Archinect - News

Archeology of the Digital

2013-05-08T12:41:00-04:00

Now is the time stop starting with "in the future" in relationship to digital technology. This show will tell, "in the past digital technology did this." It is time to write its history.

Greg Lynn aims to pull the curtain on the digital positioning of sci-fi and other camps and record the history of the subject for what it really is or was. This could help the recent debates of what is what, and, depending on the curation, place certain legacies in place.

NBBJ Appoints Tim Leberecht Chief Marketing Officer

2013-05-08T08:43:00-04:00

NBBJ, a global architecture and design firm, today announced that it has appointed Tim Leberecht as its Chief Marketing Officer. Leberecht joins NBBJ from Frog Design where he led the marketing organization from 2006 to 2013 and helped transform the company into one of the world’s foremost design and innovation consultancies. He will direct NBBJ’s worldwide marketing, business development and communications from the firm’s San Francisco office.

“We’re thrilled to have Tim joining us,” said NBBJ managing partner Scott Wyatt, FAIA. “With his experience positioning Frog Design at the forefront of design innovation, and his continuing mission for brands to provide value, he’s exactly the person we were looking for as our first-ever chief marketing officer. His presence here underscores our ambition to become a leading force in transforming human experience and business performance through design.”

“I’m honored to join a firm with such a strong legacy, ethos and ambition,” said Tim...

ProPublica is investigating interships, and is seeking your feedback

2013-05-07T18:49:00-04:00

In April 2010, the Department of Labor released a six-point test to help determine whether an internship in the for-profit sector qualifies to be unpaid under federal law. One of the key criteria is that the position must be of more benefit to the intern than of benefit to the company. Companies can’t just use interns to replace regular employees.

Click here to take their internship survey.

Editor's Picks #314

2013-05-07T13:14:00-04:00

Over at the LA Times, Christopher Hawthorne reported on LACMA Director Michael Govan’s plan’s for $650-million new building by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor...Eric Chavkin commented "New construction has always been fundraising tail that wags the museum dog. Big names to draw bigger money...Now that AMPAS is leveraging it's Oscar prestige to be a part of LACMA, a new name to entice donor dollars is Zumthor, a name that means absolutely nothing to most.

News
Michael Z Wise reviewed the newest edition of Albert Speer, Architecture by Léon Krier for the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Wise concluded his review "Though he is again bemoaning a contemporary inability to regard classicism in a detached manner, it is Léon Krier who is in a delirious thrall to a malevolent aesthetic".

Will Galloway was surprised "wow, i didn't need another reason to dislike krier, but this one certainly seems more than enough to set aside any other complaint about the guy and never revisit them. its amazing that someone could hate modernism so much that even hitler's vision for the world seems palatable to him. nasty". For his part Steven Ward
argued "I'd rather see the swastika redeemed for its original associations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) than see any redemption of Speer's work. It's not that the style(s) from which he borrowed were bad so much as his intentional bombastic over-scaling of everything. These buildings were meant to communicat...

A blueprint for women architects to overcome doubt, discrimination

2013-05-02T14:29:00-04:00

Women make up almost half the graduating architecture classes, but only 17 percent of architecture-firm leadership. Even as women have made great strides in the field over the last several decades, that disconnect hasn’t gone away.

Architecture billings up for 8th consecutive month

2013-04-25T17:22:00-04:00

In March, the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index marked its eighth consecutive month of growth in the demand for architectural design services. While the national score of 51.9 is down three full points from February’s score of 54.9, the architecture industry is still seeing continued strength nationwide, and across all regions and industry sectors.

Editor's Picks #312

2013-04-23T12:37:00-04:00

The LA Times reported that Renzo Piano, Los Angeles architect Zoltan Pali and officials from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled preliminary designs for a $300-million film museum. Eric Chavkin concluded "A toy chest of architectures related only by location. From the Bruce Goff Japanese Pavilion to the black box Mies bookstore to Hugh Hardy's disco streamlined moderne to Luckmans sorry start. Renzo Piano's 'back-to-the-future cinema spheres just continues the trajectory"

In an essay titled UNEXPECTED COSTS ~ Big ticket design software versus alternate methodologies, Ann Lui a designer and freelance writer reflected on the fact that "Not twenty years ago, if you wanted to start your own firm, you could do so on a Mayline drafting board in your basement...Today, my partner and I sit on our couch as we write up a wishlist of basic softwares we might need for a fledgling practice...tally the price tags, and the bottom line drops like an anvil: just over $15,000".

mfischer3387 echoed curtkram, "its much tougher to start an architecture business than most other fields, because yes, the start up costs are enormous, as outlined in the article. I would argue that software package costs are not necessarily always for the benefit of design, but for liability purposes". Other commentator's like Jeremy Miller offered advice "You could get the Revit LT suite for about $1,800...Also, Archicad has a rental model...Be creative" and Steve Sanderson (founding par...

AIA / NCARB Survey Indicates Higher Employment Rates for Intern Architects

2013-04-17T20:04:00-04:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) conducted an Internship and Career Survey that revealed that there is a steady rise in employment for intern architects, along with a general sense of optimism in the future of employment prospects for the architecture profession.

Highlights from the full report include:

78% of respondents reported being employed in professional architecture work – an 8% increase from 2010
6% of respondents reported that they are unemployed – an 11% decrease from 2010
70% of respondents said that they would remain in the architecture profession after having been laid off
62% of interns indicate it taking three to five years to complete the Intern Development Program (IDP)
53% of interns were able to complete all 17 IDP experience area requirements at one firm
40% of interns are taking the Architecture Registration Examination concurrent with IDP

There were more than 10,000 responses to the survey that was executed in 2012 by The Rickinson Group, an independent third-party marketing research supplier.

For more data on internship salaries, take a look at the "Intern" salaries on Archinect's Salary Poll.

* Image above from Joann Lui, from her blog Just an Intern : our architectural life inbetween

...

The rise and fall of Scottish architects RMJM

2013-04-03T16:44:00-04:00

“When one office was doing well, another was not doing as well,” says the source. “But we always managed it so that there was the see-saw effect – one office would be profitable and another would be in the doldrums. But we managed to keep the group afloat.” “What people are worried about now is that the people who ran the company down are still the ones in charge.”

Editor's Picks #308

2013-03-26T16:23:00-04:00

Archinect published work from Beyond Prototype, an advanced digital fabrication seminar developed at Columbia University...Nicholas Cecchi was impressed but also offered some criticism "This is amazing student work...However, I would like architecture schools to stop pushing students to contextualize this kind of research-based exploration. Showing these as enclosures (or the one as a gondola) only undermines the amazing generative capacity of this kind of design"

For the latest edition of the Student Works feature, Archinect published work from Beyond Prototype, an advanced digital fabrication seminar developed at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation by Jason Ivaliotis and Nicholas Kothari. In the course "Students develop parametrically controlled tessellations and transform them into building component systems that can be built using conventional sheet stock materials. These tessellated systems are extracted from the digital realm and built at full scale".

Nicholas Cecchi was impressed but also offered some criticism "This is amazing student work. The craft and quality is great, and the theory behind it is impressive. However, I would like architecture schools to stop pushing students to contextualize this kind of research-based exploration. Showing these as enclosures (or the one as a gondola) only undermines the amazing generative capacity of this kind of design. These should not be taken liter...

Tackling Concerns of Independent Workers

2013-03-24T19:07:00-04:00

Today, the Freelancers Union is one of the nation’s fastest-growing labor organizations, with more than 200,000 members, over half of them in New York State. Ms. Horowitz, who has never lacked audacity, says she expects to expand the organization to one million members within three years. For some perspective, the United Automobile Workers union currently has 380,000 members.

Perhaps, architect interns, and those contract workers, will look to adding their numbers to this collective, instead of waiting for venal institutions - you know who you are - to make substantive changes to the way that things work.

Editor's Picks #306

2013-03-12T12:30:00-04:00

For the latest edition of the ShowCase feature, Archinect published the Hotel Wiesergut a complex renovation and extension by by GOGL ARCHITEKTEN, located in Hinterglemm/Salzburger Land, Austria. FRaC thought "those cold roofs are hot!"

News
Over at the financial times Emma Jacobs chatted with Zaha Hadid an "Unlikely ‘pushover’ who doesn’t play safe". In response Donna Sink commented "I wouldn't work for free, but I'd be happy to be bullied by Zaha for a short term. Like a wilderness survival camp-type vacation" but GiaCarbello replied "Diplomacy aside. Donna Sink. Wow. Your comment is as low as Hadids and Schumachers lame comments regarding their inexcusable behavior. They have an idea in their heads that ‘uncompromising standards’ is the reasons being for such behaviour. Hadid had to fight her way to the top because of a male dominated industry and forgot along the way to find a balance. Self integrity and self respect at lost".

However Apurimac argued "For christ's sa...

The Financial Times calls Zaha an "Unlikely ‘pushover’ who doesn’t play safe"

2013-03-06T15:08:00-05:00

Referring to younger staff variously as “kids” or “the children”, Dame Zaha, cloaked in black and with smudges of fuchsia on both her eyes and lips, says she is approachable. Those who know her (and prefer not to be named) characterise her as volcanic – she blows up but then it’s over. There are no lasting grudges. Her business partner, architect Patrik Schumacher, says the explosions are the byproduct of “uncompromising standards”, suggesting such bust-ups are normal in creative offices.

She pulls the architect responsible to one side. “I don’t care where [the lights go] as long as they’re not in my presence,” she snaps. Dame Zaha’s two assistants stare at the ground. Moments later they fall to the floor to take off her high-heeled Martin Margiela ankle boots so she can walk five yards across the room.

Why does this globally renowned architect – the first female winner of the Pritzker award (considered the Nobel Prize of the field) – pick on her employees? “Some people take the piss and I don’t like that,” she says. “People have to understand my limits. There is a point of no return. Most people who work with me know that line.” You cannot run a business and be “a complete doormat”.

"GSAPP 2012 - 6 Months After Graduation" Employment Status Report

2013-03-05T18:53:00-05:00

An independently-led survey of graduates from Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation was recently conducted, to assess the overall status of employment. The infographic-rich document can be seen below.

“GSAPP 2012 - 6 Months After Graduation” is an attempt to capture the state of our class in our first year of post-gradschool life. Did we finally find a job? Did we move to another city? Another country? How many hours a week are we working? How much are we making? What software are we finally using? These are some of the questions this survey tries to answer, and in doing so, it may also serve as a snapshot of the architectural profession itself, how it treats its newest members and how it is doing in this fragile economy.

The survey was made up of 17 questions and was voluntarily responded by 63 graduates from the Masters of Architecture program at the Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation at Columbia University.

Editor's Picks #305

2013-03-05T11:42:00-05:00

vado retro summed up the design "a box within a box and one box the one inside, the inside box is at an angle. oh and there are trees" but Alex Gomez added "Although the facade is superficial, I feel it will succeed in attracting ‘qualitative and quantitative tourist flows in the area,’

News
Over at Bustler.net, Bernard Tschumi Architects unveiled the schematic design for the firm's first work in Italy: ANIMA, a new cultural center in the city of Grottammare. The project has been commissioned by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno and the Municipality of Grottammare and is expected to be completed by 2016.

In the description of the project, it states: “Could one design a facade without resorting to formal composition? Could one design a facade that would be neither abstract nor figurative, but formless, so to speak? Our motivation in raising these questions was both economic and cultural: At a time of economic crisis, to indulge in formal geometries made out of complex volumetric curves did not seem a responsible option. The time of ‘Iconism’ seemed to be over".

vado retro summed up the design "a box within a box and one box the one inside, the inside box is at an angle. oh and there are trees" but Alex Gomez added "Although the facade is s...

Editor's Picks #304

2013-02-26T13:39:00-05:00

For the latest edition of the ShowCase feature, Archinect published the first fire station designed by Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza Veira. The project, Santo Tirso Fire Station is located in Quinta de Geão, Portugal "comprises a total gross area of 1173 m2 and lodges the support functions to the fire brigade...it is organized in 3 floors”.

Chris Moody's initial reaction was that "At first glance, it would be hard to picture this building as a fire station. But then again, that's probably the point. Nicely done! Alvaro." toasteroven added "that brick is yummy, the exterior is really nice - but - the interiors seem a little cold and off-putting. all shades of grey and white - like a bunker in Antarctica in the dead of winter”.

News

According to released figures the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) showed its strongest growth since November 2007. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 54.2, up sharply from a mark of 51.2* in Dec...

Strong Surge for Architecture Billings Index

2013-02-21T03:11:00-05:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 54.2, up sharply from a mark of 51.2* in December. This score reflects a strong increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 63.2, much higher than the reading of 57.9 the previous month.

Editor's Picks #303

2013-02-19T12:33:00-05:00

For the latest edition of the ShowCase feature, Archinect profiled 253 Pacific Street, a project designed James Cleary Architecture. It is a newly constructed building in Brooklyn, New York containing three duplex residences.

News

Planetizen covered Arup’s proposal for a "smart" building that will plug into "smart" urban infrastructure and cater to an increasingly dense and technology-savvy urban population. Fred Scharmen thought the proposal featured "Fantastic graphics" yet toasteroven continued his criticism from last week "I'm a little perplexed by this proposal - one the one hand it assembles all the ideas into one building (which should be larger city-wide infrastructure, not in a single building), but it's a little too ‘plug-in city’ for me - as in verging on completely unrealistic and incredibly naive about how the city really functions".

Apparently Ryan Griffin agreed, referring to the title of the news posting he wrote "radical? maybe helpful to post in a...

Zaha Hadid: Britain must do more to help encourage its women architects

2013-02-17T10:31:00-05:00

In a damning indictment of the prevailing culture of her own profession, Dame Zaha Hadid, the world's leading female architect, says she has faced "more misogynist behaviour" in London than anywhere else in Europe and that things are not improving at all for women in architecture.

Sydney’s New Icon | Barangaroo?

2013-02-15T15:06:00-05:00

Billionaire businessman, James Packer has shortlisted four of the world’s best architects (Adrian Smith + Gill Architecture, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, Renzo Piano and Wilkinson Eyre Architects) to bid to design and build the urban masterpiece that will be Crown Sydney. The proposed $1 billion six-star Crown Sydney resort will be a dramatic addition to Sydney’s skyline and be built across a giant 6,000 square metre site in Barangaroo.

Fifth Consecutive Month of Gains in ABI

2013-01-23T11:40:00-05:00

“While it’s not an across the board recovery, we are hearing a much more positive outlook in terms of demand for design services,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “Moving into 2013 we are expecting this trend to continue and conditions improve at a slow and steady rate. That said, we remain concerned that continued uncertainty over the outcomes of budget sequestration and the debt ceiling could impact further economic growth.”

Editor's Picks #299

2013-01-21T20:32:00-05:00

The New York Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 announced CODA (Caroline O’Donnell of Ithaca, New York) as the winner of the annual Young Architects Program (YAP) in New York...Donna Sink shared "That PS1 installation just looks dull to me" to which Steven Ward responded "i must like dull. actually, i know i do. i'm thinking i'll like its texture and shadow. form".

Orhan Ayyüce kicks off 2013 with Fishing for Architecture with John Lurie the first feature of the New Year. Orhan recently had an opportunity to talk with Mr. Lurie about architecture and this conversation resulted over a few days of messaging in cyber space. John initially noted "Man, I really know nothing about architecture" but to Orhan that was perfect, as he explained "All the better.. We have dime a dozen architects who are experts but say very little. This is not what you know about it but how you feel in it. It can get technical but that is not I am talking about...Everybody knows or senses something about architecture. Especially a highly visual person like you".

gozion commented "i share his opinions on the buildings here. (i used to work as a draftsman, back in the days of sitting at a drawing board using pencils, or ink & a rapidograph,,,paper or mylar, not linen, not that far back. i letter really well. i was also really fast. u architects can be murder on yr draf...

Archinect's Top 12 Jobs for '12

2013-01-04T00:05:00-05:00

Below are the 12 most visited Jobs during 2012. For a full list of all of our top 12 lists for 2012, click here.

Do not contact these firms regarding the following job openings. These jobs have all been filled. To see hundreds of currently active job listings, visit the Archinect Job Board.

1. OMA was seeking an Architect in Rotterdam, NL

2. Miller & Wright Architects was seeking a Designer-Architect in New York, NY

3. Marmol Radziner was seeking an Entry Level Architect in Los Angeles, CA

4. OMA was seeking a Designer in Rotterdam, NL

5. Steven Holl Architects was seeking an Architect in New York, NY

6. Studio GAIA was seeking an Intern in New York, NY

7. Gabellini Sheppard Associates was seeking a Junior Interior Designer in New York, NY

8. Scalar Architecture was seeking an Entry Level Designer in New York, NY

9. AvroKO was seeking a Junior Designer in New York, NY

10. OMA was seeking an Architect in Hong Kong, HK

11. Safdie...

Archinect's Top 12 Discussions for '12

2013-01-04T00:03:00-05:00

Below are the 12 most visited Discussion threads during 2012. For a full list of all of our top 12 lists for 2012, click here.

1. 2012 M.Arch Applicants - Final Results, Decisions, Stats, etc.

2. Is there any future in Architecture???

3. Yay!!!!! Architecture has the highest unemployment rate!

4. 2013 APPLICANTS PREP

5. Appropriate Salary?

6. What does an architecture firm look for in a cover letter for an entry level designer?

7. sick of architecture being called a bad profession

8. No license... how much to pay licensed architect to stamp drawings?

9. Evolution of Architecture as a Profession

10. Why don't contemporary architects care about well-dressing anymore?

11. Is the world ready for Parametric/ Morphogenetic Architecture?

12. What is the dress code in your office?

Also in the Top 12, based on popularity, but started prior to '12:

2012 M.Arch Applicants, Commiserate Here!

list of europe's best archite...

Archinect's Top 12 People Profiles for '12

2013-01-03T00:47:00-05:00

Below are the 12 most visited People Profiles during 2012. For a full list of all of our top 12 lists for 2012, click here.

1. Orhan Ayyüce

2. Tyler Hopf

3. Joann Lui

4. Natalie Hardbattle

5. Sean McGuire

6. Kimberly V.K.H. Nguyen

7. Donna Sink

8. Betsy Cole

9. Artur Nesterenko Alexandrovich

10. Daniel Kidd

11. Sara Gaskari

12. Katherine York

Click here for Archinect's full 12 Top 12 for '12 list!

Archinect's Top 12 Features for '12

2013-01-01T11:21:00-05:00

Below are the 12 most visited Feature articles during 2012. For a full list of all of our top 12 lists for 2012, click here.

1. Tadao Ando Interview: 20 Minutes with a Master

2. Working out of the Box: Pinterest Co-Founder Evan Sharp

3. The Architecture Job Application Hints & Suggestions from Employers***

4. Composing the Personal Narrative Archinect's Official Portfolio Guide Part I: The Academic Portfolio***

5. Still Ugly After All These Years: A Close Reading of Peter Eisenman’s Wexner Center

6. How to Use Archinect to Get a Job; Part 1: Optimizing your Profile

7. Amateur Architecture: A New Vernacular?

8. Architecture and Design Graduates – How to Secure Your First Position – Part 1***

9. Color in Architecture — More Than Just Decoration

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

11. Manhattanisms : RAM(s) vs. REM

12. ShowCase: New Keelung Harbor Service Building

Titles marked with **...

Exploitation of Interns Coming to an End?

2012-12-27T13:17:00-05:00

Unpaid interns are common in architecture firms, but recent lawsuits brought by interns across other industries may have the architecture industry forking out some cash. In many industries, the term ‘intern’ is often used to describe someone who works for no pay, but the NCARB’s IDP has been trying to detach interns from the assumption by architecture firms that they are willing to work for free. The council defines architectural internships as post-graduate, pre-registration professional work.

Demand for Architects Builds Momentum

2012-12-19T02:17:00-05:00

There are few professionals more hopeful for a bright future this holiday season than architects, who are finally starting to see business conditions improve. Billings at architecture firms have been depressed for the past four years, another victim of the real-estate and housing downturn. But in recent months, that has started to change.

Editor's Picks #294

2012-12-18T12:58:00-05:00

For the latest in the Student Works series Archinect featured The Petropolis of Tomorrow: Drift & Drive...a proposed solution for Petrobras...to relocate workers offshore...Thayer-D was curious "What kind of job do students who do this kind of work expect to do?" and amphibious agreed "For me, the real problem with this project is its weakness in experimentation, substance, and form. What is radical here really?"

For the latest in the Student Works series Archinect featured The Petropolis of Tomorrow: Drift & Drive. Joanna Luo, Weijia Song, Alex Yuen, students at Rice School of Architecture completed the project working with their advisor Neeraj Bhatia.

Consisting of a system of floating islands strategically located along the natural drift current of the Brazilian coast, the project is a proposed solution for Petrobras, the Brazilian petrochemical company, to relocate workers offshore, as rigs are established ever further from the coast, increasing the transportation cost of both workers and oil.

Thayer-D was curious "What kind of job do students who do this kind of work expect to do? I know it's the schools that promote this stuff, it's no different than when I went to school 20 years ago, but it still strikes me as academic malpractice" and amphibious agreed "with most of the comments here and I think they point out a deeper problem in this project. I am a truly believer of ex...

US economy adds 146K jobs, rate falls to 7.7%

2012-12-07T12:18:00-05:00

Companies added 146,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent - the lowest in nearly four years - from 7.9 percent in October. The rate declined mainly because more people stopped looking for work and weren't counted as unemployed.