully on-going) foreclosure crisis by examining su...

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down

2011-07-21T12:00:00-04:00

In this feature Bartlett student (and Archinect school blogger), Chris Hildrey, discusses some critical issues in the architecture industry, such as the core sustainability of the practice of architecture, as it relates to other industries, and unpaid labor. He also takes us to a fun London architecture event to show us the sweeter side of our profession.

NEXT SERIES: ARCHITECTURE JURY, A Factual and Fictional Manual

2011-05-31T16:53:46-04:00

To spectators, the architecture jury critics might mean deities if they don't know they are not. In fact, some students know this but it is a best kept secret so they can stand back and watch the divine comedy folding out on the first rows of their presentation. Not all students take criticism personally although it is hard not to.

Most architecture schools are the continuation of the traditional model, design studios taught by people who are, if you say so, spatial experts. In general, architecture education is defined by how to draw and produce space. Most people in the world can say something about buildings. Naturally, architects use a unique vocabulary to control and develop their craft.

I was asked if I would write a piece on architectural juries. After thinking about it for a few hours I came up with this idea of subjectively stereotyping the people who sit in front of the presentations and say 'wise' things about student projects. I hope this will help the audience and...

MIT, Going FAST After 150 Years

2011-05-06T12:08:00-04:00

In 2011 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding, an occasion marked with 150 consecutive days of activities commemorating its long history of technology innovation. The most prominent of the exhibits, performances and symposia making up the celebration is the Festival of Art, Science and Technology (FAST), a series of events meant to highlight the institute’s often overlooked tradition in the arts. Organized as a six-part series of events spanning three months, FAST offers the public direct access to a body of work that transcends art as a means of representation to instead becomes an agent of social and technological exploration. On May 7th and 8th FAST culminates in the FAST Light festival, an open house showcasing a number of installation projects by both faculty and staff.

SmartGeometry 2011, Copenhagen Denmark

2011-04-07T14:50:52-04:00

SmartGeometry was established in 2001 as an international group of academics and professional architects, engineers, computer scientists and designers interested in the potentials of parametric design and computational tools. Each year, a four-day workshop precedes a conference day with invited speakers, and each year explores a different theme.

CONSTELLATIONS OF LOS ANGELES

2009-04-02T15:36:39-04:00